Genesis 2:1-3: God rested?
And God Rested? Sounds like a good idea to me. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
So, which came first: the Sabbath or the rationale for the Sabbath?
For those of us who hold to veracity and integrity of the Scripture, the rationale for the Sabbath came first. But why did God rest? Or at least, why did they state it this way? God doesn't need rest. Psalm 121:4 says, "Indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep." Rest is a human need, and speaks to our weakness. So, why did the Hebrews suggest that God rested from his work?
Well, since actual weakness or tiredness is not an option for God, what is another choice?
Instead of focusing on the rest, focus on the statement in v.2: God finished the work. The point is not that God was weary. The point is that God was finished. He stopped and looked at everything he had done. And he was pleased with it. He was satisfied. It was completed, perfect--just as he had intended for it to be. Creation was complete, and he ceased (rested) from his work.
Now, let me make a couple of theological points here.
1) All of the material in the universe was made at this point. There is no new matter being created. This does not mean creativity is not taking place. However, all creativity (whether it is art, expirement, building, fire, super novas) is based on matter and energy that is already potential and in existence. There is nothing being formed in today's universe that does not have its origin in the original work of God through creation.
2)God ceased his creative activities. However, the term "rest" is appropriate in this respect. Just because he stopped creating does not mean that he quit being active. No, he created and then he began to enjoy his creation by walking in the midst of it. By using the term "rest" the book of Genesis gives a dramatic pause before it explores the significance of God's closeness to humanity in Gen. 2.
So, God paused for a moment. He moved from one task (which he completed--spectacularly) and into a new task--that of introducing himself to humanity and walking with them in the Garden. He rested. He did not stop his activity, though.
So, which came first: the Sabbath or the rationale for the Sabbath?
For those of us who hold to veracity and integrity of the Scripture, the rationale for the Sabbath came first. But why did God rest? Or at least, why did they state it this way? God doesn't need rest. Psalm 121:4 says, "Indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep." Rest is a human need, and speaks to our weakness. So, why did the Hebrews suggest that God rested from his work?
Well, since actual weakness or tiredness is not an option for God, what is another choice?
Instead of focusing on the rest, focus on the statement in v.2: God finished the work. The point is not that God was weary. The point is that God was finished. He stopped and looked at everything he had done. And he was pleased with it. He was satisfied. It was completed, perfect--just as he had intended for it to be. Creation was complete, and he ceased (rested) from his work.
Now, let me make a couple of theological points here.
1) All of the material in the universe was made at this point. There is no new matter being created. This does not mean creativity is not taking place. However, all creativity (whether it is art, expirement, building, fire, super novas) is based on matter and energy that is already potential and in existence. There is nothing being formed in today's universe that does not have its origin in the original work of God through creation.
2)God ceased his creative activities. However, the term "rest" is appropriate in this respect. Just because he stopped creating does not mean that he quit being active. No, he created and then he began to enjoy his creation by walking in the midst of it. By using the term "rest" the book of Genesis gives a dramatic pause before it explores the significance of God's closeness to humanity in Gen. 2.
So, God paused for a moment. He moved from one task (which he completed--spectacularly) and into a new task--that of introducing himself to humanity and walking with them in the Garden. He rested. He did not stop his activity, though.
posted by Randy Rogers at
10:02 AM
4 Comments:
3. |1288| And blessed |0430| God |0853| - |3117| day |7637| the seventh |6942| and sanctified |0853| it, |3588| because |0000| on it |7673| He ceased |3605| from all |4399| His work |0834| which |1254| had created |0430| God |6213| to make.
.'asah 'Elohiym bara' 'asher
.does Altogether God select that
<--------------------read<---in<---
mla'kah kol shabath
labor of result all celebrate
<---this<--------direction<--------
kiy 'eth qadash shbiy'iy 'eth
because it consecrate 7th it
<---<---<---<---<---<---<---<---<--
yowm Elohim Barak
age Altogether God Blessed
-<---<---------<--------<----<<<
It almost sounds as though all things were created in V 1:1 then God selected from the teeming brew through the next days or ages.
thank you again, Randy, for the chsnce to read and reflect on the Miracle, Mystery and Manifestation that is God.
For those of you wondering what Robert posted, he has taken the Hebrew and transliterated into English. The literal interpretation of rest according to Strong's concordance (that is where the #s come from) is "ceased."
Thanks for the Hebrew, REV
Randy
Randy,
Here is the reference I used to work through what I wrote. The literal translation I first quoted is from the:
6. Literal English Translation Bible by Morris
Which is also amplified by these:
7. Transliterated (Romanized) . Pronounceable Hebrew and Greek Bible by Morris
8. Transliterated (Romanized) . Unaccented Hebrew and Greek Bible by Morris
9. Strong's Greek Dictionary
10. Strong's Hebrew Dictionary
11. Strong's Numbers Linked to the Literal Translation by Morris
© Copyright 1988:, Ellis Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Quotations from the works owned by Ellis Enterprises, Inc. of less than one thousand words may be used without the requirement for a citation.
this is the specific reference to shabath(cease/celebrate)
Strong's Ref. # 7673
Romanized shabath
Pronounced shaw-bath'
a primitive root; to repose, i.e. desist from exertion; used in many implied relations (causative, figurative or specific):
KJV--(cause to, let, make to) cease, celebrate, cause (make) to fail, keep (sabbath), suffer to be lacking, leave, put away (down), (make to) rest, rid, still, take away.
I do not understand how a word that "ceases" and "celebrates" or "keeps" can be a word that "fails" or "puts...(down)". And I wonder what inference that, along with 'suffer to be lacking" may have in the contest of this passage. I am aware of the popular thinking here.
I am so very thankful that others who have had the time and expertise, such as yourself, have investigated the linguistic of the Bible as to ascertain its nuance and meaning.
I am not sure who Morris is, I hope he doess not fall into the recent regimen I have of encountering 'Murphy's Law'.
So using Morris's heavy research, I substituted what seemed a good reason for ceasing--to celebrate God's Providence...isn't that what we try to do every seventh day (more or less) or so of a week?
Robert
Thanks for reminding me that the term for "rest" here is Shabbat, or "Sabbath."
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