Electricity on the Sabbath

[31gH9N.9.]

Howdy. I'm very new to observing the sabbath. I have gone to a few messianic/ Hebrew roots fellowships but have not found a home yet.

Anyways my question is about electricity and driving a car on the sabbath. I Feel guilty about both but then I'm left with two problems. I can't study on Friday night or early Saturday morning, and I can't attend a sabbath observant congregation. This makes it a little hard for me also because I don't get a chance to get together with other believers on this day and have to compromise by going to a church that preaches against the law and sabbath on Sunday. Also, I just sit in my room in the dark and have a really hard time with depression and anxiety and sinful thoughts and can't just read the scriptures for guidance. I know that some orthodox Jews don't use lights. How do they study when It's dark if they do at all?

 

[Doug Melven]

Howdy. I'm very new to observing the sabbath. I have gone to a few messianic/ Hebrew roots fellowships but have not found a home yet.

Anyways my question is about electricity and driving a car on the sabbath. I Feel guilty about both but then I'm left with two problems. I can't study on Friday night or early Saturday morning, and I can't attend a sabbath observant congregation. This makes it a little hard for me also because I don't get a chance to get together with other believers on this day and have to compromise by going to a church that preaches against the law and sabbath on Sunday. Also, I just sit in my room in the dark and have a really hard time with depression and anxiety and sinful thoughts and can't just read the scriptures for guidance. I know that some orthodox Jews don't use lights. How do they study when It's dark if they do at all?

I am not one for making the Sabbath about a certain day. I believe Jesus is our Sabbath.
But if you wish to observe the Sabbath don't make it about a bunch of rules that make it difficult to observe the Sabbath. That's what the Pharisees did. Jesus said the Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath.
Enjoy it, don't make it a day of depression.

 

[mmksparbud]

Exo 20:8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Exo 20:9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
Exo 20:10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
Exo 20:11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

By the time that Jesus came, the Rabbis had made so many rules about everything that it was impossible. even the Sabbath had become a burden. You could only take so many steps. I had a Little Jewish friend that said she had to separate her toilet paper into individual sheets so she wouldn't work by tearing the toilet paper! That is not quite what God had in mind.

Isa 58:13 If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:
Isa 58:14 Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

Jesus broke the Sabbath according to the Rabbis---but He never broke the commandment. Good grief--putting on a bra and pantyhose is work---for a woman! But you got to do it if you're going to church! The commandment says nothing about details--nothing about how many steps, or not tearing toilet paper or not flipping a switch or turning on the water faucet. Keeping the Sabbath is all about your mind and what your thinking about and where God is during the day. It is supposed to be a delight--a joy. A time to draw closer to God and get your mind off the day to day drudgery of life and all our troubles. It is not a time for --- life as usual.
One thing that helped a great deal when in school was what I learned from reading about the brain---
the best way to learn a subject, is to change the subject. When learning about something, you have to stop, think about something else entirely, when you come back to the subject, it will be easier to learn and to comprehend. God knows our brains and our bodies. Get our minds off ourselves and unto Him gets us not only closer to Him, but refreshes our mind and bodies and when we come back to our routine--we can handle things better. God instituted not only the weekly Sabbaths, but also other feasts and days that were to be kept and they also served to help the people cope with their lives. These were for praising God and having fun and feasting and being happy---we need those breaks for without such things we become workaholics and end up physical and emotional wrecks. Sticking something in the oven is not exactly the same as going out in the back 40 and gathering firewood or turning the water on is not the same as walking 5 miles to the local well for water. Jesus was all about the spirit of the law.

 

[HARK!]

Sticking something in the oven is not exactly the same as going out in the back 40 and gathering firewood or turning the water on is not the same as walking 5 miles to the local well for water. Jesus was all about the spirit of the law.

in it thou shalt not do any work,

nor thy cattle

What is the spirit of the law?

 

[mmksparbud]

It's: if you look at someone with lust, you are committing adultery, it is if you hate you are guilty of murder---it is to encompass the true meaning of what is being being commanded. It is if you take something that is not yours, it doesn't matter how small that article is--whether it is a penny or a million or if the article belongs to a peasant or a king or to a thief. It is delighting in spending the one day a week that God has set aside not doing your own things, or thinking about you own things but the things and thoughts of God. It's about giving of yourself to others and God -- your time, your money. It's not just about the words you speak, but the thoughts you think.
Mat_5:40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.
Luk_6:29 And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also.
Luk 6:27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,
Luk 6:28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
Luk 6:29 And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also.
Luk 6:30 Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.
Luk 6:31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.

You want more?---Read Mat 5,6 and 7.

 

[HARK!]

It's:

I'm talking about, in the context of working on the Shabbat.

I struggle with this question.

I DON'T buy on Shabbat, unless out of dire necessity.

For example: Someone is ill, and needs medical supplies.

The reasoning being, that I would be creating a market that non-believing employers will use to lead fellow believers into the temptation of choosing between their jobs, or obedience to Yahweh. It also supports the lawlessness of non-believers.

Yahshua healed on Shabbat. I feel justified in helping people in need on Shabbat, so long as I make no personal gain.

My congregation was of the mindset, that if you are a nurse in a hospital, and called to work on Shabbat, work; but work without pay.

Now, if Yahweh says, don't even let your animals do work for you on Shabbat; what about the guys down at the power plant? If it is a sin to make my animals drive my grain mill on Shabbat; is it OK to run my grain mill with wind power?

If we look at tradition; (It has some value) we are to prepare during the week so that we don't have to work on Shabbat.

Here comes the struggle.

Is the power, from the plant, on Shabbat, prepared? Is it real time work? Is it prepared with some real time work (say monitoring the system) added? How do I weigh this? Where do I draw the line?

 

[mmksparbud]

That whole electricity thing is crazy, as far as I'm concerned. In the first place, you can not control how the city or the state manages their electricity. Hospitals and other places have to have electricity also. There are life saving electrical devices in homes. Flipping a switch isn't exactly working up a sweat. Some give their pay as an offering when they work in the medical field. The whole idea is to not work at your daily job, some things have to be done--taking care of animals and the sick and elderly. It's a frame of mind. If you're focused on what you should or shouldn't be doing you're not focused on God but on the to do list --not what it's about. The animals are not to work either---they need their rest also and you have to remember that back then animals weren't for pets as such but did a lot of the work. And servants got the day off also. You have to drive to get to church and driving isn't working or making anyone else work. You're not hitching up the horse or mule to go somewhere, and even then, if that was how you got to synagogue or church, then you did. Most have the car gassed and cleaned before Sabbath. It's a day of communing with God not worrying about what you shouldn't be doing. Not buying and selling unless it's an emergency. I got a litter of kittens on a fri. night and had to buy kitty food and bottles and such--Stuff happens it's a matter of trying to avoid needless stuff that could have been taken care of during the week. Like ironing your outfit for Sabbath. Some won't bathe on Sabbath, but if you've worked a quick shower is better than sitting around dirty and miserable, esp if you have had to work in a hospital exposed to germs. Turning on the water faucet isn't the same thing as having to haul buckets of water and heating it for a bath! God never listed specifics--just the don't work or your animals and so on. If He wanted it to be into such detail then He would have said more.

 

[Heber Book List]

If you need a light on Shabbat, buy a Shabbat lamp, or leave a small light on in one room from before Shabbat until it ends. The 'work' you are not meant to do is to switch on a light because in doing so you create a spark - G_d refrained from creation on the 7th day - so should you, so: no photography (creating images etc., some would prohibit sex, and probably no using a computer), no car (creates sparks, but cycling does not!), no cooking (manual labour and creating heat, though heat left on from before Shabbat is ok). No un-necessary manual labour or non-manual labour. Most of the Shabbat laws are there to protect man from himself - encouraging him to take a rest, as G_d rested from creation.

People working in Blue Light or Military employment, who have to work are, I believe, exempted for that part of Shabbat when they have to work, on the grounds that the work is essential for the health or protection of others. Remember the 6 day war - Israel rose up to protect its people and G_d blessed them with a victory - the whole of Jerusalem in Jewish hands for the first time in two millennia!

Obviously the above are subject to the needs of others - family meals have to be served and eaten, lights are needed in the home to avoid danger, the sick need to be cared for and the hungry fed, if they come to your house / shul. Much of that which is required can be overcome with thought and planning in advance. In simple terms: avoid anything that 'creates', or anything that is non-essential labour, do not buy or sell and prepare food etc., in advance where possible. Remember - you are fast asleep for a good chunk of Shabbat - it is only the 'waking hours' with which you need concern yourself

 

[gadar perets]

One can impose all sorts of man made rules in order to avoid breaking the Sabbath, but they will make the Sabbath a burden. If it is wrong to create anything on Sabbath, then we are all sinners. If we walk on the Sabbath day and accidentally step on an ant, we create death. Walking on Sabbath also creates friction, air waves, detours, etc. Then we must create new rules to avoid creating friction, air waves, etc. Even if we remain sleeping the full 24 hours, we are still creating wear and tear on our sheets and mattresses. Where does it end? Forbidding to flick on a light switch falls under the category of man made minutia and makes the Sabbath a burden as does forbidding to drive a car. Both of those man made rules stem from the command to not kindle a fire on the Sabbath. However, IMHO, kindling a fire in Moses' day was far more work intensive than flicking on a light switch or turning a car on. If you need to use a car in order to obey YHWH and have a holy convocation with others on Sabbath, then do so. Believers are the lords of the Sabbath. The Sabbath is not the lord of us.

 

[Heber Book List]

One can impose all sorts of man made rules in order to avoid breaking the Sabbath, but they will make the Sabbath a burden. If it is wrong to create anything on Sabbath, then we are all sinners. If we walk on the Sabbath day and accidentally step on an ant, we create death. Walking on Sabbath also creates friction, air waves, detours, etc. Then we must create new rules to avoid creating friction, air waves, etc. Even if we remain sleeping the full 24 hours, we are still creating wear and tear on our sheets and mattresses. Where does it end? Forbidding to flick on a light switch falls under the category of man made minutia and makes the Sabbath a burden as does forbidding to drive a car. Both of those man made rules stem from the command to not kindle a fire on the Sabbath. However, IMHO, kindling a fire in Moses' day was far more work intensive than flicking on a light switch or turning a car on. If you need to use a car in order to obey YHWH and have a holy convocation with others on Sabbath, then do so. Believers are the lords of the Sabbath. The Sabbath is not the lord of us.

As with many things, if you take them to nonsensical ends it all falls apart.

The Sabbath is there for a reason - that reason is not to circumvent, with nonsensical, non-Biblical rhetoric, the way in which others see Sabbath observance.

 

[CherubRam]

Howdy. I'm very new to observing the sabbath. I have gone to a few messianic/ Hebrew roots fellowships but have not found a home yet.

Anyways my question is about electricity and driving a car on the sabbath. I Feel guilty about both but then I'm left with two problems. I can't study on Friday night or early Saturday morning, and I can't attend a sabbath observant congregation. This makes it a little hard for me also because I don't get a chance to get together with other believers on this day and have to compromise by going to a church that preaches against the law and sabbath on Sunday. Also, I just sit in my room in the dark and have a really hard time with depression and anxiety and sinful thoughts and can't just read the scriptures for guidance. I know that some orthodox Jews don't use lights. How do they study when It's dark if they do at all?

Rubbing two sticks together to start a fire is a great deal of work. That is called kindling a fire. The sabbath laws do not apply to nonliving things.

 

[gadar perets]

As with many things, if you take them to nonsensical ends it all falls apart.

The Sabbath is there for a reason - that reason is not to circumvent, with nonsensical, non-Biblical rhetoric, the way in which others see Sabbath observance.

The Pharisees imposed their nonsensical, non-Biblical rhetoric concerning the Sabbath which is one reason why Yeshua opposed them. We must now undo the burdens they imposed based on how they see Sabbath observance.

 

[Heber Book List]

The Pharisees imposed their nonsensical, non-Biblical rhetoric concerning the Sabbath which is one reason why Yeshua opposed them. We must now undo the burdens they imposed based on how they see Sabbath observance.

Is that a legitimate reason for you to do the same? At least my comments were based on G_d's own example of ceasing to create on the 7th day, and resting, as per Scripture.

 

[gadar perets]

Is that a legitimate reason for you to do the same? At least my comments were based on G_d's own example of ceasing to create on the 7th day, and resting, as per Scripture.

?? You think I'm imposing nonsensical, non-Biblical restrictions on the Sabbath? I thought I was undoing them?

 

[gadar perets]

BTW, I agree that we should not create on Sabbath. The question is, where do we draw the line at creating? I do not draw that line at starting a car or turning on a light.

YHWH commands us to have a holy convocation (with others) on Sabbath. If there are no others in walking/biking distance to us, what do we do, break His command to have a convocation or break the man made rule to not start a car on Sabbath? I choose the latter.

 

[Doug Melven]

Is that a legitimate reason for you to do the same? At least my comments were based on G_d's own example of ceasing to create on the 7th day, and resting, as per Scripture.

God didn't cease creating because of the Sabbath.
God finished creating on the 6th day and rested the 7th day.
Because of that He sanctified the Sabbath.
Sabbath = Rest

 

[31gH9N.9.]

If you need a light on Shabbat, buy a Shabbat lamp, or leave a small light on in one room from before Shabbat until it ends.

Last night I finally figured out this is what some orthodox Jews do ( leave on a light.) although it does honestly sound a little bit like man made tradition to me. I don't see why it's not Ok to use a light but if you just leave one on from before the beginning of the Shabbat until the end that it makes it different. Honestly I am beginning to find some of God's laws to be very much a burden in certain conditions, especially the Shabbat. I understand that others find it to be such a blessing and I totally believe it is that way for them but for me it has alaways been so hard. Before I started tyring to observe it I thought "Boy that would be really nice actually. A day when I wouldn't have to worry about all my regular responsibilities." I thought I'd have joy just reading God's word and praying and not feeling guilty about doing so ( Not that it's a sin, but that to neglect other responsibilties in order just to read more is something I've never felt right about.) But what it's ended up being for me is so far from what I expected. At first I would feel guilty if I didn't drive down to the city and spread the word of salvation to others on the street. Then I would feel guilty if I didn't go and congregate with other believers. Now I feel guilty if I do either of those things and instead I just feel like a slug all day because I don't do anything but just sit around the house. It must be a lot easier if you're just a Jew and not a Christian, they just live in the same communtiy and help each other. It seems like compared to them Christians just have to fend for themselves.

 

[DarylFawcett]

Honestly I am beginning to find some of God's laws to be very much a burden in certain conditions, especially the Shabbat.

Not God's laws, but man's own rules added to God's laws.

 

[31gH9N.9.]

Not God's laws, but man's own rules added to God's laws.

I totally get that being the case sometimes. But at other times it seems more like different interpretation's of the Almighty's laws that could be true. Sometimes I wish I could just talk to Him and learn exactly what the truth is on everything He teaches. It might still be hard sometimes but at least I would know exactly which path to take. Sometimes I end up caving in and commiting what I believe to be a sin because I'm just so stressed out over my confusion about what is truth and what is not. It's like I just need an escape from all this stress and the way I know how to escape momentarilly is usually to eat chocolate or something like that or use swear words when talking to myself.

 

[Catherineanne]

Howdy. I'm very new to observing the sabbath. I have gone to a few messianic/ Hebrew roots fellowships but have not found a home yet.

Anyways my question is about electricity and driving a car on the sabbath. I Feel guilty about both but then I'm left with two problems. I can't study on Friday night or early Saturday morning, and I can't attend a sabbath observant congregation. This makes it a little hard for me also because I don't get a chance to get together with other believers on this day and have to compromise by going to a church that preaches against the law and sabbath on Sunday. Also, I just sit in my room in the dark and have a really hard time with depression and anxiety and sinful thoughts and can't just read the scriptures for guidance. I know that some orthodox Jews don't use lights. How do they study when It's dark if they do at all?

Leave the light on; don't switch it either on or off, just leave it on all day. The light does not sin by shining, nor you by sitting in its light.