Deuteronomy 5:14 “On it (the Sabbath) you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your ox, your donkey, or any of your animals, nor the alien within your gates, so that your manservant and maidservant may rest, as you do.”

It doesn’t come out in the English like it comes out in the Hebrew, but the Lord lays this command on his people’s hearts, “You really need to do this” (or not do this, as the case may be). You need to lay aside your work. You need to rest.” He is making “mothering noises” at you and me.

And can we argue with him? We may overwork our bodies. We may skip church or miss Bible class. But we know we are doing ourselves no favors. We feel the effects in our bodies. Through the week we struggle to trust, to believe, to hope and to love.

And it is such an appealing order, almost more of an invitation. “Set down the heavy load and let me carry it for you. Stop all your busyness, pull up a chair, and just listen for a while. Have I told you, lately, how much you mean to me? Do you remember what I did to rescue you? Let me tell you again, before you get back to the grind that eats up all your strength.”

This claim on your time doesn’t stop with you and me. It extends to our families, “your son or daughter.” So God’s concern for rest is also a concern for Christian education. Don’t forget about the children. Certainly don’t exclude the children. Church is as much for them as it is for anyone else.

This claim on our time extends to all classes, all elements of society. He didn’t intend it to be a middle or upper class thing. Your servants are included, “so that your manservant and maidservant may rest as you do.” I am not in favor of blue laws, generally speaking, especially in a pluralistic society. And we Christians live in a New Testament freedom regarding the Sabbath day. But when Christian companies like Hobby Lobby or Chick-Fil-A exercise their freedom by closing their doors on Sunday, I think it gives a good witness. It reflects the spirit of God’s command, because people from all walks of life should have the chance to get their rest.

This claim God made on his people’s time to give them rest even had a mission emphasis. It applied to “the alien within your gates.” The needs of body and soul don’t change just because a person hasn’t come to faith yet. We force no one to believe. But we want the opportunity given to everyone. God made this clear by including the foreigner, the Gentile, in his Sabbath law.

We understand instinctively that morals generally apply to everyone the same. Right doesn’t stop being right because an individual is powerful or wealthy, or because he is weak or poor. God’s concern for individual well-being also remains the same for all. He loves the world. He wants all to be saved. His comments on the Sabbath commandment reflect his universal concern to give people rest.