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Genesis 2:2 - The Sabbath Essential to Man.

Genesis 2:2 (NKJV) And on the seventh day 
God ended His work which He had done, and He 
rested on the seventh day from all His work which 
He had done.  

Genesis 2:2 (NIV) By the seventh day God had 
finished the work he had been doing; so on the 
seventh day he rested from all his work.  

Genesis 2:2 (NLT) On the seventh day God had 
finished his work of creation, so he rested from all 
his work.  

Genesis 2:2 (ESV) And on the seventh day God 
finished his work that he had done, and he rested on 
the seventh day from all his work that he had 
done.  

Genesis 2:2 (MSG) By the seventh day God had 
finished his work. On the seventh day he rested from 
all his work.  

WORD STUDY

HE RESTED. The verb rested, shabath, 
means literally to cease from labor or 
activity (see Gen. 8:22; Job 32:1; etc.). As a human 
artificer completes his work when he has brought it up 
to his ideal, and thus ceases to work upon it, 
so in an infinitely higher sense God completed 
the creation of the world by ceasing to produce 
anything new, and then rested. God did not rest 
because He needed it (see Isa. 40:28). Therefore, 
Gods rest was the result of neither exhaustion 
nor fatigue, but a cessation from previous 
occupation. SDA Bible Commentary 

INTRODUCTION

That God blessed the seventh day means that 
he set it apart for holy use. The Ten 
Commandments emphasize this distinction by commanding the 
observance of the Sabbath (Exodus 20:1-17). [Life 
Application SB] 

COMMENTARY PEARL

The Sabbath Essential to Man. God saw that a 
Sabbath was essential for man, even in Paradise. He 
needed to lay aside his own interests and pursuits 
for one day of the seven, that he might more 
fully contemplate the works of God and meditate 
upon His power and goodness. He needed a Sabbath 
to remind him more vividly of God and to awaken 
gratitude because all that he enjoyed and possessed 
came from the beneficent hand of the Creator. PP 
48 

COMMENTARY

In six days the great work of creation had 
been accomplished. And God "rested on the seventh 
day from all His work which He had made. And God 
blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because 
that in it He had rested from all His work which 
God created and made." God looked with 
satisfaction upon the work of His hands. All was perfect, 
worthy of its divine Author, and He rested, not as 
one weary, but as well pleased with the fruits 
of His wisdom and goodness and the 
manifestations of His glory. PP 47 

Rest in Christ
   How sad. The one commandment that the 
world was specifically told to remember is the one 
commandment that the world has especially forgotten. 
That commandment is the fourth, which - using 
language taken from the verses for today - tells 
people to rest on the seventh day from their work, 
just as God rested from His work on that day. 
   It's too bad, because there's such a 
promise of blessing that comes from abiding in God's 
rest. Jesus says, "Come to Me, all you who labor 
and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" 
(Matthew 11:28). And one of the most tangible and 
visible means of experiencing that rest is through 
the keeping of the seventh-day Sabbath. After 
all, anyone can say that they are "resting in 
Christ" but obedience to the fourth commandment is 
one of most obvious ways to enjoy that promised 
rest. 
   And we need that rest, don't we? Who 
hasn't known the burn out of our modern existence? 
We are non-stop harried, swarmed, pulled, and 
stretched in every direction. Yet, there, imbedded in 
the weekly cycle itself, which comes from the 
Creation, is the promise of rest - a rest in Christ. 
And it's so important that God commands us - 
right up there with "Thou shall not kill," Thou 
shall not steal" - to experience that promised 
rest for ourselves every seventh day. 
   Lord Jesus, please help me to experience 
the rest that my body and soul so desperately 
need. [The Most Amazing Bible Promises by Amazing 
Facts] 

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

   Lie down in green pastures of Peace. 
Learn to unwind whenever possible, resting in the 
Presence of your Shepherd. This electronic age keeps 
My children "wired" much of the time, too tense 
to find Me in the midst of their moments. I 
built into your very being the need for rest. How 
twisted the world has become when people feel guilty 
about meeting this basic need! How much time and 
energy they waste by being always on the go, rather 
than taking time to seek My direction for their 
lives.  
   I have called you to walk with Me down 
paths of Peace. I want you to blaze a trail for 
others who desire to live in My peaceful Presence. 
I have chosen you less for your strengths than 
for your weaknesses, which amplify your need for 
Me. Depend on Me more and more, and I will 
shower Peace on all your paths. (Psa. 23:1-3; Gen. 
2:2-3; Luke 1:79) [Jesus Calling by Sarah Young] 

CLOSING THOUGHT

A refreshed mind is able to think more 
clearly and biblically. A restored soul is more 
winsome and loving in interactions with others. So 
take time with Me, and let Me lead you beside 
waters of rest. (Gen. 2:2 3; Eph. 2:8; Psa. 23:2, 
3) [Jesus Always by Sarah Young] 

LINK FOR FURTHER STUDY

Exodus 20:8-11 Devotional pending.

The Lost Day of History

https://www.amazingfacts.org/media-library/study-guide/e/4984/t/the-lost-day-of-history 

LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT

https://abible.com/links/