Sabbath is a day set apart for worship = time spent with Yahuwah.
Our loving heavenly father simply wants us to drop our 'busyness' and reflect on His many blessings in our lives.
'Work' 'labour' on the Sabbath refers to 'secular' activities whether for financial reward or not. Of course, He understands emergencies, etc.
From time immemorial, on the previous day, there have always been innovative ways to prepare sumptuous meals to be enjoyed on the Sabbath.
“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 Yahuwah, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: Then shalt thou delight thyself in Yahuwah; 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 Yahuwah hath spoken it.” Isaiah 58:13, 14.
Going to the Bible for an answer we find the following important guidelines for keeping the Sabbath:
- Doing our own ways: This would mean avoiding all kinds of work that we typically do during the remaining days of the week (work, study, cooking, cleaning, TV, house work, etc…). The sacred hours of the Sabbath are to be spent in worship, fellowship, doing good to those in need, and witnessing to others.
- Doing our own pleasure: This would mean that we do not spend the holy hours of the Sabbath in leisure activities, sleep, social visitation, etc… All these activities are to be performed during the remaining six days of the week.
- Speaking our own words: What we commonly engage in conversation about during the six days of the week, we are to avoid during the sacred hours of the Sabbath; such as conversations about politics, work, family talk, etc… We have to realize that the hours of the Sabbath are not ours to waste but belong to Yahuwah and should be spent as He has requested.
For those keeping the Sabbath in harmony with divine instruction is given the most wonderful promise: “I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father.” Isaiah 58:14. The heritage of Jacob is eternal life.
Before the Sabbath begins the mind as well as the body should be withdrawn from worldly business. Yahuwah has set His Sabbath at the end of the six working days that men may stop and consider what they have gained during the week in preparation for the pure kingdom which admits no transgressor. Every Sabbath we should reflect upon the past week in seeing the spiritual gains and noting the losses that we can improve upon.
Beginning at dawn before sunrise on the Sabbath day, let the members of the family assemble to read Yahuwah's word, to sing and to pray. We are to leave our usual employment and spend time in meditation and worship. All secular work must be laid aside and all secular papers be put out of sight. Parents, explain your action and its purpose to your children and let them share in your preparation to keep the Sabbath according to the commandment. We should jealously guard the edges of the Sabbath. Remember that every moment is consecrated, holy time.
In His own day He preserves for the family opportunity for communion with Him, enjoyment of nature, and fellowship with one another. Parents should spend Sabbath afternoon with their children. Often, the Sabbath is made of little significance to children, who are left to play alone or find entertainment as best they can. Left alone, the children soon become restless and begin to play or engage in some kind of mischief. Thus, the Sabbath has to them no sacred significance. The portion remaining to the family may be made the most sacred and precious season of all the Sabbath hours, with involving all members of the family, both young and old.
During a portion of the day, all should have an opportunity to be out doors in nature where they can do much to exalt the Sabbath with their families and make it the most enjoyable day of the week. We should devote time to interesting our children. This will have a happy influence upon them.
None should feel at liberty to spend sanctified time in an unprofitable manner. It is not honoring to Yahuwah for Sabbath keepers to sleep during much of the Sabbath, the time that He has chosen to spend with us. They dishonor their Creator in so doing and, by their actions, say that the other six days are too precious for them to spend in resting.
Cooking should be done on the day of preparation – the day before the Sabbath .
"Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my Sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am Yahuwah that doth sanctify you." Exodus 31:13.
It means eternal salvation to keep the all the commandments of Yahuwah, including the Sabbath, holy unto Him. Yahuwah promises: "Them that honor Me I will honor." 1 Samuel 2:30.
Dear WLC:
I sent an email about setting boundaries where in certain places such as Alaska when astronomical dawn and astronomical dusk is not available can one use civil dawn when the stars disappear and stars dusk when they disappear? What about using Sunrise to Sunset when there is no dawn or dusk. When there is none of that available can one do like 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM or use 4:00 AM to 8:00 PM equal to 04:00 to 20:00 and for those who might use 6:00 PM to 6:00 PM local time? And letting the WLC Calendar app to determine when New Moon Day is to determine based on that the Sabbaths and as well as the Annual Feasts of Yahuwah? Because there are people living that may want to use the lunar Sabbaths, New Moons, and annual feasts of Yahuwah because there are some people who live in the Arctic and there is a possibility of a Sabbath keeping Christian of lunar Sabbaths to develop a way of observing Sabbath in the circumstances they may find themselves in.
Any suggestions?
This is something I have been studying for years now privately and I was hoping to find a way to be in harmony with WLC should such circumstances exist. I can’t find old articles about determining Sabbath in the Arctic regions even using modem technology.
I search for ways to define Sabbath such as underground perhaps using at least 06:00 to 18:00 or 04:00 to 20:00 equal to 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM or 4:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
Can it be worshippers choice when in such circumstances that may exist in the future or even presently even if not known by us.
Suggestions requested.
Sincerely in Yahuwah’s service and love, ❤️🥰
Tony Bruni
Dearest Tony,
Thank you for reaching out and for sharing your years-long study of this vital topic. At World’s Last Chance (WLC), we deeply respect your dedication to honoring Yahuwah’s true luni-solar calendar, especially in the face of extreme geographic challenges, such as those in the Arctic regions.
When normal celestial markers such as astronomical dawn, dusk, sunrise, or sunset are entirely absent due to the polar night or midnight sun, your desire to establish clear boundaries is commendable.
Here is our perspective and suggestions for handling these unique circumstances:
• Principle of Extended Light: When astronomical dawn/dusk is unavailable, using civil dawn (when the brightest stars disappear) or actual sunrise/sunset is an excellent, practical alternative for defining the day’s boundaries.
• The Equatorial Standard (6 to 6): In extreme cases with no sunrise or sunset (total darkness or total light), reverting to a 12-hour standard from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM (or 06:00 to 18:00) is a biblically sound principle, reflecting the equal division of day and night at the equator, where the calendar was given.
• WLC App Dependency: Relying on the WLC Calendar App to pinpoint the New Moon Day is highly recommended for these regions. Once the App establishes the start of the lunar month based on worldwide astronomical data, you can safely count your weekly Sabbaths and Annual Feasts from that anchor point.
• Grace and Necessity: Yahuwah is a compassionate Creator who looks to the heart. In unprecedented or extreme circumstances where nature’s clocks blur, adopting a consistent, systematic standard (such as 6-to-6 local time) is not arbitrary—it is a faithful act of worship.
We praise your diligence in seeking harmony with the Creator’s clock under all circumstances. May Yahuwah continue to guide your studies.
In His love,
galal.