Cursed is the one who trusts in human strength and the abilities of mortals. His very heart strays from the Eternal. He is like a little shrub in the desert that never grows; he will see no good thing come his way. He will live in a desert wasteland, a barren land of salt where no one lives. But blessed is the one who trusts in Me alone; the Eternal will be his confidence. He is like a tree planted by water, sending out it's roots to the stream. It does not fear the heat or even the drought. It's leaves stay green and its fruit is dependable, no matter what it faces. The heart is the most devious and incurably sick. Who can understand it? It is I the Eternal One, who probes the innermost thoughts. I will compensate each person justly, according to his ways and by what his actions deserve....But if you will listen to My words, and obey Me by not carrying your loads through these city gates on the Sabbath, if You live differently on the Sabbath, differently from the rest of your week by not working on it, I promise Jerusalem I will be Your home forever.
Observation
Israel's heart had faded from God and how they have kept the Sabbath proves it. They are working on the Sabbath, the specific day that God said to keep holy. By not working on the Sabbath we are showing God that we trust Him as our provider. Moreover, when we trust Him we have a promise of being like a tree whose roots go out to the stream, who always has fruit. When we trust Him, we are never afraid, because we know He is the one who holds us. However, when we trust the work of our own hands, we never grow. We can call ourselves Christians, but never grown, because we never really take that step forward by trusting Him.
The Sabbath is a day to ask God to give you a heart check. You and I can't know our hearts. Our hearts are full of lies; lies that we have believe and live as truth. God is the only One who can reveal these lies and lead us into truth. There are many benefits to keeping the sabbath holy, but for me this is one of the greatest.
Application
I struggle with keeping the Sabbath holy because of a long "to-do" list that haunts me. God in His graciousness and mercy is showing me how destructive it is to go full-throttle all the time and never quiet myself before him. I have regular quiet time with Him each morning, but I need more than that. I can't begin to know what more I need, except to say that I need more of Him, and the Sabbath allows me have just that, more of Him!
Prayer
I want more of You Jesus. Help me to keep the Sabbath holy. In me I would mess it all up, but in You I can do all things. So I cling to You!
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