Genesis 2

Genesis 2:1

III. THE SABBATH .— 2:1. Thus the heavens and the earth were finished. As described in the preceding chapter. The first three verses of chapter 2 really belong to chapter 1, as the change of subject occurs with verse 4. All the host of them. This expression is often used of the heavenly bodies (see Isaiah 45:12), which move through the heavens like marshalled armies. The expression is a military one, and is appropriate as well as beautiful. Here it not only includes the heavenly bodies, but the earth and it tenantry. The term fitly expresses the orderly arrangement of creation. Delitsch says: “God is the Lord of hosts. The sun, moon and stars are his hosts that he leads to battle against darkness.”

Genesis 2:2

2. And on the seventh day God ended his work. The six days, or periods, were fully occupied with the work of creation. During them the creative activity did not cease, but on the seventh day God ended his work. Some have corrected the text so as to read, “ended on the sixth day,” or, “God had ended his work,” but these are human amendments of the divine record, which tells us that the work ended on the seventh day. Having ended it he rested, or ceased from the work of creation, on the seventh day.

Genesis 2:3

3. And God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it. He made the day blessed, or rich in blessings to man, distinguished it above other days by his special regard, hallowed it by setting it apart from common and worldly uses, and consecrated it as a season of sacred rest. Three views have been taken of this fundamental charter for the Sabbath day. 1. That it is anticipatory, and that the Sabbath never existed as a religious institution until it was given to the Jews in the Decalogue. This is argued from the silence concerning its observance by the patriarchs, and the fact that there is no distinct record of its existence until the Jews had started upon the exodus. In Exodus 16:5; Exodus 16:22-30, it seems to be spoken of as a new institution just established. 2. That it was created in Eden, was obligatory on all worshipers of God from the beginning, had fallen into disuse during the long sojourn in slavery in Egypt, and was revived and incorporated in the law given at Sinai. 3. That in the beginning God provided for a religious rest for one-seventh of the time, that it was observed in Eden, that this original article of the moral constitution was not put into force after the Fall until law was given, that it was then made special for the Jewish race, that when Christ came it was modified, given a new significance, adapted to a universal religion and made of world-wide application.

That this view is the correct one would seem evident from the follow facts: In the original charter and charge to man in chapter 1:28-31, in the covenant made with Noah after the flood with its various requirements, and in the covenants with Abraham, there is not a word concerning its observance. The requirements made of man are few, simple and fundamental. It is only when God is setting apart a nation for his worship and giving them a religious system, that the specific enactment is established. It was in the mind of God from the beginning, there is and always has been a need for it in the constitution of man, “the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath,” but the circumstances were not favorable for its observance, and man had not reached the religious stage which prepared him to keep it sacred, until the law was given. It is inconceivable that the observance of the Sabbath should have been required of the Ante-diluvians, of Noah, Abraham and the rest of the patriarchs, and that the Scriptures should have been silent upon the subject during a period that covers 2,500 years of the history of our race. There are traces of the division of time into weeks in Genesis. Noah is twice said to have waited seven days when sending the dove out of the ark (Genesis 7:10; Genesis 7:12). The week is recognized in the history of Jacob, especially in Genesis 29:27-28. It was also known to other ancient nations; in Exodus 16:5, before the formal giving of the law the Sabbath is recognized. Yet Deuteronomy 5:15 especially connects the ordinance with the deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt. AND . MAN A SPECIAL .–It is possible to conceive that a being with such mental endowments as man possesses, and with even the throat of a gorilla, might originate an intelligible language; but it is incomprehensible how the gift of speech could develop man’s mental qualities in a brute, however long the time allowed. Moreover, it is a natural question, why there are not man-apes in the present age of the world, representing the various stages of transition, and filling up the hiatus, admitted to be large, If such a process of development is part of the general plan of nature.–Prof. Dana.THE UNITY OF THE RACE.–While attention was exclusively directed to the extremes of color and form, the result of the first vivid impressions derived from the senses was a tendency to view these differences as characteristics, not of mere varieties, but of originally distinct species. The permanence of certain types, in the midst of the most opposite influences, especially of climate, appeared to favor this view, notwithstanding the shortness of time to which historical evidence applied. But, in my opinion, more powerful reasons lend their weight to the other side of the, question and corroborate the unity of the human race.–Humboldt.THE DIVINE IMAGE.–Adam was created in the divine image.

The second Adam, our Lord, is the “brightness of the Father’s glory and the express image of his person.” The Gospel seeks to restore the divine image in man, sadly defaced by sin, and to this end aims to transform us into the likeness of Christ. To follow him, “to look unto Jesus,” to make him our example, to become Christlike, is to renew the moral likeness of God in our nature. If we are God’s children we must have the Father’s likeness. MAN’S WORK.–Our race was not created to drag out an idle existence. It had a distinct work assigned from the start. It is required not only to fill the earth but to subdue it. It has spread itself into every habitable land, and has done much to subdue the wild powers of nature, but much still remains. It is required to bring the whole earth not only under human dominion, but of the Lord, the Divine-man, and to make all the kingdoms of the earth the kingdoms of the Lord and his Christ. All will yet be subdued and everyone shall bow to him as the Lord of all. Every Christian is helping along in this work. THE LORD’S DAY.–One day in seven, as a day of thanksgiving and praise, a day of grateful work and worship, in lively communion with God–this is the Sabbath made for man. * * It is found to be in accordance with the physical constitution of man and beast, which requires such an interval of rest from the six days work. It is in every way the highest boon to man, in his social interests–it is at the very foundation of social order–the great auxiliary of good laws, and without whose blessed influences, infidelity and crime must desolate the fairest land.–Jacobus.An association of twenty physicians voted " yea" unanimously on the question, “Is the position taken by Doctor Farre, in his testimony before the Committee of the British House of Commons, in your view correct?”–That men who labor six days in a week will be more healthy and live longer, other things being equal, than those who labor seven; and that they will do more work, and do it in a better manner? One morning a gentleman was going to church. He was a happy, cheerful Christian, who had a very great respect for the Lord’s day. He was a singular man, and would sometimes do and say what children are apt to call very “funny things.” As he was going along he met a stranger driving a heavily-loaded wagon through the town. When this gentleman got right opposite to the wagoner he stopped, turned around, and, lifting both hands as if in horror, he exclaimed, as he gazed under the wagon, “There, there! you are going over it! You have gone right over it!” The driver was frightened. He drew up his reins in an instant, cried, “Whoa! whoa!” and brought his horses to a stand.

Then he looked down under the wheels, expecting to see the mangled remains of some innocent child, or at least some poor dog or pig that had been ground to a jelly. But he saw nothing. So, after gazing all about he looked up to the gentleman who had so strangely arrested his attention, and anxiously asked, “Pray, Sir, what have I gone over?” “Over the law of the Lord,” was the quick reply. POINTS FOR . 1. Note that creation testifies of a Creator, as a watch implies a watch-maker. 2. That all life comes from God. Man can endow nothing with vitality. He has never been able to make a single seed. God is the fountain of all life. 3.

That our race was placed here with a definite work. That idleness is not our mission. That every one must help in “subduing.” That he must begin by subduing himself. 4. That man has rightful dominion over all animated creation, and that this is acknowledged. The savage beasts, ten times stronger than himself, flee before him. The mighty elephant becomes his servant.

He was given this rule because he was created in the divine likeness. He cannot rule rightly unless he retains that likeness and is moved by wisdom, mercy and love. 5. That God rested from creative work in order to engage in other activities. So we are to rest from secular employments one day in seven that we may give our time to higher employments, study of the Word, worship of God, and activities for the moral advancement of the race. 6. That God has a right to your service because he made your home, made you, gave you life, and blessed you with his favor and love.