Shabbat
THE SHABBAT: A SIGN OF THE COVENANT
The Shabbat is not only a central commandment. It is very much more, namely a sign of the covenant between God and His people!
(Ezek 20:20 KJV) And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between ME and you, that ye may know that I am the LORD your God.
The Shabbat is one of the two Covenant signs (=Oth Brith), which we meet in the Bible. These two Covenant signs are:
- The circumsion as a sign of the covenant on the flesh.
- The Shabbat as a sign and foretaste of the coming Kingdom of God. In Exodus 31:13-17 (KJV) it says: 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 the LORD that doth sanctify you. ….Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.
It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.
There is a wise saying amongst the Jewish, that makes it clear, that the Shabbat is not only a commandment, but also a blessing: “More, as Israel has kept the Shabbat, the Shabbat has kept Israel” (Echad HaAm).
BEGIN OF SHABBAT
As soon as sun set appears on Friday evening, begins Shabbat. One receives the Shabbat like a bride; such is the imaginary picture of Jews. Some even open their house door wide at the Shabbat-blessing, to receive thus the Shabbat-Bride in their house and bid a welcome.
According to biblical understanding the new day starts in the evening, for it says in Genesis: “it was evening and it was morning, the first day”. The husband goes before sunset to the synagogue and the wife cares at home for the last preparations. With the lightening of the Shabbat candles the wife enters the Shabbat. From now on no work is permitted, only the delight of the Shabbat is commanded.
SHABBAT START IN THE FAMILY
When the head of the family comes after the start of Shabbat back home from the synagogue, his first words are: “Shabbat Shalom!” – he declares thus the Shabbat peace.
Then one opens the evening with the well-known Shabbat song: “Shalom Aleikhem, Malakhei HaSharet” (Peace with you, you serving angels).
In the following the host (normally the father) praises his wife according to the verses in Proverbs 31:10-31, the chapter about “the Excellent Wife”. There are 22 alphabetically listed verses that praise the hard-working wife. (My personal advice to every husband!)
Then he turns to his children, first to the sons and says: “May God make you like Ephraim and Menashe.” (according to Gen 48:20) To the daughters he says: “May God make you like Sarah, Rivka (Rebecca), Rachel and Lea”. The words to the family end with the priestly blessing from Numbers 6:24-26: “Yevarekha Adonai ve-yishmerekha: Ya’er Adonai Panav elekha ve-yikhunekha: Yissa Adonai Panav elekha ve-yassem lekha Shalom - The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
Afterwards Psalm 23 is being read: “The LORD is my shepherd; …”. The Psalm ends with the words, “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: … my cup runneth over“.
One speaks the blessing over the cup of wine, that is purposely filled to overflow, as symbol of God’s overflowing blessing. Some Jews fill the cup with water and wine, what reminds Christians about Jesus death on the cross, as from His side blood and water flowed.
First one takes the wine and than the bread (in Christianity it is the other way round) and says: “Baruch ata, Adonai, Elohenu melech ha-Olam, boree pri ha-Gefen – Praised are You, LORD, our God, King of the universe, who has created the fruit of the vine.”
Then the head of the family blesses the bread and speaks: “Baruch ata, Adonai, Elohenu melech ha-Olam, ha-motzi lechem min ha-Aretz – Praised are You, LORD, our God, King of the universe, who brings bread out of the earth.” Then the Shabbat bread is broken, as the body of Jesus has been broken for us (1Cor 11:24 KJV). The bread is sprinkled with salt, as a sign of sacrifice; according to the biblical law every food sacrifice was to be sprinkled with salt (Leviticus 2:13).
