Most interestingly, the answer lies in what we believe this "rest" to be. If we are "Pharisaical," meaning "legalistic," in our outlook --although, sometimes the Pharisees were Scripturally correct--then to us, Shabbat will consist of "legalistic ritual." This remains true whether we are for, or against, keeping the Sabbath. On either side, mere mention of "the "Sabbath" will cause voices to whisper to us about the many "regulations" and "restrictions" of the day. They will shout to us about all the "forbidden" things we "cannot do."

However, this "Pharisaical voice" is not the voice of the Father. Nor is it the voice of His Son. For the Father says those who take pleasure in, and honor, His Sabbath, they also will delight in Yahveh. He who sits on High has declared: "If because of the Sabbath, you turn your foot from doing your own pleasure on My holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy day of Yahveh honorable, and shall honor it, desisting from your own ways, from seeking your own pleasure, and speaking your own word, then you will take delight in the LORD, and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; and I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the mouth of Yahveh has spoken" (Isaiah 58:13-14).

The words penned by the prophet Isaiah were spoken long after the Law was given to Moses, and, they tell us that those who take pleasure in the Sabbath, they also will delight in Yahveh, they will feast on the inheritance of their father Jacob.

Isaiah absolutely speaks of a "blessing," and it is granted to those who honor the Sabbath. These Sabbath lovers are not "restricted" in any way, rather, they ride on the high places of the Land...

The Sabbath was not created for the sake of restriction. Instead, restoration and refreshment are the very heart and soul of the Sabbath. Yahveh Elohim gives this as the specific reason for which He created this special day: "Six days you are to do your work, but on the seventh day you shall cease from labor in order that your ox and your donkey may rest, and the son of your female slave, as well as your stranger, may refresh themselves" (Exodus 23:12).

The reason for the Sabbath is that all Israel, even the lowly, defenseless son of a female slave, or even the foreigner who has no legal rights in the land, may be refreshed. The word used here is naphash, which means to breathe, and/or, to be breathed upon.¹ In other words, Yahveh created the Sabbath to give us "time to breathe," time to slow down from the pace forced upon all who must earn their living by the sweat of their brow. Yahveh wants our physical bodies to be rested, and thus rejuvenated. But, more important, it is a time for the Ruach, the Breath, the Spirit, of the Almighty to breathe on us! It is a special time wherein the Ruach HaKodesh, the Holy Spirit, when we focus on our Elohim, will breathe on and refresh our spirit man.

However, let all who would "spiritualize away" the command of the Sabbath take note: The "shabbat"command does not speak of "spiritual" refreshment alone. Our Heavenly Father gave us the seventh day rest that we might be recharged, spiritually, emotionally, and physically. We know this because the ox, donkey, and stranger are included in the instruction to rest. The prohibition is against "servile labor." Thus it is clear that in addition to any "spiritual refreshment" intended in His command to rest, Yahveh Elohim wants His people, and even their unbelieving servants, as well as their animals, to experience a certain "physical refreshment."