Sabbath a law or a good tradition?

Exodus 31:12 The Lord then gave these instructions to Moses: 13 “Tell the people of Israel: ‘Be careful to keep my Sabbath day, for the Sabbath is a sign of the covenant between me and you from generation to generation. It is given so you may know that I am the Lord, who makes you holy.

The Sabbath Day, God's day of rest at creation and later commanded by God for Israel to observe, this very day was given to man (Mark 2:27), specifically the Jews as a law, but in general as an example of Sabbath to everyone else, of resting and noticing and taking in "it is good" all the goodness of God, hearing and reading of all He has done. Sunday became the Christian sabbath, the first day of the week, celebrating our set aside time for God on the day that Jesus rose from the dead. But, Chrisitan tradition as sweet as that tradition is, not to be mixed up with the Sabbath law to the Jews. That special day was a sign between God and His people Israel. The concept of following this law, in a non legalistic way is still acceptable and a good thing, and I think that's one reason why the early church followed this pattern, and passed it on to continue having one special day that was important for God in your life. I believe Sundays are vital for the flock to hear the same marching orders, what the Spirit says to the churches, on the same day of the week, every week, but it's nice it's not like the Jewish law through Moses, but more on the voluntary basis, just in case your boss made you work a few Sundays, you're not at odds with God. Though I will say, I still will hold to good arguments of coming together on the first day of the week, but with an understanding heart toward any unknown unforeseen particulars, like hospital stays, vacations with no church gathering available, etc. Sabbath doubting brethren, just use Sunday gatherings as your easy standard to follow, a simple rule of thumb, so you won't procrastinate or get lazy with the things of God, nor your relationship with Jesus. let the day work for you, so you'll always, each week be reminded that you have an appointment and time set aside to find rest for your soul in Him, as fellowship, prayers, the breaking of bread and the apostles doctrine, still and quiet your soul and instruct you in the words and the ways of His righteousness.

A plague because of your willful unscriptural choices

David numbered the people, and we read the enemy put this in His heart, but God also had a plan of judgment in it too. But, David was doing this to see how many fighting men he had, perhaps as a means of pride in the life of the king, rather than trusting God to be Israel's defense. Trust in God is one thing that is at stake here, and a sinful, willful heart of 'doing your own thing' and not doing it God's prescribed way.

Exodus 30:12 “Whenever you take a census of the people of Israel, each man who is counted must pay a ransom for himself to the Lord. Then no plague will strike the people as you count them.

God's ways are not our ways. We get ideas in our mind that can go in direct opposition to God's already written word. That's why we should acknowledge Him in all of our ways, just in case we are in the flesh in our decision making, and the Holy Spirit wants to bring to remembrance an exact verse pertaining to our present choices. It might save our neck or someone else's if we listen, before we act suddenly or even recklessly in regard to what He has already spoken. O, the hurtful things our families or churches might be spared from, if we just heard God's word first on the subject and responded accordingly, for no believer would ever really want to be the reason a plague had come upon his family or friends.

David also disregarded the law against having many wives for a king, and look how that missed opportunity of obedience to God's revealed word, messed up his example to Solomon, who eventually married godless women who stole his heart away from the right path. Being 'on it' with the word of truth, has a much better legacy and impact to leave behind, with no residual trail of plaguish destruction.

To forgive

"Lord forgive them, they know not what they do"
The Lord knows our exact sins against Him, He knows our deepest motives, He is fully aware of our depravity, He sees into the heart of hearts, the very core of our being, and He still loves us and forgives us of everything. This is truly amazing.

I think, "oh, I can forgive this person for what they've said and done to me." But, I don't really know the heart of the man nor their deepest motive, nor the abominations they harbour in their thought life against me. I might be able to find it somewhat easy to let them off the hook and say, "I forgive you," with ignorance of the many unknown angles, and secrets of their heart. But, if I truly did know exactly what they thought and how evil their heart and words were toward me, could I bear it, could I let it go, could I truly forgive? Well, here we have it, our Lord knows all this information and He still chooses to forgive all of our willful, rebellious sinning. He understands clearly just how bad we really are and yet He remembers the sin of our confession no more. He washes us clean, makes our hearts as white as snow, though we don't deserve it.

Can we in turn, like Jesus or even Stephen the first martyr of the church, say to the Lord, "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do," while they are gnashing at us with their teeth, while they mean us ill intent? May we have, with our incomplete knowledge of any given situation, His true heart of forgiveness towards the one(s) who have offended us.

John