Genesis 2:3 Commentary
THOMAS SCOTT COMMENTARY
Verse 3. The sacred writer here both records the appointment of the Sabbath, and assigns the reason for it: “because that in it the Lord rested from all His work.” This is evidently historical, and not by anticipation: for the reason subsisted from the beginning, and was more cogent immediately, than it could be at a distance of more than two thousand years, when the command was solemnly renewed from Mount Sinai, long after sin had marred the beauty of the great Creator’s works; and it concerns the whole human race as much as the nation of Israel. This is confirmed by the custom of measuring time by weeks, which hath generally prevailed in the world; and which is most reasonably accounted for, by supposing it to have arisen from an original tradition, handed down from Adam and Noah to all their posterity. And the silence of Moses, concerning the observation of the Sabbath by the patriarchs, so far from proving that they were not commanded to observe it, will not render it so much as probable that they did not actually keep it, if we attentively consider, how much darkness rests upon many similar subjects in the scriptural history of the Church. Yet some intimations are given in this book, which show that the patriarchs divided time into weeks, and regarded the seventh day (Ge 8:10,12; 29:27).—Even in the state of innocence Adam and Even were employed in dressing and keeping the garden: and, though exempt from sin and suffering, yet their rational nature was capable of a far more exalted state; and they were taught to consider themselves as preparing for it by progressive improvement. The seventh day, therefore, being blessed and sanctified by God, separated from common employments, and consecrated to religious worship, they were required, on it especially, to remember their Creator, to contemplate His works, and to render Him their tribute of thankful praise; and this would, even in Paradise, be conducive to the glory of God, and beneficial to them, perhaps absolutely necessary to their safety and felicity. (Notes, Ex 16:22-27; 20:8-11.)
0 comments:
Post a Comment