Today we will consider the big picture ideas of Sabbath Preparation for our souls. All thoughts came from Thomas Watson, The Ten Commandments, PA: Banner of Truth Trust, Reprint 2021, 93 – 122.

Isa 58:13 If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, From doing your pleasure on My holy day, And call the Sabbath a delight, The holy day of the LORD honorable, And shall honor Him, not doing your own ways, Nor finding your own pleasure, Nor speaking your own words, 4 Then you shall delight yourself in the LORD; And I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth, And feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father. The mouth of the LORD has spoken.”

“This is the day wherein Christ carries the soul into the house of wine, and displays the banner of love over it.” Song 2:4 NKJV.

Soul preparation:

“Rise early on the Sabbath and “dress your souls for hearing the word”.

1. Read the Word.

“Read carefully, with seriousness and affection.”  Psa 19:9b The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

2. Meditate on the following:

A. “On the works of creation. He who can create, can provide; He who could make us when we’re nothing, can raise us when we’re low.” Psalm 124:8 Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

B. “On God’s holiness. God is essentially, originally, and immutably holy.  The contemplation of this would work in us such a frame of heart as is suitable to a holy God; it would make us reverence his name and hallow his day.”

C. “On Christ’s love. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.  Therefore, I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many,” 2 Cor 5:21 and Isaiah 53:12.

• Consider that Christ would redeem us, when he could not expect to gain anything, or to be advantaged at all by us!

• Consider that Christ should die so willingly! “I lay down my life.” John 10:17.

• Consider that Christ should not grudge, nor think much—of all his sufferings! Though he was scourged and crucified, he was well contented with what he had done, and, if it were needful, he would do it again. “He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied.” Isa 53:11.

• Consider that Christ should make redemption effectual to some— and not to others! Here is astonishing love. Though there is sufficiency in his merits to save all—yet only some partake of their saving virtue. Christ does not pray for all. John 17:9. All have not the benefit of salvation by him. Herein appears the distinguishing love of Christ.

• Consider that Christ should love us with such a transcendent love! The apostle calls it “Love which passes knowledge.” Eph 3:19.

• Consider that Christ’s love in our redemption should be everlasting!”Having loved his own—he loved them unto the end.” John 13:1.

D. Meditate on the glory of heaven.

3. Pray for…

A. Blessing upon the Word that will be read, sung, and preached.

B. Pray for him who dispenses the Word; that his tongue may be touched with a hot coal from God’s altar; that God would warm his heart—who is to help to warm others.

C. Pray with reverence, humility, fervency and hope in God’s mercy.  Luke 22:44 And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

D. Pray for your ability and desire to hear the preached Word.

“When you sit down in your seat, lift up your eyes to heaven for a blessing upon the Word to be dispensed; for you must know that the Word preached does not work like a medicine—by its own inherent virtue—but by a virtue from heaven, and the blessing of the Holy Spirit. Therefore put up a short ejaculatory prayer for a blessing upon the Word—that it may be made effectual to you.”[1]

I pray that each of you will benefit from Thomas Watson’s most glorious thoughts on the Sabbath!  I know I am!! 

Prepare your hearts and dress your soul for the Lord’s Day tomorrow. Rest and be ready to receive the Lord’s mighty blessing. Drew is preaching on Zephaniah 3:17 The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love,

He will rejoice over you with singing.”  How sweet are these words to your ears and beneficial to your soul!!

I love you all very much.

Sorry for the early text but I must say it has made my heart rejoice as I ride into Atlanta this morning!!!

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[1] Thomas Watson, The Ten Commandments, (PA: Banner of Truth Trust, Reprint 2021), 93 – 122.