Time Reserved for Preparation

Having told my friend, Cecile, that the Sabbath is from sundown-to-sundown, she later asked me if I could watch a movie with her on a Friday afternoon.

This is what I told her:

Technically speaking, the Sabbath only officially starts when the sun sets on a Friday and it only officially ends when the sun sets on a Saturday. However, the Bible calls Friday the Preparation Day. (“Now it was the Preparation Day of the Passover, and about the sixth hour.” John 19:14; “On the next day, which followed the Day of Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate . . . .” Matthew 27:62; “Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.” Matthew 28:1)

Friday, especially the hours after noontime, are to be used to get one’s self ready for the oncoming Sabbath. Being ready not only means being physically prepared to spend the Sabbath in worship and communion with our Maker and God. More than just that, it means preparing one’s mind to worship the Lord.

If I were to watch a movie with her on a Friday, particularly in the afternoon, I’d probably spend the Sabbath thinking of that movie still. Thus, it would intrude on the sacredness of my Sabbath worship. It would distract my mind from God and draw it towards earthly things.

Written by hand on November 16, 2007 at 11:06 P.M.