1. Moses & Sabbath: How the Sabbath gives us the foundation for ‘action in the world’

2. The Question for which the Sabbath is the answer
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“What can we learn from Moses’s design of the nation state of Israel about our action in the public space?”
Christian question Christian answer?
Human question Human answer?
Us v Them
Superiority
Private answer
‘Our exclusive answer’
We - together
Equality in face of mess
Public answer
‘On behalf of us all’
It is a ‘theology of hope’ not just hope
NT Wright model helps but don’t get too detailed.
This tells us we need deep work excavation to work on our worldview. We have natural worldviews, and are influenced in ways we don’t know by traditional worldviews. The Biblical worldview is counter intuitive and transformative – it is not natural nor is it easy to grasp. It is the work of divine revelation and also persevering study.
‘Monk v Merchant’
Active life v Reflective life

3. What did ‘Sabbath’ mean? A literary approach
Echoes…
Spirit of Deuteronomy
Origins …. First Principles
Laws of Deuteronony
Deuter 5
!0 Words
Architecture…
Amplify …
It is a ‘theology of hope’ not just hope
NT Wright model helps but don’t get too detailed.
This tells us we need deep work excavation to work on our worldview. We have natural worldviews, and are influenced in ways we don’t know by traditional worldviews. The Biblical worldview is counter intuitive and transformative – it is not natural nor is it easy to grasp. It is the work of divine revelation and also persevering study.

4. Three keys to understanding
1 Ten Commandments = ten ‘words’
2 “Laws” were examples NOT complete legislature
3 Deuteronomic code had ‘Decalogue’ structure 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
No other God
No images
Honour name
Sabbath
Parents
Murder
Adultery
Theft
False witness
Coveting
6-11 12 13
14 -16
17-18
19-21 22 23 24 26
It is a ‘theology of hope’ not just hope
NT Wright model helps but don’t get too detailed.
This tells us we need deep work excavation to work on our worldview. We have natural worldviews, and are influenced in ways we don’t know by traditional worldviews. The Biblical worldview is counter intuitive and transformative – it is not natural nor is it easy to grasp. It is the work of divine revelation and also persevering study.

5. The Sabbath – anomaly in the Ten words?
THEOLOGY
?????????
MORALITY 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
No other God
No images
Honour name
Sabbath
Parents
Murder
Adultery
Theft
False witness
Coveting
6-11 12 13
14 -16
17-18
19-21 22 23 24 26
It is a ‘theology of hope’ not just hope
NT Wright model helps but don’t get too detailed.
This tells us we need deep work excavation to work on our worldview. We have natural worldviews, and are influenced in ways we don’t know by traditional worldviews. The Biblical worldview is counter intuitive and transformative – it is not natural nor is it easy to grasp. It is the work of divine revelation and also persevering study.
RITUAL/ RELIGION

6. The Sabbath – UNIQUE in ANE
MESOPOTAMIA
ISRAEL
Years
Seven weeks of years
Days (the week) 7
Weeks
Festival of weeks (7 weeks)
Civic and cultic cycle of time tied to the phases of the moon
Lunar calendar
Sabbatical cycle is ‘most fundamental piece of social legislation in the Decalogue’ WW Hallo, Yale 1977
It is a ‘theology of hope’ not just hope
NT Wright model helps but don’t get too detailed.
This tells us we need deep work excavation to work on our worldview. We have natural worldviews, and are influenced in ways we don’t know by traditional worldviews. The Biblical worldview is counter intuitive and transformative – it is not natural nor is it easy to grasp. It is the work of divine revelation and also persevering study.
All TIME is bound by ‘Sabbath’ – Sabbath defines time itself and is basic module or unit of time on earth

7. The Sabbath – Implications of its uniqueness
Sabbath (creation) bounds time and all human activity All activity requires ‘story’ (beginning and end) to be meaningful
Time and activity framed by expectation and memory – PURPOSE & PROMISE
Constant iteration with no end
Bound on endless wheel
”Heavens rule human endeavour”
It is a ‘theology of hope’ not just hope
NT Wright model helps but don’t get too detailed.
This tells us we need deep work excavation to work on our worldview. We have natural worldviews, and are influenced in ways we don’t know by traditional worldviews. The Biblical worldview is counter intuitive and transformative – it is not natural nor is it easy to grasp. It is the work of divine revelation and also persevering study.

8. So what does ‘Sabbath’ signify about Time & Action-on-the-earth?
Creation Day
Amplifies…
Seventh day as culmination of act of creation (six days) * Gift – good
Seventh day as foreshadowing of new creation * Promise – there will be rest
It is a ‘theology of hope’ not just hope
NT Wright model helps but don’t get too detailed.
This tells us we need deep work excavation to work on our worldview. We have natural worldviews, and are influenced in ways we don’t know by traditional worldviews. The Biblical worldview is counter intuitive and transformative – it is not natural nor is it easy to grasp. It is the work of divine revelation and also persevering study.
Frame, interpret, understand, all life on earth, including all work on earth, as an echo, extension, development of God’s great act of creation.
Creation circumscribes all time and effort on the earth.
Seventh day as shared rule
* Personal – God authenticates personal scale of creation & we share that.
Sabbath is ‘memorial to week of creation’ & ‘sign forever that the LORD made heaven and earth in six days, and rested and refreshed on the seventh day’ WW Hallo

9. So what does Sabbath mean for work today?
Creation Day
Meaning: promise of meaning in all we do. (Hope not nihilism)
Wisdom: Wise action in the world imitates and is informed by God’s creation and intent.
Love: We meet God and participate with him to the extent we act as he wants us to in sub creation
It is a ‘theology of hope’ not just hope
NT Wright model helps but don’t get too detailed.
This tells us we need deep work excavation to work on our worldview. We have natural worldviews, and are influenced in ways we don’t know by traditional worldviews. The Biblical worldview is counter intuitive and transformative – it is not natural nor is it easy to grasp. It is the work of divine revelation and also persevering study.
Frame, interpret, understand, all life on earth, including all work on earth, as an echo, extension, development of God’s great act of creation.
Creation circumscribes all time and effort on the earth.

10. Ecclesiastes and the non-Sabbath nihilism ?
There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
9 What do workers gain from their toil? 10 I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race.l11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.
Creation Day
It is a ‘theology of hope’ not just hope
NT Wright model helps but don’t get too detailed.
This tells us we need deep work excavation to work on our worldview. We have natural worldviews, and are influenced in ways we don’t know by traditional worldviews. The Biblical worldview is counter intuitive and transformative – it is not natural nor is it easy to grasp. It is the work of divine revelation and also persevering study.
Take this foundation away, and action and life on the earth becomes problematic and a mockery – a puzzle, without hope.

11. Job 38 - Creation & Sabbath Wisdom?
Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm. He said:
2 “Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge? 3 Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me.
4 “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?     Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? 6 On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone— 7 while the morning stars sang together, and all the angels[a] shouted for joy?
8 “Who shut up the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb, 9 when I made the clouds its garment and wrapped it in thick darkness, 10 when I fixed limits for it and set its doors and bars in place, 11 when I said, ‘This far you may come and no farther; here is where your proud waves halt’?
12 “Have you ever given orders to the morning, or shown the dawn its place, 13 that it might take the earth by the edges and shake the wicked out of it? 14 The earth takes shape like clay under a seal; its features stand out like those of a garment.
Creation Day
It is a ‘theology of hope’ not just hope
NT Wright model helps but don’t get too detailed.
This tells us we need deep work excavation to work on our worldview. We have natural worldviews, and are influenced in ways we don’t know by traditional worldviews. The Biblical worldview is counter intuitive and transformative – it is not natural nor is it easy to grasp. It is the work of divine revelation and also persevering study.

12. “Rest” & Resurrection… NT expansion of Sabbath
Jesus inaugurates ‘Sabbath rest’ in Hebrews
‘There remains therefore a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For anyone who enters his rest ceases from his own works, as God did from his”
What is ‘rest’?
Not ‘cessation of labour’ to restore energy
But ‘engagement’ of God with his creation – enjoyment & love
Consummation of all the intent in the previous 6 days
‘There remains therefore a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For anyone who enters his rest ceases from his own works, as God did from his”
Sabbath rest – cease from our works contrasts starkly with
This tells us we need deep work excavation to work on our worldview. We have natural worldviews, and are influenced in ways we don’t know by traditional worldviews. The Biblical worldview is counter intuitive and transformative – it is not natural nor is it easy to grasp. It is the work of divine revelation and also persevering study.
So all activity (days 1-6) explained, inspired, focussed by day 7
Ie creation and re-creation in resurrection

13. “Rest” & the Joy – the end of striving
JOY and GRATITUDE The great secret for work.
COUNTER INTUITIVE SABBATH We enter God’s rest and share his joy
He is the first worker and designer
ANE attitude to work We do the work of the gods as slaves.
Sabbath rest – cease from our works contrasts starkly with
This tells us we need deep work excavation to work on our worldview. We have natural worldviews, and are influenced in ways we don’t know by traditional worldviews. The Biblical worldview is counter intuitive and transformative – it is not natural nor is it easy to grasp. It is the work of divine revelation and also persevering study.

14. The Sabbath – bridge between faith and action
CREATION AS
SACRED SPACE
THEOLOGY COSMOLOGY
MORALITY
WORLDVIEW Relations with God
UNIQUE LINKER Informs action in the world
Translates Faith into the earthly implications
SOCIAL ACTION
Relations with earth and others
It is a ‘theology of hope’ not just hope
NT Wright model helps but don’t get too detailed.
This tells us we need deep work excavation to work on our worldview. We have natural worldviews, and are influenced in ways we don’t know by traditional worldviews. The Biblical worldview is counter intuitive and transformative – it is not natural nor is it easy to grasp. It is the work of divine revelation and also persevering study.
Equally unique is the manner in which these ‘socio-economic principles were woven into the cult… Babylonian, Assyrian, Asia Minor civil/criminal law and ritual prescription were kept apart’ Hallo

15. Can you have a ‘morality’ without a ‘theology’?
CREATION AS
SACRED SPACE
THEOLOGY COSMOLOGY
MORALITY
WORLDVIEW
Cosmology (nature of reality)
Anthropology
(nature of humanity)
VALUES
How we behave & what we value
It is a ‘theology of hope’ not just hope
NT Wright model helps but don’t get too detailed.
This tells us we need deep work excavation to work on our worldview. We have natural worldviews, and are influenced in ways we don’t know by traditional worldviews. The Biblical worldview is counter intuitive and transformative – it is not natural nor is it easy to grasp. It is the work of divine revelation and also persevering study.

16. How ‘Sabbath’ principle plays out into design of society
The Second unique aspect of Deuteronomy law…
ANE ‘Royal’ society
Israel ‘Sabbath’ society
Kingly dominion
Arbitrary rule – including kindness, debt relief, etc
Extreme hierarchy
Godly authority +
Ie God owns the land, etc & initiates all authority
All created equal in image of God
It is a ‘theology of hope’ not just hope
NT Wright model helps but don’t get too detailed.
This tells us we need deep work excavation to work on our worldview. We have natural worldviews, and are influenced in ways we don’t know by traditional worldviews. The Biblical worldview is counter intuitive and transformative – it is not natural nor is it easy to grasp. It is the work of divine revelation and also persevering study.
Extreme irony …
Man rules..
Hierarchy & slavery..
LORD rules..
Equality & freedom..

17. How ‘Sabbath’ principle plays out into design of society
SABBATH ’word’
Deut. 14
Deut. 15
Deut. 16
First fruits system
Debt ‘release’ system
Calendar of festivals
Tithing system
Slave/servant ‘release’ system
Celebration mindset
Contemplating the divine origins of all we do.
Regularly.
Providence mindset
God owns all & we are participants
Joy & Humility
10% principle – proportionate of blessing
Liberality mindset
Extending God’s grace to
others. We are stewards.
Social welfare system.
System of grace and generosity.
It is a ‘theology of hope’ not just hope
NT Wright model helps but don’t get too detailed.
This tells us we need deep work excavation to work on our worldview. We have natural worldviews, and are influenced in ways we don’t know by traditional worldviews. The Biblical worldview is counter intuitive and transformative – it is not natural nor is it easy to grasp. It is the work of divine revelation and also persevering study.
Sabbatical concept is fundamentally an expression of social or socio-economic justice and natural (ecological) equity. Jubilee definitely serves to perserve the independence of the small farmer in the face of an emerging urban-royal society … same effect continued to be achieved by the cancellation of debts in the sabbatical year. Hallo

18. The abundance system Firstfruits Tithes Sabbath/Jubilee
Beginning of life and harvest
All of matter is a gift from God,
All our reaping is harvesting from God’s world
Grace and sharing
We don’t own our resources.
Stewards.
So distribute it laterally and socially
End of the cycle
Promise and hope.
Sharing all with God.
It is a ‘theology of hope’ not just hope
NT Wright model helps but don’t get too detailed.
This tells us we need deep work excavation to work on our worldview. We have natural worldviews, and are influenced in ways we don’t know by traditional worldviews. The Biblical worldview is counter intuitive and transformative – it is not natural nor is it easy to grasp. It is the work of divine revelation and also persevering study.

19. The tithing system – 10% Deuter 14
 Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year. 23 Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and olive oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the Lord your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name, so that you may learn to revere the Lord your God always. 24 But if that place is too distant and you have been blessed by the Lord your God and cannot carry your tithe (because the place where the Lord will choose to put his Name is so far away), 25 then exchange your tithe for silver, and take the silver with you and go to the place the Lord your God will choose. 26 Use the silver to buy whatever you like: cattle, sheep, wine or other fermented drink, or anything you wish. Then you and your household shall eat there in the presence of the Lord your God and rejoice. 27 And do not neglect the Levites living in your towns, for they have no allotment or inheritance of their own.
28 At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year’s produce and store it in your towns, 29 so that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the foreigners, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.
It is a ‘theology of hope’ not just hope
NT Wright model helps but don’t get too detailed.
This tells us we need deep work excavation to work on our worldview. We have natural worldviews, and are influenced in ways we don’t know by traditional worldviews. The Biblical worldview is counter intuitive and transformative – it is not natural nor is it easy to grasp. It is the work of divine revelation and also persevering study.

20. The ‘debt release’ system – 7 years principle
15 At the end of every seven years you must cancel debts. 2 This is how it is to be done: Every creditor shall cancel any loan they have made to a fellow Israelite. They shall not require payment from anyone among their own people, because the Lord’s time for canceling debts has been proclaimed. 3 You may require payment from a foreigner, but you must cancel any debt your fellow Israelite owes you. 4 However, there need be no poor people among you, for in the land the Lord your God is giving you to possess as your inheritance, he will richly bless you, 5 if only you fully obey the Lord your God and are careful to follow all these commands I am giving you today. 6 For the Lord your God will bless you as he has promised, and you will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. You will rule over many nations but none will rule over you.
7 If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them. 8 Rather, be openhanded and freely lend them whatever they need. 9 Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought: “The seventh year, the year for canceling debts, is near,” so that you do not show ill will toward the needy among your fellow Israelites and give them nothing. They may then appeal to the Lord against you, and you will be found guilty of sin. 10 Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. 11 There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.
It is a ‘theology of hope’ not just hope
NT Wright model helps but don’t get too detailed.
This tells us we need deep work excavation to work on our worldview. We have natural worldviews, and are influenced in ways we don’t know by traditional worldviews. The Biblical worldview is counter intuitive and transformative – it is not natural nor is it easy to grasp. It is the work of divine revelation and also persevering study.

21. The ‘slave release’ system – 7 years principle
Freeing Servants
12 If any of your people—Hebrew men or women—sell themselves to you and serve you six years, in the seventh year you must let them go free. 13 And when you release them, do not send them away empty-handed. 14 Supply them liberally from your flock, your threshing floor and your winepress. Give to them as the Lord your God has blessed you. 15 Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you. That is why I give you this command today.
16 But if your servant says to you, “I do not want to leave you,” because he loves you and your family and is well off with you, 17 then take an awl and push it through his earlobe into the door, and he will become your servant for life. Do the same for your female servant.
18 Do not consider it a hardship to set your servant free, because their service to you these six years has been worth twice as much as that of a hired hand. And the Lord your God will bless you in everything you do.
It is a ‘theology of hope’ not just hope
NT Wright model helps but don’t get too detailed.
This tells us we need deep work excavation to work on our worldview. We have natural worldviews, and are influenced in ways we don’t know by traditional worldviews. The Biblical worldview is counter intuitive and transformative – it is not natural nor is it easy to grasp. It is the work of divine revelation and also persevering study.

22. So what can we learn?
Creation story is source code for our theology and philosophy -
Creation is seen as gift not just intellectual debate on origins
Creation story breaks down sacred/secular divide and reimagines all of life as ‘sacred space’
Becomes ‘way of life’ not new ‘world order’
It is a ‘theology of hope’ not just hope
NT Wright model helps but don’t get too detailed.
This tells us we need deep work excavation to work on our worldview. We have natural worldviews, and are influenced in ways we don’t know by traditional worldviews. The Biblical worldview is counter intuitive and transformative – it is not natural nor is it easy to grasp. It is the work of divine revelation and also persevering study.
Instructs us as analogy or motif not commandment. As a sub-creator
Way of life approach means the spirit and love not a structure.