Sabbath Keeping: An Ox in a Ditch and Healing on the Sabbath

Sabbath keeping requires that we learn to judge righteous judgement. The ox in a ditch scenario and the question about whether or not it is ok to heal on the Sabbath give us two case studies in how we are to judge matters based on the spirit of the law.

We are not given 10,000 scenarios for what is and is not appropriate on the Sabbath day. We must learn to apply the spirit of the law to our observance to be pleasing to the God who gives the commandment.

The "Ox in a Ditch principle is an important take on the Sabbath that comes straight from Jesus Himself who is "Lord of the Sabbath". It provides an understanding of how we can address emergencies that come up on the 7th day.

Healing on the Sabbath and the feeding/tending animals provides another example of applying reason and rational interpretation with regard to Sabbath keeping. But how might we apply this to 21st century urban living? What does it mean to "do good on the Sabbath?"

God wants us to be careful and scrupulous in observance of His commands yet merciful in how we judge actions... our own, and the actions of others. Gdo says: "mercy triumphs over judgment", and "I desire mercy not sacrifice".

It is the Father's desire that we learn to judge righteous judgment.

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