Fourth Commandment: The High Holy Day

In C.S. Lewis’ book The Silver Chair, Aslan gives Jill Pole a list of signs to remember on her quest. Throughout the story, Jill forgets the signs, because she starts to set her mind on finding rest at the giant castle of Harfang. Because Jill chooses to rest at Harfang rather than remembering Aslan’s signs, she almost gets baked into one of the giants’ favorite delicacies: human pie. Just as Jill was told to remember, we Christians must remember. In today’s sermon passage, we are commanded to “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.” I so often forget to keep the Sabbath. Like Jill Pole, I get distracted and think the best place of rest is my own way of doing things, when it actually leads to a life of weariness. As we worship today, we remember that our rest is in “Christ the solid rock” and that it is beneath His wing where the “sparrow finds a place of rest.” It is in Jehovah, not the feverish approval of man, where the believer finds a safe defense. Our world offers plenty of giant castles that seem to offer safety and rest, but the only place of true security is where we lay down our yoke and take up Christ’s knowing that we are not strangers or guests. We are children at home. —Emma Marsh