The Lord’s Day is a weekly reminder that man does not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. It carries us from creation to consummation, from glory to eschatological glory. It is the memorial of God’s mighty acts, so it is fitting that on that day the Church partakes of the memorial of Christ’s sacrifice, the ultimate act of deliverance toward which all prior grace pointed.

When the Lord delivered his Law on Mt. Sinai, he called the people to remember the Sabbath (which they were already observing, Ex. 16:30) in memorial of God’s work of creation (Ex. 20:8-11). Forty years later when Moses delivered the Ten Commandments a second time on the eastern bank of the Jordan, Yahweh commanded the people to observe the Sabbath as a memorial of their deliverance from Egypt (Deut. 5:12-15).

As redemptive history progresses, the mighty acts of God which are to be remembered and memorialized accumulate. The history of providence which we celebrate grows. The Psalms of the OT speak of creation, exodus, sustenance in the wilderness, and God’s victory over Israel’s foes. The hymns of Heaven recorded in the Revelation speak of salvation accomplished and the final vengeance on the persecutors of God’s people. Throughout the history of the covenant, God’s people sang new songs when God intervened in mighty ways, so it is appropriate that the Church also sings new songs, not setting aside the former songs of Messiah Jesus, but building upon them as we sing with joy of redeemed people, filled by the Spirit of God.

The Sabbath was originally observed by the covenant community on the seventh day of the week, but after the resurrection of Christ, the Church universally embraced its commemoration on the first day. This was the Lord’s Day (Rev. 1:10), the day of Christ’s resurrection and appearances, the day on which the Church would gather to worship until the return of the King (Acts 20:7; 1Cor. 16:2). If you pay attention to the Sabbath law as codified in Exodus and Deuteronomy, you will notice that it is not Saturday but every seventh day. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh is the Sabbath of Yahweh your God.

Read More