Today’s devotion comes from Deuteronomy 5:11-15.
“11 ‘You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain.
12 ‘Observe the sabbath day to keep it holy, as the Lord your God commanded you. 13 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 14 but the seventh day is a sabbath of the Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter or your male servant or your female servant or your ox or your donkey or any of your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you, so that your male servant and your female servant may rest as well as you. 15 You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out of there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm; therefore the Lord your God commanded you to observe the sabbath day.” Deuteronomy 5:11-15.
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Generally, the purpose of the fourth commandment (“Observe the sabbath day to keep it holy”), like the rest of the commandments, is to lead us to Christ. “Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:24-26.
Specifically, the purpose of the fourth commandment (“Observe the sabbath day to keep it holy”) is to lead us to the Lord of the Sabbath Who is Christ. “And it happened that He was passing through the grainfields on the Sabbath, and His disciples began to make their way along while picking the heads of grain. The Pharisees were saying to Him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?” And He *said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and he and his companions became hungry; how he entered the house of God in the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the consecrated bread, which is not lawful for anyone to eat except the priests, and he also gave it to those who were with him?” Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” Mark 2:23-28.
For those who are joined to this Lord of the Sabbath, Jesus Christ, He gives us true eternal rest: from slavery to dead works unto freedom in Christ, from deadness in sin unto fountains of living water bearing fruit by the Holy Spirit, and later from slavery to world’s corruptions unto Heaven’s holiness and other perfections.
“For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.” John 1:17.
And, this is how the intent of the third commandment (“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain”) is accomplished through God’s grace working in us, we rightly confess and worship Christ. We glorify Christ by giving Him meaningful and full credit as Lord of the Sabbath and otherwise.
Q. 99. What is required in the third commandment?
A. That we, not only by cursing or perjury, but also by rash swearing, must not profane or abuse the name of God; nor by silence or connivance be partakers of these horrible sins in others; and, briefly, that we use the holy name of God no otherwise than with fear and reverence; so that He may be rightly confessed and worshiped by us, and be glorified in all our words and works. Heidelberg Catechism.
Question 112: What is required in the third commandment?
Answer: The third commandment requires, That the name of God, his titles, attributes, ordinances, the Word, sacraments, prayer, oaths, vows, lots, his works, and: Whatsoever else there is whereby he makes himself known, be holy and reverently used in thought, meditation, word, and writing; by an holy profession, and Answerable conversation, to the glory of God, and the good of ourselves, and others. Westminster Larger Catechism.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 