Keeping the Sabbath Holy

Joseph F. Dumond

Isa 6:9-12 And He said, Go, and tell this people, You hear indeed, but do not understand; and seeing you see, but do not know. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn back, and be healed. Then I said, Lord, how long? And He answered, Until the cities are wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land laid waste, a desolation, and until Jehovah has moved men far away, and the desolation in the midst of the land is great.
Published: Jul 26, 2019

News Letter 5855-021
The 3rd Year of the 4th Sabbatical Cycle
The 24th year of the 120th Jubilee Cycle
The 23rd day of the 5th month 5855 years after the creation of Adam
The 5th Month in the Third year of the Fourth Sabbatical Cycle
The 4th Sabbatical Cycle after the 119th Jubilee Cycle
The Third Year Tithe for the Widows and Orphans and Levites
The Sabbatical Cycle of Sword, Famines, and Pestilence

July 27, 2019

Shabbat Shalom to the Royal Family of Yehovah,

Traveling and Keeping the Sabbath Holy

As some of you know I have been traveling with my family in Newfoundland this past week and as such we have had little time to prepare this weeks News Letter. I have though found a few minutes now as the Sabbath approaches to write to you briefly. I thought I would write to you about how do you keep the Sabbath while traveling and with a large family that does not keep the Sabbath.

No one in my family keeps it. So when they get together it is non stop partying. This entails singing around the kitchen and outside while the new ones are screeched in and talking and visiting relatives that we have not seen in like forever. Then there are the family hikes and tours and keeping the grand kids busy and finding time to catch up on our sleep somewhere along the way. We have seen whales, Icebergs, moose, bears, puffins, lighthouses and family homesteads from Corner Brook to St John’s. 60 of us a first and then down to about 30 all traveling together getting under each others skin and having a great old time. Using facebook to co-ordinate where one or two are now going and the rest saying ok we’re coming too. Many things done on the spur of the moment.

As one of the old persons now in our family besides my Mom and her two sisters and our Uncle, many eyes are on me the entire trip. My daughter who came with me to Israel last year did most of the planning and has not planned anything for both of the two Sabbaths we will be here.

So what have I done and how did I keep the Sabbath while at the same time being with this lively bunch?

In my zeal to obey in the past doing a complete 180 as many of you do, I shut myself in my room and said no to everything the family was up to and did not allow any of them to ask me questions or to see what we could do on the Sabbath.

We are commanded to Keep it Holy which for most of us we never did before being drawn into this faith. We are told not have our spouses or children or anyone work for us nor the animals. We are not to be picking up sticks as that one man did on the Sabbath and was stoned for it.

The Sabbath meaning and purpose can be found in the 7th month. It can be found in the 7th Year Sabbatical year and it can be found in the 7th Millennium of Rest. And we can gather clues as to what we can and cannot do from them. But how do we keep it Holy? And how on earth do you do it while traveling with others who do not keep it?

I am not perfect and I still make mistakes. But in everything I am doing I want to win others to this way of life. And if they cannot see it then they will not know about it. So hiding in our rooms is not an option.

The first thing when ever I travel is to plan my flights so that I am not flying on nor arriving at my destination on the Sabbath or just before the Sabbath and then being forced to check in as the Sabbath begins. For this article the Sabbath is also going to mean each of the Holy Days, but I am only going to speak of the Sabbath as if I was covering them all. So I left on Thursday by air and arrived 1 AM Friday morning and into our room.

The next day was a tour of Gross Mourn Park which we did not make as we were too tired. I drove some of the family to our place of meeting and we ate and talked and visited.  As the Sabbath came I continued to visit and socialize. I did not let anyone serve me, we were not eating out so that was not a problem. The problem came after we ate and the sun had set so that the Sabbath began that they began to play many of the Newfy jigs and reels and singing. And once in a while there is a gospel song tossed in.

I found nothing wrong with this as I was not the one performing nor was I drinking to the state of drunkenness. A few were but only a few. So we stayed and talked and enjoyed each others company.

The Next day was the same thing for the entire day. It was a repeat with still others coming to visit. When the Sun set Friday, I said a prayer and during the day I said a prayer a few times to remind me of what day this was and so that I did not forget. I am not aware of any Messianic groups in Corner Brook or St. John’s. Everyone brought something for the meal much like we do for our Sabbath pot luck meals. And there are people singing at them as well. Yes I know that the group I was with was not praising Yehovah.

My wife commented a couple of times that she did not think I would be there or do that. I have in the past been guilty of stupidity many times and most likely drove her away in my zeal to obey and did not give her the chance to join me in keeping the Sabbath by hiding in the bedroom when the Sabbath came and not leaving until it was over.

Some of the family went to buy more supplies at the store on the Sabbath. I could not prevent that. But I rested with my extended family that whole day. It was very nice.

Now as this next Sabbath is approaching many of then want to go out and party in the many pubs in downtown St. John’s. My wife and I will be at the house we are staying in looking after the Grand Kids and hopefully reading to them or they will be asleep.

My daughter again who is the one doing the planning and knowing I will not buy or sell on the Sabbath had planned for a nice walk to Signal Hill or Cape Spear which are great areas for family relaxing time. But we did those yesterday and saw so many whales close to shore. So she asked if I would go with them to the beach. The water is freezing still and hyper thermia will set in a matter of minutes. But if that is what they want to do then I can come and skip stones with the kids and read something while sleeping on the beach.

The Sabbath was made for MAN! It was made for you and I to worship our Creator and to spend that time with your family. Those of you who have your entire family attending a group together with you somewhere are blessed and it is much easier. But this was not written for you. I am sharing this with those who do not have family in this walk with us. Those who pray like I do each day for our flesh and blood to join us. Those of us who are looked upon by our spouses and families as being just one step from the mental hospital. And yet Yehovah still has not granted us our request by removing the veil from their eyes so they too can see. And I do not know why He does this except that we are being especially trained for something.

I have these rules for me. These are the ones I use for myself. I will not buy and I will not cause others to work for me on the sabbath. I will not use a taxi or bus or subway. I will not buy gas or food on the Sabbath. I will not pay to get into anything. There are ox’s in the ditch but this is not one of them.

So tonight I know my family will be talking about me. Where is Joe and why is he not out here with us singing up in each of these pubs. My family goes from pub to pub and ask to sing between sets and they get the crowd going they are that good. So after seeing me with them last Sabbath socializing and then not with them buying beers and carrying on in the pubs Friday night they are going to wonder why. Those who know will explain it to them. And if Yehovah is calling them then He will cause them to come back and ask me more about it afterwards. If He is not calling them, then I will carry on praying that He has mercy on my family.

There are some of you who are trained to think that you absolutely must attend a church or group every Sabbath. If you do not then you have sinned. I was one of those and it drove me crazy when I could not find a group. SDA or SDB or any Jewish group would do, right? I am not here to tell you what you must do and what you must do on the Sabbath. Work out your Salvation with fear and trembling the same as I do.

But keep in mind the man with just one talent who hid it in the sand and then lost everything in the parable for doing nothing. Hiding on the Sabbath as I used to do does not witness to anyone and I liken it to burying that one talent. If I am wrong in the way I kept the Sabbath last week and this one now, then I error on the side of witnessing to those who know very little about it and are watching. I error in doing something.

My Uncle talked to me about the 2300 Days of Hell and told a couple others about it in our conversations. I have noticed that those who have had my books in the past and spoken evil of them or me are now dead or taken up with stage 4 cancer. But that is just something I am seeing.

Brethren do not be afraid to keep the Sabbath Holy amongst those who do not know anything about it. Especially your own family. The ones you love the most. Pray to Yehovah and ask Him to help you in all that you do for His names Sake.

I hope this helps some of you who struggle in this area.

Burundi

I was about to share with you the things James was doing but the Grand kids just came in and I will leave that report for next week.

12 Comments

  1. Robert White

    You sound like the rest of the Messy-antics justifying your doing that are NOT set-a-part to Yahuah on His Shabats. Talking about the worlds things on Shabat is NOT Praising Yahuah on His day. Second, if you eat or drink of anything that the “others” had went out and bought on the Shabat, then you are just as guilty of buying it.

    Reply
    • Joseph F. Dumond

      like i said Robert we all have to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling.

      Reply
      • Antonio Z de Asis

        yes.. as much as possible we should jive our 6-day travels so you may be free to worship on Sabbath. its hard but it be done. its just me & my lonesome who observe this at home though. 🙁

        Reply
        • Joseph F. Dumond

          Yes it can be done and you must begin to plan for it long before the Sabbath comes. Plan to be done work before the sabbath begins. Plan to have all your chores done before the Sabbath comes. Schedule events for Sunday or another day. But you must do this work and show Yehovah you are trying. Then He will do the rest.

          Reply
  2. Paul collier

    Thankyou brother Joe shabbat shalom the welcome sign said all that Yah wants us to learn sholom Paul

    Reply
  3. Pauline

    Shabbat Shalom Joe,
    Thank you very much for taking the time to write us. Much appreciated.
    Your holiday sounds like loads of fun.
    May YHVH bless you and your family.
    Shalom from Brisbane
    Paulin

    Reply
  4. Victoria Koorzen

    If my remark sounds facetious, please forgive me.
    This very short little newsletter meant sooo much to me! Family gatherings and get togethers have become nightmares and bones of contention. Oh, the damage done by zeal without wisdom! Thank you, Joseph.

    Reply
  5. Carole Oosthuizen

    Dear Joe,
    Please can you help clarify this puzzle: On the Sabbath – A husband is the head of the woman. He does not keep the Sabbath. In order not to cause conflict in the home, which may lead to a divorce what must the woman do? Yehovah is the head of all.

    Reply
    • Joseph F. Dumond

      Shalom Carole I too am married to an unconverted mate or one that has not answered Yehovahs call in the affirmative. I tried that man is the head of the household routine when I was first starting this walk. Sleeping on the couch for months and no sex helped to cure it. Men may indeed be the head but they must work with the spouse to get things done and for all to be blessed. It is a time of negotiations.
      Yehovah has called you. HE has not called your Husband. Paul said that if they should decide to stay with you then stay married. Do not push for divorce. You being called will learn many things that those who have their spouse in the faith will never learn. It is not easy and it is not always fun. But you do learn why you walk this walk. You are forced to learn why you obey Yehovah the way you do and not just follow the crowds. I have had to prove everything I do because of my wife. And as a result of this, I am now able to share these News Letters each week. Had my wife started this walk with me 37 years ago I would not have had to prove anything. We would just agree and carry on. But because she did not agree and still does not, I must prove over and over why I do what I do beyond all doubts, so I can answer her questions and now the questions of many others.
      I would love for her and my extended family to be walking this walk with me. I continue to try and pray they will come around. I compromise where I can and where it crosses that line in the sand I stand firm and damn the torpedoes. Yehovah then steps in and has many times when divorce was about to happen and resolved the issues in spite of the stupid things I did try to fix it. He is watching you, to see what you do and will help you as you move forward but you must obey no matter what. Even when it looks hopeless. He is testing you for a very special role in His Kingdom. One only you can fulfil. SO hang in there. You can always write to me privately if you need help. Again it is not easy and Yehovah does not give us a trial we cannot endure, but He does give us ones to help us to grow.
      I know this sounds like I am skirting the issue, I am not. If you are or appear weak then the testing continues. If you are strong even when it looks like the end of hopeless, I have seen Yehovah step in and help many times. A book that can help any marriage is Love and Respect, and I urge you to get it. You can change your husband by the things you do for him and to him. https://www.amazon.ca/Love-Respect-Desires-Desperately-Needs/dp/1591451876/ref=sr_1_1?hvadid=74491970195766&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvqmt=e&keywords=love+and+respect&qid=1564338118&s=gateway&sr=8-1
      I want you to get this book and read it. Although this issue of keeping this walk is the current battleground you are in, it is not the first nor the last to come up in most marriages.

      Reply
  6. Jen J.

    Thank you Joe! Sounds like a restful time to connect with family! So often we miss opportunities to have the real conversations that build relationships. Thankyou for this honest quick newsletter. May your vacation be blessed and you family!

    Reply
  7. Ross

    Shabbat Shalom Joseph,
    It’s Monday night here and I have just read your newsletter. I’ve been sick and had no energy. But I should have read it Friday evening. It is wonderfully refreshing and would have helped me with a struggle I was having.
    I couldn’t walk, it stand up for that matter and I needed to eat. I didn’t want to break the Sabbath to ask for help but I thought what if it were there other way around? What if someone called me for help on the Sabbath. Would I help then? I don’t know. Maybe that’s twisted logic but it seemed right enough especially when I was not paying someone to work for me, which I never do since I started keeping the Sabbath.
    So, my sister in law came up and I asked r to bring me some water and a piece of bread. She did that and returned to the kitchen. I hear clanging of dishes and called out her not to work because it was the Sabbath. She doesn’t keep it but she knows it’s important to me. After a few minutes she cane back to my room with a plate of rice and chicken. She did that out of live fort me. I couldn’t tell her she was wrong.
    Again on Saturday she cane up and got me another small meal. When she began to clean and take care of laundry I reminded that it was the Sabbath and that the work could wait until dark or the next day.
    What I get out of this and from your Sabbath story as well, is that perhaps Yehovah cares more about our struggle to be with Him than He does about how we might sometimes fail.
    Thank you for sharing your experience.

    Reply
  8. Jan

    Thank you Joe for this newsletter. I too am the only one walking this walk. The somewhat few times my sons come to visit, it is always on Sabbath. I have my food for the day in a thermos (prepared prior to sundown the day before) or something cold. My husband and son doing the cooking for themselves to eat. They ask me if I want something to eat and I just say no. I’ll eat later from my thermos when they’ve left. I enjoy playing with the grandchildren inside. Others may go fishing or go off somewhere else. I go if it is to just walk, but I stay home if they’re going to a planned citywide event. I see this as keeping His day holy as well as my time with family and resting. As you said, to lock yourself in your room is not a positive testimony of His goodness.
    That first year of Christmas when I refused to go, my husband was up in arms about my being rude. Thereafter, nothing has been said. They still give me presents even when I am insistent on not wanting any. I hate those holidays.
    There are some who insist you have to stay inside and study or go to a messianic group meeting. I don’t believe either. I agree with you that Sabbath was made for man and He wants us to enjoy His creation and our family. I would prefer they visited on Sunday, but I can’t control this and remain on peaceful terms. Hiding gives a bad impression of YHVH.
    I tried to share a book with my son since he has an interest in ancestry. A book about the tribes and how we are the descendants of Israel. He and his wife both enjoy history. But, they had no interest in this either. Discouraging for sure.
    In fact today, my husband is visiting our other son and new baby. That is a 6-hour drive there and back. Didn’t know whether to do this or not so I just stay home.
    Anyway, thanks for this newsletter. It was good to read.

    Reply

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