The Rhythm of Life
Our lives, as we well know, pass through various seasons. Sometimes these are joyful, as when a baby is born, a hard-fought achievement is attained, or a new family is formed in marriage. Other seasons bring sadness, discouragement, and death. Realizing that God is in control of all the seasons of life can help us rejoice in the good and faithfully accept the bad. In this lesson we look at a recurring rhythm of life that God built into all of creation.
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Question 1 of 7
1. Question
1. What does the Bible say about time and the rhythms of life?
1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; 3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, KJV
Reflection Question
What season of life have you most recently passed through? How has it impacted and affected you?
Review
To how many seasons of life is there an appointed time? (Fill in the blanks.)
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“To there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1, KJV).
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Question 2 of 7
2. Question
2. Who controls the rhythms of life?
My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.
Psalm 31:15
God initiated life at creation, and He continues to uphold and sustain all life each day. King David, the author of this verse, learned to trust God through numerous trials, and he wrote many songs of praise even when being hunted and persecuted by his enemies.
Personal Response
What experiences have led you to believe and trust in God more fully? What reassurance does it give you to remember that God is in control of all things, including your life?
Review
Who controls the rhythms of life? (Select the best answer.)
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Question 3 of 7
3. Question
3. What recurring gift of time did God weave into the rhythm of life on the seventh day of creation?
1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. 3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.
Genesis 2:1-3
At the end of creation week God blessed the seventh day and set it apart for a special purpose. In Exodus 20 God explains that the Sabbath is a time to remember and worship Him as Creator: “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God… For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it” (Exodus 20:8-11).
The word Sabbath means “rest.” It’s a concept deeply embedded into creation, shaping our weekly seven-day life cycle even in modern times. Many physiological functions in the human body, such as disease immunity, systolic blood pressure, enamel deposition, and cognitive functions, function in cycles or multiples of seven days. Similar seven-day rhythms occur in many other species including honeybees, beetles, rats, mice, guinea pigs, and even algae:
[M]any diverse species are known to express [seven-day cyclic phenomena], from the simple unicellular Gonyaulax polyedra…to plants, insects, fish, birds and mammals, e.g. laboratory rodents, horses and humans. …From a chronobiologic point of view, it is impossible to eliminate the 7 d[ay] component from the inherent organization of processes and functions of the biological time structure.
Reinberg, Alain & Dejardin, Laurence & Smolensky, Michael & Touitou, Yvan. (2016). Seven-day human biological rhythms: An expedition in search of their origin, synchronization, functional advantage, adaptive value and clinical relevance. Chronobiology International. 34. 1-30.
Personal Response
What does it reveal about God that He created the Sabbath to recur on the seventh day of each week? What does it reveal about us and our need of Sabbath rest?
Review
What recurring gift of time did God weave into the rhythm of life on the seventh day of creation? (Fill in the blank.)
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“And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made” (Genesis 2:2,3).
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Question 4 of 7
4. Question
4. For whom was God’s Sabbath rest intended?
27 And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: 28 Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.
Mark 2:27,28
God intended the blessing of Sabbath rest for the entire human family, not just one race or ethnicity or religion. This makes sense, doesn’t it? All of the other blessings of creation week—such as light, fresh air and water, and healthy delicious food—were given to the entire human race. Why would the gift of Sabbath rest be any different?
In over 100 languages, the seventh day of the week is named Sabbath, or its equivalent. Examples include Spanish (Sabado), Armenian (Shabat), Greek (Shavvato), and Russian (Subbota).
Personal Response
What gifts has God given you? Why do you think He gave them to you? What do you think He wants you to do with them?
Review
For whom was God’s Sabbath rest intended? (Fill in the blank.)
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“The sabbath was made for , and not man for the sabbath” (Mark 2:27).
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Question 5 of 7
5. Question
5. How should we view God’s gift of Sabbath rest? What does the Bible say about the continuing blessing and importance of this day?
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”
James 1:17
The Sabbath created by God on Day 7 of creation week is a “good” and “perfect” gift offered to all of humanity. The blessing God placed on this day has never been removed or changed. As God said in Malachi 3:6, “I am the Lord, I change not…”
Personal Response
How important is it to you that God never changes? Why do you think God reveals this attribute of Himself?
Review
How should we view God’s gift of Sabbath rest? (Fill in the blank.)
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“Every gift and every gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (James 1:17).
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Question 6 of 7
6. Question
6. What promise regarding rest does Jesus give in these verses?
28 Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke [is] easy, and my burden is light.
Matthew 11:28-30
Jesus knew that life on earth can be hard, and that we often become weary with troubles and trials. Much like two yoked oxen can more effectively plow a field, Jesus promised here that when we place our faith and trust in Him, He will carry the burdens of life for us.
Personal Response
What do you think is the “rest for your souls” that Jesus promises? How do you feel in need of this rest right now?
Review
What promise regarding rest does Jesus give in these verses? (Fill in the blank.)
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“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you ” (Matthew 11:28).
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Question 7 of 7
7. Question
7. What did Jesus do every Sabbath day?
“And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.”
Luke 4:16
Jesus worshiped God every Sabbath day. Today, it is our privilege to do the same, and to follow Christ’s example in recognizing and claiming the blessing of the seventh day. As the apostle Peter wrote, “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps” (1 Peter 1:21).
Personal Response
What blessings have you experienced from observing God’s Sabbath rest? How has this rest drawn you closer to God?
Review
What did Jesus do every Sabbath day? (Select the best answer.)
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