The fourth commandment tells us to remember the seventh day and keep it holy. There is a song that is often sung on Friday nights titled, “Lecha Dodi” to welcome in the Sabbath. It portrays the Sabbath as being Israels’s bride.

Keeping this in mind, it is said that when YHVH first introduced the Shabbat into creation, Shabbat complained bitterly to the Creator. “To every other day of the week you have given a mate; the creation of the first day was completed and sustained by the Second Day; the creation of the Third Day by that of the Fourth Day; the creation of the Fifth Day by that of the Sixth Day. But as for me, the Seventh Day, you have given no companion.” So to this YHVH answered the seventh day, “I still have one more creation I’m bringing forth, Klal Israel, they will be your betrothed.” So when YHVH gave his Torah to the believers at Mt. Sinai, He proclaimed, “Behold, here is the Sabbath, standing alone and forgotten. Always remember her and cherish her as a bridegroom cherishes his bride on their wedding day.”

Ever since that day Israel has celebrated its eternal betrothal to the Sabbath, just as a faithful husband protects, sustains, and treasures his wife. This is the manner in which the Shabbat should always be looked at, as something treasured. Now maybe the above story is just that, a handed down story, but it shows how much the Hebrew people have kept YHVH’S commandment to keep holy the Sabbath. If we look at it in this vane, as in a marriage partner, it does take on new light. Are you faithful to your marriage partner? Do you appreciate your partner? Do you put your marriage partner first in your life above all other people and things? These are all valid questions we could ask ourselves about our bride, “the Sabbath.” So maybe it’s not such a crazy story after all, anyone ready for a marriage partner out there?