“First Off, mi sabados (My Sabbath)” (Ezek 20:18-21; ) [Spanish Jerusalem Bible series – Ezekiel 20:18-21] [pandemic series]

To get back up upon your feet.
There’s hints in Scripture which we meet –
Ezekiel (’bout the time of Job)
Had lots to say, to ease our load.

“First thing, ease back and take a break –
One day in seven, for heaven’s sake;
I did, and recommend it too;
Be more productive – not a fool.”

First thing I note, the Sabbath’s “Mine”
You say, O Lord, then you refine
Its meaning as a signal, sign,
That You’re our God, and that’s just fine.

But here I see these two parts meet –
It’s good for us – in it we meet
A gift to us if we will place
It into practice – in this case –

santifiquen (that’s sanctify)
That special day – You tell us why –
But then we must now “Do it, mate.”
Apply it now – don’t hesitate.

A rabbi said, “Start out one hour;
You’ll like it – like how you’re empowered;
You’ll soon add on, and on each week,
As you your weekly-planner tweak.

Then, second, “Norms” and “Precepts” found,
Should be applied, not left around
As pretty thoughts to speak, and write;
Each when plugged in increases might.

It’s practical, I hear in this –
Put into practice, boost your bliss;
Said at that time, or thereabouts,
As one wrote Job – which is, no doubt –

For those who’ve gone through massive shifts
In lifestyle as things went amiss –
Where does one start to stand back up
Once one has crashed – when things get tough?

Ezekiel wrote to exiles new,
With context changed, what could one do
To rise up through adjustment stage,
And in life’s book now turn the page?

My guess? That Job was at the end –
Exiles went home to fences mend
With those who stayed back home through this,
Who could not to build (King would insist).

All change is hard; hard change is tough;
Like Job, when we have had enough
Of war, of exile, being put down,
To start again – where is strength found?

“Start here”, Zeke says, “One day in seven;
Then put to practice bread from heaven –
These norms and precepts given for life
Must be applied to win this fight.”

Lord, what I hear, for me, today.
Is “Plug this in, and do not play
At saying, writing, talking shop –
But rather, start to walk the talk.

So Saturday or Sunday take
As day of rest, old ways forsake?
In text I hear two clues for me –
“That day is Mine” – in that I see –

Your choice, not mine; so plug it in –
Not Spanish style, this part begins –
Sabados research has set forth
Is Sabbath-breaking-day, of course –

That’s Saturday (they used the next),
And joshed the Jews, whose day of rest
Was Saturday, as in their text –
Your day, O Lord, for me, is best.

For me, it’s best, just like Zeke says –
A sign our God You are, Your ways
Needs be plugged in to benefit –
That’s what I’ll do, then rest of it.

So when to start this day of rest?
At sunset, it increases zest –
God does not sleep, says in His word;
Then in the morning (you have heard) –

You then can seek what He has done
As you sawed logs or had some fun;
Great way to start the sunny part –
It’s you, not God, who now must start.

Lord, You’re at work around the globe;
We live right here – though think we go
With you by means of Internet –
We don’t, and we must not forget –

To shut it off, step back and rest;
Engage with others in our nest;
Don’t purchase “Things” incessantly,
Insist that other people be –

At work to meet our every whim;
Shut office door – let rest begin
To work its magic – Spanish tongue
Emerges like that – so much fun!

Okay, so just sleep in one hour;
Let day of rest increase our power;
Isaiah says, “On eagle’s wings
We rise in You – new life begin”.

Thanks Lord for this.

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