Deuteronomy 5:15
And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the LORD thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore the LORD thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day.
DEUTERONOMY 5:15
Deuteronomy 5:15 grounds the Sabbath in memory and liberation: “And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt... therefore the LORD thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day.” The memory serves as a moral motivation for obedience: God’s past deliverance from bondage informs present faith and practice. The act of remembering ensures that worship remains grateful and grounded in God’s saving power rather than mere ritual.
Remembering Israel’s deliverance frames the Sabbath as a memorial of redemption. It foreshadows the theological arc of salvation—from bondage to liberty—culminating in Christ’s work that brings ultimate rest. It ties identity to salvation history and empowers faithful living as gratitude for mercy.
For today, personal and communal memory matters. Regularly recount what God has delivered you from—addiction, fear, loneliness—and use that memory to shape present worship and guidance for others. Sabbath becomes a space to testify and to rest in the ongoing mercy of God. Practical steps: keep a gratitude journal, share testimonies in family or church settings, and anchor rest in a response to God’s saving acts rather than merely personal preference.
Cross-References: Exodus 20:11; Psalm 77:11-12; Isaiah 51:12-16; Hebrews 4:9-11; Romans 15:4