Here at Open Door Chapel, we enjoy our church tradition of gathering together each Friday evening to welcome the Sabbath. As the Sabbath comes there often is a change in the atmosphere–a “hushing of our cares and troubles of the week.” (See the song “The Sabbath Steals Upon Us,”#210) This brings peace and rest as we look forward to 24 hours of such an atmosphere.

However, sometimes on the Sabbath we are reminded of the blatant fact that the world at large is anything but restful or peaceful. There is mounting evidence that the words of Jesus to those arresting Him in the Garden of Gethsemane will again be true: “This is your hour and the power of darkness.” (Luke 22:53) That might just be one of the most threatening sentences in the Bible! How do we maintain our peace on the Sabbath in the face of this ominous language

The answer is found in Psalm 37. I recommend that you read the entire psalm, but I want to emphasize verses 4-11 in the American Standard Version:

Rest in Jehovah and wait patiently for him:
Fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way,
Because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
Cease from anger and forsake wrath:
Fret not thyself, it tendeth only to evil-doing.
For evil doers shall be cut off;
But those that wait for Jehovah, they shall inherit the land.
For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be:
Yea, thou shall diligently consider his place and he shall not be.
But the meek shall inherit the land, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

So, on this Sabbath day I am happy to remind you that in a “little while” we shall all enjoy “the abundance of peace” all over this globe. The Millennium is coming, and we can enjoy a foretaste of it on this Sabbath!

A happy and peaceful Sabbath to you all!

Pastor Joe Brown