9. After Israel's restoration from the Babylonian captivity, what did Nehemiah say was the reason for their punishment?
“Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the Sabbath day? Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the Sabbath.” Neh. 13:17, 18.
10. How does he speak of God's giving the Sabbath to Israel?
“Thou camest down also upon mount Sinai, and spakest with them from heaven, and gavest them right judgments, and true laws, good statutes and commandments: and madest known unto them Thy holy Sabbath.” Neh. 9:13, 14.
Note.—Let it be noted that this text does not say that God made the Sabbath then, but simply that He made it known to Israel then. They had largely forgotten it while in Egypt. See pages [419], [423].
11. How did Christ, while on earth, regard the Sabbath?
“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.
12. By what did Christ recognize the Sabbath law?
“And He said unto them, ... It is lawful to do well on the Sabbath days.” Matt. 12:11, 12.
Notes.—William Prynne says: “It is certain that Christ Himself, His apostles, and the primitive Christians for some good space of time, did constantly observe the seventh-day Sabbath.”—“Dissertation on the Lord's Day Sabbath,” page 33.