Didn’t your ancestors do the same things, so that our God brought all this calamity on us and on this city? Now you are stirring up more wrath against Israel by desecrating the Sabbath.” – Nehemiah 13:18

Today’s Scripture Reading (September 3, 2017): Nehemiah 13

In Southern Alberta, Canada there is a small town called Vulcan. The town, which was incorporated as a village on December 23, 1912, and then as a town on June 15, 1921, was named after the Roman God of Fire, Metalworking, and the Forge. Initially, the town administrators had kept with the theme by naming its streets after the gods and goddesses of the Roman world. But the reality is that our contemporary culture has lost its connections to the stories of these classical gods. So, on September 8, 1966, something happened, totally outside of the Town’s control, that would change the identity of this small Canadian town. That something was the airing of the first episode of “Star Trek: The Original Series” with a central character who was said to be from the planet Vulcan.

Over the years, the town of Vulcan has left its Roman God roots behind to embrace the imagery of the science fiction world of “Star Trek.” The tourist headquarters is space themed and displays Star Trek memorabilia, it provides fans with unique Star Trek photo opportunities and even hosts an annual Star Trek Convention known as “Spock Days.” This is the chosen identity of the town; they want to be the planet Vulcan on Earth. (Picture: Star Trek Enterprise Model in Vulcan, Canada.)

Trying to establish a unique identity is not a new phenomenon. Towns and companies struggle to find the thing that will set them apart from the others and give them an edge in marketing. It also can set the priorities for an organization; it is a statement that declares “this is who we are!”

Israel was always imagined to be a theocracy, a nation defined by their belief in the one true God. But a number of their practices were essentially hidden from public view. But one of the outward practices that characterized the nation was the idea of the Sabbath. Israel was country that placed their trust in God rather than in their own abilities and resources. And because of that trust, they were willing to give up a valuable resource that they had at their disposal – time. One day a week, while the rest of the world worked to get the resources that they needed to live, Israel paused in a celebration of their God and rested from their labor. This was who they were as a people – this was their identity.

As Christians, we no longer celebrate the Sabbath, but we still maintain this idea of giving up one day of our time to God knowing that our trust and our identity is only found in him. For us, we have substituted the eighth day in place of the seventh. The eighth day is the day that Jesus rose from the dead, and every Sunday gathering is a celebration of his defeat of death – every Sunday is Resurrection Sunday and a confession that we are a resurrection people who serve the Messiah who even death could not defeat.  

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Malachi 1