“And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.” – Isaiah 58:12
I cannot too strongly urge all our church members, all who are true missionaries, all who believe the third angel’s message, all who turn away their feet from the Sabbath, to consider the message of the fifty-eighth chapter of Isaiah. The work of beneficence enjoined in this chapter is the work that God requires His people to do at this time. It is a work of His own appointment. We are not left in doubt as to where the message applies, and the time of its marked fulfillment, for we read: “They that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.” Verse 12. God’s memorial, the seventh-day Sabbath, the sign of His work in creating the world, has been displaced by the man of sin. God’s people have a special work to do in repairing the breach that has been made in His law; and the nearer we approach the end, the more urgent this work becomes. All who love God will show that they bear His sign by keeping His commandments. (1)
They are the restorers of paths to dwell in. Their work is specified.
“If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight, … then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord, and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth.” [Verses 13, 14.] The work for this time is to make prominent the truths presented in Exodus 31:12-18. And medical missionary work is bound up solidly and inseparably with all God’s commandments, of which the Sabbath is mentioned especially, for it is the great memorial of God’s creation work. Its observance is bound up with the work of restoring the moral image of God in man. This is the ministry God’s people are to carry forward.
The churches are chilled to death because they do not take up their appointed work right where they are. If they would do this, God’s richest blessing would rest upon them. All the attributes of Christ are awaiting our reception as we work in His lines. Heaven’s blessings are guaranteed to us. (2)
When the church accepts its God-given work, the promise is: “Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rereward.” (3)
Charge for the Day: Take some time to think about and examine how you keep the Sabbath, and ask God to show you ways to repair the breach in His law regarding the 4th commandment. Share what you learn with others.
1. Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6, p. 33
2. Manuscript 105, 1899
3. Testimonies for the Church, vol 6, p. 267