Sabbath: The Ancient Practices (Hardcover)

~ Dan Allender (Author), Bob Abernethy (Editor), William Boles (Editor)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this reflection on the many faces of the Fourth Commandment, Allender (The Healing Path) tries to reinvigorate the Judeo-Christian idea of the Sabbath as a time of joy, celebration and holiness rather than a time for sporting events and grocery shopping. The author, who is president of Mars Hill Graduate School, urges his readers to go play in the fields of God. The book, part of the Ancient Practices series, is founded on three central ideas. The Sabbath is a commandment, not an option. It is not a minivacation but a day of delight. It is also a time for feasting, a remembrance of Eden and an anticipation of eternal life. Allender liberally sprinkles his work with personal anecdotes as he proposes a Sabbath theology that includes time, sensual glory, feasting, ritual, abundance, play and justice. While this volume may be really helpful to those readers seeking to take a fresh look at Sabbath observance, the often convoluted and confusing prose makes it a bit of a slog. (Feb.)
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Product Description

To rest does not mean to cease all activity.

Bestselling author Dan Allender presents an insightful and fascinating look at the origins and purpose of Sabbath. Serving as volume three in The Ancient Practices Series, Sabbath examines the key issues of this oft-misunderstood day of the week.

This "day of delight," as instituted by God, has become a dirge for millions of believers. For many, it is simply a break from the busyness of the work week. So, what keeps us from properly understanding, sanctifying and celebrating this important day? Allender looks at not only the history of this discipline, going all the way back to ancient Israel, but also at the modern manifestations and misunderstandings of its practice.

Allender bases his premise on the Hebrew word for rest, Menuha, which is best translated as joyous repose, tranquility, or delight. It is through this lens that he resurrects this lost definition of what it really means to rest.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (February 10, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0849901073
• ISBN-13: 978-0849901072
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #30,928 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Start Your Sabbath...., February 25, 2009

By	Scandalous Sanity (Texas) - See all my reviews

Remembering the Sabbath is probably the most ignored commandment, and therefore one of the most misunderstood. Dan Allender tries to remedy that in his book Sabbath, part of the Ancient Practices Series. It is a simple study of a practice that God instituted at the beginning of time.

Allender begins the book by describing the pillars of Sabbath--sensual glory, holy time, communal feast, and play day. He is careful to define what Sabbath is not, and warns not to drift into legalism when practicing Sabbath. He then moves into the purpose of Sabbath, which is mostly play. Allender's main point is the restoration that Sabbath brings. To illustrate, I'll use chapter names: "Division Surrenders to Shalom," "Destitution Surrenders to Abundance," and "Despair Surrenders to Joy." The final portion of the book is dedicated to the actual practice of Sabbath. Allender gives some of his own Sabbath rituals as an example, as well as sprinkling in stories of others and quotes from various church fathers.

The prose that Allender uses is whimsical and light, yet somehow sacred. The sentences wind their way across the page, describing sensual details of life that most authors overlook or just leave out. There are times when Allender gets a little too poetic and loses track of his point, but for the most part he stays on topic, making the book an enjoyable read. This book isn't for people who enjoy formulaic chapters and plans. This title describes the Sabbath with care and purpose, and that's the best you can ask from a book.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Much Food for Thought, April 20, 2009

By	Patrice Fagnant-macarthur "www.spiritualwoman... (Springfield, MA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

What would you do with a day dedicated to delight? That is the question that Dan B. Allender poses in "Sabbath," one of the books in the "Ancient Practices Series" edited by Phyllis Tickle and published by Thomas Nelson. Allender's take on the Sabbath is unique. While other books on keeping the Sabbath tend to focus on dedicating the day to God or resting from work, Allender expands on that, stating that "the Sabbath is a day of delight for humankind, animals, and the earth; it is not merely a pious day and it is not fundamentally a break, a day off, or a twenty-four hour vacation. The Sabbath is a feast day that remembers our leisure in Eden and anticipates our play in the new heavens and earth with family, friends, and strangers for the sake of the glory of God."

Allender acknowledges that it is difficult to dedicate one day to experiencing joy and beauty and delight. It might be hard to dedicate one day in a lifetime to that, much less one day each week! Yet, Allender invites us to make a concerted effort to do so. Allender examines how we treat time in this over-stressed twenty-first century world and encourages us to take a second look at the value of taking that weekly Sabbath to sanctify time. He also discusses the value of feasting and of play. It will take some preparation on the other days of the week, but we need to open our hearts to the gift of the Sabbath.

One chapter that was very insightful was "Sabbath Play: Despair Surrenders to Joy." Allender explores what it means to regret and despair. "Both regret and worry assume there is no God, or at least not one who loves and pours himself out for his children. . . Despair shows itself in cynicism, conventionality, and consumerism." Sabbath invites us to set those feelings aside. Gratitude and joy are to be the dominant emotions of Sabbath.

The only criticism of this book is that Allender didn't seem to place much value on attending religious services on Saturday or Sunday. My sense is that he tried to make this book accessible to all people of faith, even those who consider themselves to be "spiritual but not religious." Overall, however, Allender offers considerable food for thought.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An overlook of the Sabbath..., March 3, 2009

By	Readers Favorite "Readers Favorite" (Hawesville, KY USA) - See all my reviews

Remember the Sabbath and keep it Holy is one of the Ten Commandments. What does it really mean to keep it Holy? He is careful not to express legalism and yet to define the importance of setting one day aside to experience a day of delight.

This is the third book in the Ancient Practices Series. Dan B, Allendar, author of Sabbath, offers readers an overview of a misunderstood day. The Sabbath is a day to delight in the Lord. We are to separate ourselves from the stress of our lives and celebrate the joy of God our creator. Allendar uses the Hebrew word Menuha (tranquility) to help define Sabbath. He takes back to through history to study how the Israelites used the Sabbath through present day and our misconceptions. Beautifully written, this book will help you to find your own Sabbath.