THE TWO INTERRELATED COMMANDMENTS OF SHABBAT:
• Zakhor: To Remember (« Remember the Sabbath day to sanctify it. » - Exodus 20 :8)
Remembering the Shabbat means more than merely not forgetting to observe Shabbat.
The Sabbath is a commemoration of creation. By resting on the seventh day and sanctifying it, we remember and acknowledge that YHWH is the creator of heaven and earth and of all living things. We also emulate the divine example, by refraining from work on the seventh day. If YHWH's work can be set aside for a day of rest, how can our own work be considered too important to set aside temporarily?
The Sabbath is also a commemoration of our freedom from slavery. In a more general sense, Egypt is the wordly lifestyle that brings slavery and death. The Shabbat frees man from his weekday concerns, from his deadlines, schedules and commitments. During the week, we are slaves to our jobs, to our creditors, to our need to provide for ourselves; on Shabbat, we are freed from these concerns.
• Shamor: To Observe (« Observe the Sabbath day to sanctify » - Deuteronomy 5:12)
Observing and sanctifying the Sabbath is often automatically associated to what is allowed and forbidden to do on Shabbat. This specific aspect of the day of rest is usually grossly misunderstood by people.
To some, Torah seems unclear and not specific enough about what kind of « work » is forbidden on Shabbat. So man-made traditions grew and supplied determined guidelines to define what could be permitted or not on that special day… Rabbinical interpretations are usually the first source of reference people tend to go to. Unfortunately, most of these restrictions have become burdensome, oppressive, and even fatiguing, turning away many from YHWH and His Shabbat.
But YHWH's commandments have never been burdensome:
« To love God is to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome » 1 John 5 :3 ;
« For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. » Matt 11 :30 ;
« Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. » Deut 30 :11
" How blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who takes hold of it; Who keeps from profaning the Sabbath, and keeps his hand from doing any evil.” Isaiah 56:2-3
“ ... Call the Sabbath a delight, the holy day of YHWH honorable, And honor it, desisting from your own ways, From seeking your own pleasure And speaking your own word, Then you will take delight in YHWH , And I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; And I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, For the mouth of YHWH has spoken.” - Isaiah 58:13-14
The Sabbath is indeed a blessing and a delight, certainly not a burden.