Why We Really Keep Shabbat - Rabbi Zamir Cohen

Let's imagine a king who takes one of his ministers, gives him broad authority, and makes him almost his equal. You will run the country. I trust you. You make the decisions. You call the shots. The risk in such a situation is that this minister might start imagining that he's the king because he has so much authority. He decides, he rules, he controls everything. The Holy One, blessed be He, created man and gave him the power to rule over all of creation. Just like God himself, a person can blow things up, can build. Both in this world and in the higher worlds, God gave man tremendous power. What's the risk involved in that? That a person with his pride might feel I am God. There's no one above me. So what did the king who gave that minister authority do? He told him once a week you have to come to me. Yes, you get to run the country. You make all the decisions, but once a week you have to come to me to declare your loyalty. I want you to sit and say to me, "My lord, the king, I acknowledge that you are the king. Not because I need it, but for your own good, so you don't end up rebelling and bringing a bitter end upon yourself." The Holy One, blessed be he, says to the Jew, "I gave you control over the whole world. But once a week, I want you to demonstrate through your actions that you recognize me as the creator of the world." How? Not through declarations, but through the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath. When a person observes Shabbat, they're essentially declaring their belief in the Holy One. Blessed be he. >> [music]