I just attended a lecture about the Sabbath by a well known PHD, Author, and College Professor--and he left out God's purpose for it!
I raised my hand to ask if he knew the purpose of why God put it into practice, and what was greater the practice or the purpose?...but I never got called upon. So I wrote him and told him. But it is a great topic for discussion--and everyone should know and be excited about the [actual] purpose of keeping the Sabbath.
But before I/we begin, a disclaimer: I am happy to defend what information I am about to give, but I am not going to debate it. If anyone is not ready to accept the fact that God had a bigger purpose for the Sabbath practice than the worldly benefits...then you can wallow in the worldly benefits until the end and never mind the kingdom--your choice.
Okay, the Sabbath was announced by God in the creation..."
on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done."
Genesis 2:2 This was the model or foreshadowing or type of what resulted in the commandment and practice of the Sabbath day given to Israel...which I am not going to go into. You can and should, but again, the point of this discussion is not the practice, but God's purpose for making it a practice.
The purpose of the Sabbath was revealed, but more importantly answered by and fulfilled by Christ. His comment, saying, "
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." should suffice. After all of Israel's hundreds of years of practice and the keeping of the Sabbath, and the promise of Messiah to deliver them from every worldly and earthly burdens, bondage, and bringing their salvation--we now should know that it all came with Christ's coming. This is why He referred to Himself as the Lord of the Sabbath, and was able to elaborate. Again, if you have not read of it--you should. Matthew 12
But the simple answer here, and the reason for the years of practice, was the purpose of God to show His intentions of the gift of eternal life brought to us by Christ...which is God's rest.
So...the creation story, and the practice by Israel of keeping the Sabbath was to be a light upon a hill to show the whole world what was and is instore for those who come to salvation through God's Savior, Jesus Christ. Which Jesus eluded to in His prayer to the Father, is that we should become One with them just as they are One.
That's heaven...and the purpose of the practice of Sabbath.
And, yes, if you continue to practice the practice...not only are you practicing for what is to come, but there are indeed worldly benefits relieving stress, etc., but you are also serving God to show future generations all that God has promised through Christ.