My Rest

by S.R. WHAWELL | Category: General | Jan 1953

Rest does not always mean a temporary or permanent cessation of effort or activity - it is often a feeling of complete satisfaction and complacency in, someone or something which leaves nothing further to be desired. The heart and mind are at rest, the searching is over, as with Philip in John 1.45, "We have found Him"; thus the age-long quest voiced by Job, "Oh, that I knew where I might find Him", was fulfilled.

Ruth found rest in the love and protection of Boaz. The Triune God found rest after the six days' work of creation. Beholding His handiwork, He viewed all with the deepest satisfaction (Genesis 1.31). There is rest spoken of in connexion with Israel, rest from their enemies, as in Joshua 23.1, and many other passages relating to the subjugation of the inhabitants of Canaan.

The rest, however the writer has in mind is that spoken of in Hebrews 3. and 4. part of Hebrews 4.4 gives us a valuable clue to the meaning of God's rest (Genesis 1. 31). In Hebrews 3. and 4. the readers are invited to enter into God's rest and they are warned that the same reason which kept the children of Israel out of God's rest would also keep them out of His rest for this present dispensation; namely, unbelief and disobedience.

During the period of Judges, through the departure in heart of God's people much of the land was not possessed until the latter part of David's reign. The reader will remember that in Judges 2.7 it is written concerning Israel, "The people served the LORD all the days of Joshua and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua", then in verse 10 "There arose another generation after them which knew not the LO'RD and the children of Israel forsook the LORD and served the Baalim." Instead of going on to know the LORD and His ways they went back and they went from captivity to captivity. The resting place of God's house that God speaks of as "My Rest" seems to have been fully enjoyed by God's ancient people only for a short period under Solomon. The temple was built, the priesthood was established and God's anointed was on the throne. We read in 1 Chronicles 22. 9 that Solomon should be a man of rest, and the temple the house of rest for the Ark (1 Chronicles 28.2), also in Psalm 132.8, 14, we read "Arise, 0 LORD, into Thy resting place; Thou, and the ark of Thy strength", and "This is My resting place for ever; Here will I dwell; for I have desired it." We see here that God's rest was clearly associated with His house, in the midst of a together and obedient people, and also here was the resting place for the ark of His strength.

This brings us to the rest for God's people to-day. It is still "My rest". God's rest - and the condition is still the same. "While it is said, to-day if ye shall hear His voice, harden not your hearts." Moses prayed to God, "Shew me now Thy ways, to the end that I may know Thee" (Exodus 33.14), and God replied, "My presence shall go with thee and I will give thee rest." Thus we see another link in the chain-the place of God's rest, His house; the condition, the knowledge of God'8 ways. Moses was earnestly desiring to know God's ways, and God promised His presence and His rest. In contrast to this, we read in Psalm 97.7-11, "They (the children of Israel) did not know My ways, therefore, they shall not enter into My rest."

To-day is our day and opportunity. If we hear His voice and harden not our hearts against it, there is rest to be enjoyed by God's people to-day. The knowledge of God and the entering into His rest are to be sought diligently-"Let us fear, therefore, lest haply a promise being left of entering His rest, any one of you should seem to have come short of it" (His rest) (Hebrews 4. 1). The gospel referred to in verse 2, I judge, is clearly associated with the rest, for the epistle to the Hebrews has in view the people of God, as is clear from chapter 3.1. For the apostle by the Holy Spirit in chapter 4.3 says, "For we which have believed do enter into that rest." Which rest? God's rest. The place of rest is the house of God. "Thus saith the LORD, stand in the ways and see and ask for the old paths where is the good way and walk therein and ye shall find rest for your souls" (Jeremiah 6.10). "But they said, we will not walk therein." Solomon, after the dedication of the house of God, turns and blesses the people saying, "Blessed be the LORD that hath given rest unto His people, according to all that He promised them, there hath not failed one word which He promised by the hand of Moses His servant" (1 Kings 8.55, 56).

Rest is in association with a Person and with a place, and has to do with the individual who is in the right place (ecclesiastically) and in the right condition of heart. It is not the acquisition of mere mental knowledge: it is the earnest desire to acquire the knowledge of God as revealed by Christ, and to come to the full knowledge of the truth. Paul, with all the knowledge he possessed, could only say, "Not that I have already obtained, or am already made perfect but I press on" (Philippians 3.12).

"Let us therefore, as many as be perfect (full grown), be thus minded." Let us be found in God's ways, for thereby we shall enter into God's rest. Let us give diligence to enter into this rest, that no man fall after the same example of disobedience, for, we are become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our confidence firm unto the end.

"To-day if ye will hear His voice, Harden not your hearts."

S.R. WHAWELL | Jan 1953
General