LIVING WATERS
For the proclamation of the Gospel and the edification of the Body of Christ
The Rest of the Lord
The Lord Jesus Christ takes full care of us; he knows all our needs and always supplies them. If he feeds the birds of the sky and he clothes the herbs of the field, how much more to us? (Matt. 6:26; 28-30). But he wants us to learn to rest in him; that we enter into his rest. For this reason, in 1 Timothy 2:1-3, the apostle Paul advises us to remain in constant prayer, so that we may live quietly and peacefully, because this is good before God. But this is not only the advice of the apostle, but also a command from God, so that we know that he is God, and that he is with us (Ps. 46:10-11).
Hebrews tells us about the people of Israel, who were denied entry into rest because of their unbelief and disobedience (Heb. 3:18-19). That is, not being able to rest in Christ is a consequence of our sin of unbelief. If we do not learn to rest and trust in the Lord, it is because we do not believe the Lord; and furthermore we disobey his command to be still and rest in him.
Only those who have believed the Lord are the ones who can enter into his rest (Heb. 4:3). That is why also right here in Hebrews 4: 1 we are exhorted to fear God, lest while the promise of his rest still remains, someone has not reached it. Because, in addition, we fall into another sin: the lack of fear of God, which otherwise leads us to be foolish, since the beginning of wisdom is the fear of Jehovah (Prov. 1:7).
In Matthew 15 we are told about the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Jesus commanded the crowd to sit down, and then they were filled. First rest, then fullness. Same as Pentecost (Acts 2:1-2). The disciples, while waiting for the promise, were sitting (in a state of rest), then they were filled with the Holy Spirit.
It is in this very rest that we are conquerors, not by ourselves, but by Christ, but only when we rest in him. In 2 Chronicles 20:16-17 the Lord commands us to stand still in war, for he fights the battle for us. Therefore, Isaiah 30:15 tells us that in rest and rest we will be saved. And in stillness and trust will be our strength. This is the way to face any situation that disturbs our souls: resting in Christ (Ps. 62:5).
But this is not just any rest, but a rest consecrated to the Lord, a sanctified rest (Jer. 17:21-22), for Christ is our rest and this rest is a sign between God and his people (Ex. 30:13). Therefore, this rest is a reason for celebration and rejoicing in the Lord (Esther 9:17-18). While I rest, the Lord supplies all my needs.
Hebrews 4:11 exhorts us to seek to enter into rest; and before he says that "if today you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts, as in the provocation" (3:15), because not entering the rest of the Lord is the cause of our unbelief, it is a reason for disobedience, lack of fear , foolishness and, moreover, provokes the anger of the Lord. Like Israel, who tempted the Lord on the day of provocation, and the Lord swore in his anger that they would not enter his rest. And they wandered for forty years in the desert.