The writer to the Hebrews had some things to say about “rest” that deserve investigation. In chapter 4 verses 9 and 10 the writer says,
“There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works as God did from His.”
What does it mean to “enter into his rest?” What work is stopped when one “ceases from his own works?” From what work did God cease? Does any of this have significance for us? Does it mean anything for our relationship with God?
When God completed His work of creation, He rested. In Genesis it is worded as:
“And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had made; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it He had rested from all His work which God created and made.”
Now, did God need to “rest?” Was He tired, or do these words convey a different meaning and even a lesson for us? A paraphrase of these verses showing the meaning of the key words could be as follows:
“God completed the creation work, stopped working, and celebrated His work on the seventh day.”
The idea conveyed by the word translated as “rested” was a word in the Hebrew meaning cease or stop. Because the work of creation was completed, He stopped. Another connotation of the word translated “rested” is to celebrate. The work was completed; therefore, He stopped and celebrated His work.
When the writer of Hebrews used the word “rest” in the verses referenced, the actual meaning of the Greek word was abode or a peaceful place of repose. In this particular section of the letter to the Hebrews, the writer demonstrated that God prepared a resting place, an abode, for His people – not the Jewish nation particularly, but those from all races of people who would trust Him. The writer references Psalms 95 to show that the Jewish nation never found the ultimate place God intended; they never came to the abode God prepared. The Jewish nation thought they had arrived. They came to possess parts of Canaan, “the promised land.” That was what they determined was the “rest” God prepared.
However, the writer makes direct reference to another “abode,” another “rest” which was not Canaan. In verse 8 of chapter 4 the writer states:
“For if Jesus had given them rest, then would He not afterward have spoken of another day.”
The name “Jesus” in this verse has reference to Joshua (The names are essentially the same. Jesus is the translation of the Greek form of the name whereas Joshua is the translation of the Hebrew form of the name. The name Jesus (or Joshua) was not uncommon, although there was only one Jesus Christ – Jesus the anointed one, or the Messiah of God). If Joshua bringing the people into Canaan was the ultimate abode God intended for His people, God would not have later in Psalms referenced another resting place. Psalms 95 says the following (referenced by the writer of Hebrews):
“Today if ye will hear His voice … Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest.”
The psalm directly references the generation that died before their children could enter and possess Canaan. However, observe how the writer of Hebrews interprets the psalm.
The writer of Hebrews indicates that this event, and the possession of the land, is a picture of something else. If the entry and possession of an inheritance in the land was the ultimate abode (rest), there would be no other day mentioned. The psalmist, however, wrote his work hundreds of years after the possession of the land and said, “Today, if you will hear His voice…” Obviously the people were already in the land. They had their houses, fields, vineyards, etc. What could the writers (both the psalmist and the writer of Hebrews) mean?
The verse in Hebrews, chapter 4 verse 9, with which we opened this discussion is key:
“There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.”
There remains another, the ultimate, “rest” (could be translated “abode” or “repose”) for God’s people. It is not a physical parcel of real estate but can even be enjoyed by people who own no property. It is in the presence of God Himself, and it is reserved for us. The next verse explains,
“For he that is entered into his rest, he also has ceased from his own works, as God did from His.”
When we enter into the abode, the rest God has prepared, we have ceased (stopped) our own works. God finished the work, God prepared the place, God opened the door. We merely enter by entrusting ourselves to God’s work.
The last verse of chapter 4 lets us know the location of the resting place,
“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
Our abode, our rest, is at the throne of grace, in God’s own presence. We get there by trusting Him, His complete work of salvation and redemption. We have ceased from our own works. We live, abide, rest, in His work for us.
Break the Bread 