Hebrews 4 (4)

Introduction
Joshua provides a type of God’s rest. The people of God who fought with him truly rested in the promises of God, if only for a season. But a rest of God remains, toward which Israel’s settling in the land of promises and enjoying the covenant blessings of God points. By looking back, we can perhaps better understand what’s involved in entering God’s rest.

Read Joshua 23.1-13.

Read Hebrews 4.8-10.

Think it through.
1.  Under Joshua’s leadership, the people of Israel entered a rest of the Lord (Josh. 23.1). What was involved in their entering that rest? Can you see that Joshua, like the writer of Hebrews, warned God’s people against drifting from that rest? How would that happen in ancient Israel? How should Joshua’s warning to them warn us? The writer of Hebrews indicates that the rest Israel achieved under Joshua was not the trueor final rest God intends. How can you see that in Hebrews 4.8? But what can we learn from the rest Israel, under Joshua, attained to help us in thinking about the rest that remains?

2.  Explain “His rest” and “his works” in verse 10. In Hebrews 10.24, the writer will indicate that “love and good works” are the proper fruit of all who have entered God’s rest. If a believer has ceased from “his” works, what works are indicated in Hebrews 10.24? In what sense does the rest of God “remain” for believers? Does this suggest that restis not a permanent condition? Or does he mean to suggest greater depths to God’s rest or greater consistency in rest yet remain for us? Explain. Should knowing this affect our daily walk with and work for the Lord? Explain.

Meditate.
“Indeed, Joshua made them rest, because he gave them the land as an inheritance, but they did not rest in it perfectly, as God perfectly rested from God’s works, for they lived in toils and wars. If that rest was not a true rest, since Joshua himself, the giver of their rest, was urged by the wars, if this is their condition, I say, there still remains the sabbath of God, who gives rest to those who enter there, as God rested from God’s works, that is, from all the works which God made.” Ephrem the Syrian (306-373 AD)

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11.28, 29

I would enter more deeply and consistently into Your rest, O Lord, but not from Your works. Help me today to …

Pray Psalm 84.1-7.
As you pray, let the images of these verses suggest aspects of the rest you have in God. Thank and praise Him specifically for each one.

Psalm 84.1-7 (Holy Manna: Brethren, We Have Met to Worship)
Lord of hosts, how sweet Your dwelling; 
How my soul longs for Your courts! 
Let my soul with joy keep telling 
Of Your grace forever more. 
Like a bird upon the altar 
Let my life to You belong. 
Blessed are they who never falter 
As they praise Your grace with song!

Blessed are they whose strength is founded
In Your strength, O Lord above.
All whose hearts in You are grounded
Journey in Your strength and love.
Though they weep with tears of sadness,
Grace shall all their way sustain.
In Your presence, filled with gladness,
They shall conquer all their pain.

T. M Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006.