Rest

In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety. ~ Psalm 4:8

For the last post, I discussed the importance of diligent work because, as humans, we are created in the image of God. God worked six days, and the work was good (Gen. 1). God told Adam to work and subdue the garden, name the animals, and fill the earth (Gen. 1 & 2). God expects us to work because work is good when done in a God-glorifying way (1 Cor. 10:31, Col. 3:17).

However, there are times when our work is not holy. Obviously, we do not honor God’s name when we practice unfair business, swindle others, lie, steal, or deal harshly with employees, employers, or customers. Our work becomes unholy when our whole life and speech are not seasoned with salt (Col. 4:6). 

This kind of life reminds me of a man my grandfather knew when he began working in the textile industry. My grandfather said he knew this particular person growing up, and he was the nicest fellow. He treated his family like gold, and his friends loved him. He was a joy to be around. However, when my grandfather started working in the same plant with this fellow, he said this guy was completely different—yelling at people, cussing, and being cantankerous. Maybe this person needed rest.

This is another aspect of unholy work—when we do not rest from it. We established work is good. However, with all good things, sin and depravity can corrupt God’s intention for good things. Again, we return to God and the creation account:

^2:1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. ² And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. ³ So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation. (Gen. 2:1-3). 

After God completed what He desired concerning creation and approved what He did, He rested. He stopped working and reposed. God’s rest on the seventh day was so special that He blessed the seventh day. He sanctified it, which means he set it apart from the other six days of the week. 

Many people work hard, and in a society that does not believe work is virtuous, their motivation is laudable. However, when one does not heed God’s design for our lives and restrain from work for a day of rest, then sin enters in. This is when we transgress His Law, the third commandment:

^20:8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. ⁹ Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, ¹⁰ but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. (Expo. 20:8-10)

Notice here that God not only commands the head of the home, but the command is for everyone in the family, the beasts of burden, and the guests staying with them. No one and nothing is to do work on the Sabbath day. To keep the Sabbath holy entails two primary functions. First, it was a day to worship God, which renews our hearts and minds (Psa. 62:1-2, Heb. 4:9-11). Second, it was a day to renew our bodies by not laboring (Psa. 127:2, Isa. 14;3-4).

Rest is so important that the incarnate Jesus rested regularly when He walked the earth. One of my favorite passages of Him going this is Mark 4:35-40. What I like about this passage is that  Jesus sees that there is work to be done. He sees the crowd. He knows people need to be healed, demons need to be cast out, and lessons need to be taught. However, He tells His disciples, “We’re going on a little trip. Get into the boat.” And on their way across the water, He falls asleep. 

I know that people have urgent needs. People and bosses pull and tug at you from different angles. You feel overwhelmed and stretched thin. And that is the exact reason why the Sabbath rest and rest, in general, is essential. In Mark’s gospel, everyone wanted a piece of Jesus. Somebody wanted Him to do something for them. And Jesus, as the Son of God, knew that He needed to stop and rest. So, if Jesus needed to stop and rest when there was so much for Him to do, don’t you think we need rest, too?

Let me give you a third reason to rest from your labor and do so on the Sabbath. We have learned that God commands us to rest on the Sabbath. Jesus set an example of resting (and by the way, there are many other passages where He is in the Temple or Synagogue and carving out prayer time with the Father in places like gardens). However, thirdly, we find our rest in Jesus.

^11:28 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. (Matt. 11:28-30)

God does not give suggestions. He does not give ideas that might be good for us. No, He provides the means of grace for all that He commands His people. The mandate given to Adam and Eve to rest occurred before the Fall (Gen. 3). After the Fall, He wanted His people to remember to rest, another act of redemption from the toilsome slavery they endured in Egypt. And in the Redeemer, God’s people find fulfillment to rest. I cannot get into a full exegesis of Matthew 11:28-30, but in it, we see Old Testament passages accomplished, satisfied in Christ (c.f. Exo. 33:12-14, Psa. 23:2-3, Jet. 6:16). He goes with us. He carries the greater burden. And as Hebrews 4:9-11 tells us, Jesus became our Sabbath rest. We enter into true rest when we enter into Christ.

Therefore, let me encourage you. Do not neglect rest from your work. Most importantly, do not neglect the Sabbath rest God ordained for you. It is a special day, a holy day, with God’s people to find renewal for body and soul. 

© September 01, 2022, Rev. Mark A. Horne and Andrews Presbyterian Church (PCA).