THE GOD'S REST
Hebrews 4.In this part of the Letters to Hebrews Paul connected together the Law of Moses, Good News (Spiritual Commandments of the Law of Moses), Faith, Sabbath Day, and GOD'S Rest combining them all together in one meaning and making one continuous line of thought. So, what all these things have in common between them?
Basically, it all relate to one very important aspect and Regulation of life, the Sabbath Day. Word "Rest" is very simple word to understand, and under this context it means Spiritual Heavenly Kingdom of GOD in which GOD dwells and Rests among His creations.
Just like we going to work every day and then come home to rest, similar to that GOD'S Rests after His marvelous works, He rests in His Heavenly Home (4). The Sabbath is very Special, Blessed, and Sanctified Day of Rest, on which the work shall not done, but only rest. GOD blessed and sanctified the Seventh Day - the Sabbath (Genesis 2.3) and dedicated it as celebration, honoring the end of His works of creation, and also as satisfying Rest from all His works in Heaven and on Earth, well done.
GOD Commanded, "Six days you shall work." (Exodus 20.8-11). Means work for yourself, but the Seventh Day we must dedicated to GOD and REST TOGETHER WITH HIM. We must leave all our works and chores behind and untouched, and dedicate the Seventh Day to GOD by praising Him and show our gratitude to Him for everything He has done and still do. All those who do this will be blessed and sanctified, because GOD blessed and sanctified this Seventh Day as a Holy Day, the only Sanctified Day of the week (Genesis 2.2).
Whoever Rests with the GOD on the Seventh Day, also will Rest with Him and in His Kingdom from all his/her works (Psalm 95.8-11) (Numbers 14.29-35) (Hebrews 3.11.18, 4.3-6.9-11). The Rest Day it is also may understood as our departure from our life with its many works (6 days of labor), and then entering the rest of GOD, His Heavenly Kingdom (on the "Seventh Day," after our Earthly life) to rest with Him. So, our physical Death transforms us from our physical state of labor into the Spiritual state of Rest with our GOD.
Paul also compared the Rest of GOD with the land of Canaan, which GOD prepared for His people, and in which His Name shall Rest forever. GOD led His people Israel to the Promised Land by Moses and Joshua. Under this context, the land of Canaan presented as the rest for Israelites from their slave labor in Egypt, as a new beginning of rest in the place in which their GOD also rests (dwells). For the lack of Faith and for refusal to enter the land of Canaan under GOD'S Command, the Lord GOD did not allow perverse and wicked generation to enter it. All who was 20 years old and up did not entered the Rest of GOD in Canaan, which is also understood as His permanent dwelling on Earth. Not a single person who are disobedient to GOD will enter His Rest, whatever on Earth or in Heaven.
For us, it is Today (7), still a chance to enter the Rest of GOD in His Heavenly Kingdom. Today we still hear the voice of GOD from our Bible.
~ "And by the Seventh Day GOD completed His work which He had done, and He *rested on the Seventh Day from all His work which He had done." Genesis 2.2
~ "The GOD blessed the Seventh Day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which GOD had created and made." Genesis 2.3
7. 'Today if you hear His (GOD'S) voice, do not harden your hearts.' (Psalm 95.7-8).
What it means, "Today if you hear His voice."? It means today if you hear those who preach His Words, or read yourself the Words of GOD, you became responsible and accountable for your own words and actions.
What it means, "do not harden your hearts?" It means do not disobey "His voice." If your hear or read the Commandments of GOD, they became known to you, and if they are known to you, you have no excuse not to follow His Words, by knowing His Words you became accountable, obligated, and responsible to GOD to fulfill them.
For this reason alone, by hearing the Word of GOD and not follow it, the wicked generation of Hebrews did not entered the Land of Canaan, the Earthly Rest of GOD.
For this reason alone, Today (verse 7) by hearing and reading the Word of GOD and not follow it, many Christians will not enter the Spiritual Rest of GOD in His Kingdom.
9. "There remains a Sabbath Rest for the people of GOD." Who are the people of GOD? All who follow and United in Faith (2) in Christ, Jews and Gentiles of the world.
Sabbath is not only physical rest, it is also Spiritual Rest when we give rest to our mind and our soul from all our works, labor, chores, and vanity, and concentrated on GOD alone in order to gain Spiritual Rest for our weary and tired souls.
10. "The one (who followed and obeyed the Lord) who has entered His Rest, has himself also rested from his works, as GOD did from His.
11. Let us be diligent to enter that Rest, and not fall through following the same example of disobedience." (as Israel did in the desert) (Psalm 95.8-11) (Numbers 14.29-35) (Hebrews 3.11.18, 4.3-6.9-11).
