Lay Down Your Burdens

The human desire for spiritual rest

Lamentations 5:19–22 NRSV

But you, O Lord, reign forever; your throne endures to all generations. Why have you forgotten us completely? Why have you forsaken us these many days? Restore us to yourself, O Lord, that we may be restored; renew our days as of old— unless you have utterly rejected us, and are angry with us beyond measure.

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Spiritual rest is to be found in God alone

Matthew 11:28–30 NRSV

“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 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. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

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God promises his people spiritual rest

Hebrews 4:9–11 NRSV

So then, a sabbath rest still remains for the people of God; for those who enter God’s rest also cease from their labors as God did from his. Let us therefore make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one may fall through such disobedience as theirs.

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Spiritual rest is not for the wicked

Psalm 1:4–5 NRSV

The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;

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God’s offer of rest rejected by a faithless people

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Isaiah 28:12 NRSV

to whom he has said, “This is rest; give rest to the weary; and this is repose”; yet they would not hear.

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16 Thus says the Lord:

Stand at the crossroads, and look,

and ask for the ancient paths,

where the good way lies; and walk in it,

and find rest for your souls.

But they said, “We will not walk in it.”

The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989), .