Entering the Rest of God

Hardening of the Heart - 3:7-11

David wrote this Psalm to encourage worship - Psa 95:1-7

Psalm 95:1–7 ESV

Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Today, if you hear his voice,

He used the example of the first generation of Israel in the wilderness who failed the day of trial to warn these of his day (about 450 years later)

That generation of Israel saw the works of God in delivering them from Egypt, providing for their needs in the wilderness, giving them the covenant with power at Mt Sinai, and showing them how to be holy through the law, yet they would not trust Him when they came to Caanan

So God, in His wrath, swears that He will not give them His promised rest

Do not have an evil, unbelieving heart - 3:12-19

Our author now applies that lesson to his generation (1000 years after David, to people under a different covenant)

This is the second warning of this epistle - Heb 2:1-3

Hebrews 2:1–3 ESV

Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard,

Evil heart is an unbelieving heart and is defined in this context as a heart that does not fully trust God

The vaccine to unbelief is daily encouragement from our brethren (this stresses the importance of our fellowship with one another, and is not limited to Sundays and Wednesdays) - Heb 10:23-25

Hebrews 10:23–25 ESV

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

We are (not someday will be) partakers of Christ, if we continue to hold firmly to our assurance (faith - Heb 11:1)

Hebrews 11:1 ESV

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

This warning is not for those outside of Christ, just as David’s warning was not written to Gentiles

Rest of God - 4:1-10

Rest means to end activity, or to be quiet, at peace; it often implied physical weariness when used in a context without direct connection with God; but when connected with God, it never has that meaning - Heb 4:4, 10

Hebrews 4:4 ESV

For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.”

Hebrews 4:10 ESV

for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.

Our author warns us that like Israel, we can fall short of God’s promise of rest (“seem” means to have an outward appearance, it does not always imply that which is inside is different - Acts 25:27; Gal 2:9)

Acts 25:27 ESV

For it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to indicate the charges against him.”

Galatians 2:9 ESV

and when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.

Good news (gospel) preached to them did not profit because it was not united by faith (trust)

We enter that rest, even though God finished that part of His work many centuries ago; His rest was promised to Israel, even though He had already rested

David promises that rest to his generation, proving that Joshua did not deliver the full promise of God when he led Israel into Caanan - Judges 3:11, 30; Judges 5:31; 2 Sam 7:1, 11

Judges 3:11 ESV

So the land had rest forty years. Then Othniel the son of Kenaz died.

Judges 3:30 ESV

So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest for eighty years.

Judges 5:31 ESV

“So may all your enemies perish, O Lord! But your friends be like the sun as he rises in his might.” And the land had rest for forty years.

2 Samuel 7:1 ESV

Now when the king lived in his house and the Lord had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies,

2 Samuel 7:11 ESV

from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house.

Therefore it remains for some to enter that rest, because others who heard the good news failed to enter through disobedience (lack of trust)

There still remains a Sabbath rest for God’s people, who will rest as God rests

God’s word lays the heart bare - 4:11-13

We must be diligent to trust God in all things to enter His rest; “disobedience” literally means to be apathetic or unpersuaded

God’s word is living and active (Jesus is called the Word - John 1:1; Heb 1:2)

John 1:1 ESV

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Hebrews 1:2 ESV

but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.

The word of God pierces our hearts open to see what is truly inside - Acts 2:37; 5:33; 7:54

Acts 2:37 ESV

Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

Acts 5:33 ESV

When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them.

Acts 7:54 ESV

Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him.

So God is able to see exactly what we think, whether we fully trust Him or fall short in the day or trial

Questions for Next Week

1- How does our confession connect with the high priesthood of Jesus?

2- What attitude is necessary for a priest in dealing with the people God appoints him to serve?

3- How did Jesus receive His priestly appointment?

4- What was necessary for Jesus to be prepared to serve as high priest?