How do you find rest?
What does Hebrews say about Rest?
Psalm 95:7-11
- Hi-lite “they do not know My ways” (verse 10) and “They shall not enter my rest” (verse 11)
HEBREWS 3:7-4:11
Paul is quoting and commenting on Psalm 95:7-11.
KEY WORD – REST
- Hi-lite all of the instances of the word “Rest.” Most of the time, the greek word used for rest means “abode” or “resting place.” In 4:8 the writer uses a different word meaning to “settle down” or “colonize.” In 4:9 he uses yet another word meaning “sabbath rest.”
3:11 “They (Israel) shall not enter my rest” (gr: abode, resting place)
3:18 “They would not enter His rest” (gr: abode, resting place)
4:1 promise remains of entering His rest (gr: abode, resting place)
4:3 We who have believed enter that rest (gr: abode, resting place)
4:3 “they shall not enter my rest” (gr: abode, resting place)
4:5 they shall not enter my rest (gr: abode, resting place)
4:8 If Joshua (another leader like Moses) had given them rest, he would not have spoken of another day (Gr: to settle down, colonize)
4:9 There remains a rest for the people of God (gr: sabbatismos, sabbath rest, repose of Christianity, type of heaven)
4:10 he who has entered His rest has ceased from his works (gr: abode, resting place)
4:11 BE DILIGENT to enter that rest (gr: abode, resting place)
IF-THEN
- Circle “if” and “then” in the following verses.
3:7 If you will hear His voice then do not harden your hearts (SAID 3 TIMES)
3:15 If you will hear His voice then do not harden your hearts.
4:7 If you will hear His voice, then do not harden your hearts
Hardening your heart is like a stubborn child.
“I asked you to pick up your toys and you hardened your heart and said no.”
3:14 If we hold the beginning of our confidence then we are partakers of Christ.
4:8 If Joshua had given them rest [there is no “true rest” except in Jesus] then he would not have spoken of another day
Hebrews 3:7
- Circle “Therefore” -refers to :6, Christ was over His own house (the church).
- Write “inspired” over the words “Holy Spirit says.”
Hebrews 3:8
- Circle “do not” – this is a command.
- Hi-lite “do not harden your hearts.”
Hebrews 3:9
- Circle “your fathers.”
- Mark the list and underline: 1)”tested me”, 2)”tried me” and 3)”saw my works.”
Hebrews 3:10
- Circle “Therefore” – refers to list in verse 9, draw an arrow to this verse.
- Hi-lite “I Was Angry with that generation”, “go astray in their heart” and “not known My ways.”
WHAT MAKES GOD ANGRY?
Going astray in our own heart, not knowing His ways
Hebrews 3:12
- Circle “Beware” – an important word in scripture, it means to pay attention!
- What is the danger? Hi-lite “evil heart of unbelief” and “departing from the living God.”
Hebrews 3:13
- Circle “but”- because of the danger in verse 12.
- Hi-lite “exhort one another daily.”
- Underline “lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” – Another danger.
Hebrews 3:14
- Circle “For” – we should not become hardened by sin because we are partakers of Christ.
- Hi-lite “we have become partakers of Christ.”
Hebrews 3:15
- Circle “do not” (a command).
- Hi-lite “do not harden your hearts.”
Hebrews 3:16-18 QUESTIONS
- Circle the question marks.
- Hi-lite “rebelled”, “with whom was He angry”, “those who sinned”, “they would not enter His rest” and “those who did not obey.”
Hebrews 3:19
- Circle “So”- sums up the question and answers.
- Hi-lite “they could not enter in because of unbelief.”
They said “Can God?” instead of “God Can!”
They thought of their enemies as giants and themselves as grasshoppers.
When we take God into account, WE are giants, and our enemies are the grasshoppers.
Why did Israel not receive the promised “Rest”?
Israel chose to rebel instead of the persevere. Because they did not trust God’s promises they did not obey Him.
What do you choose today? Perseverance is hard but the result is glorious.
Deuteronomy 12:8-11
- Circle “You shall not.” – a command.
- Underline “every man doing whatever is right in his own eyes”, “as yet you have not come to the rest and the inheritance.”
- Hi-lite “the Lord your God is giving you”, “your God is giving you to inherit”, “gives you rest from all your enemies.”
- Circle “but”, “when” and “then.”
- Double underline “so that you dwell in safety.”
- Put brackets around “there will be the place where the Lord your God chooses to make His name abide.”
The ultimate rest will be when we reach our heavenly home. The rest we find here on earth is the rest that we find in Jesus. The place where the Lord chooses to make His name abide is the church. That is where we will find rest while we are here.
Hebrews 4:1
- Circle “Therefore” and draw an arrow to 3:19.
- Hi-lite “since a promise remains”
- Circle “let us fear” – a command. This is a righteous, godly fear of becoming hardened by sin and missing out on His rest.
The next 3 verses begin with the word “for” which means because.
- Circle “for” in each verse. “Let us fear” because…
Hebrews 4:2
- Hi-lite “The gospel was preached to us as well as to them”
Hebrews 4:3
- Hi-lite “we who have believed do enter that rest”
Hebrews 4:4
“spoken in a certain place” meaning in a place in scripture (Psalm 95:7-11).
- Hi-lite “God rested on the 7th day from all His works” (Gen. 2:2). He rested after creation was completed. We will find eternal rest after our work here on earth is completed.
Hebrews 4:5 “and again in this place (of the scripture)” – Psalm 95
Hebrews 4:6
- Hi-lite “did not enter because of disobedience”
Hebrews 4:7
“saying in David” – referring to Psalm 95 again
- Hi-lite “certain day”, “today”, “today” and “Do not harden your hearts.”
- Underline “Do not.”
Hebrews 4:9 -This is a PROMISE!
- Hi-lite “there remains a rest therefore for the people of God.”
- Circle “therefore.” It refers to verse 8, Joshua did not give them rest.
Hebrews 4:10 when we enter that rest, we cease from our work here on earth. Christ rested from his redemptive work – “It is finished.
- Hi-lite “entered His rest” and “ceased from his works.”
Hebrews 4:11 – Diligent! – Careful and persistent work or effort.
- Circle “Let us” -a command, and “therefore.”
- Hi-lite “Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest.”
- Underline “same example of disobedience.” It is an example for us today!
On our next day we will look at other scriptures that talk about rest and will notice what Godly rest is and is not.