The Berean

Daily Verse and Comment

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"These [in Berea] were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so." - Acts 17:11
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Hebrews 4:1-11

(1) Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left of entering into his rest, any one of you might seem to have failed [of it]. (2) For indeed we have had glad tidings presented to us, even as they also; but the word of the report did not profit *them*, not being mixed with faith in those who heard. (3) For we enter into the rest who have believed; as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, If they shall enter into my rest; although the works had been completed from [the] foundation of [the] world. (4) For he has said somewhere of the seventh [day] thus, And God rested on the seventh day from all his works: (5) and in this again, If they shall enter into my rest. (6) Seeing therefore it remains that some enter into it, and those who first received the glad tidings did not enter in on account of not hearkening to the word, (7) again he determines a certain day, saying, in David, 'To-day,' after so long a time; (according as it has been said before), To-day, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. (8) For if Jesus had brought them into rest, he would not have spoken afterwards about another day. (9) There remains then a sabbatism to the people of God. (10) For he that has entered into his rest, he also has rested from his works, as God did from his own. (11) Let us therefore use diligence to enter into that rest, that no one may fall after the same example of not hearkening to the word.


These verses contain two points that will help us in being still. The first point is a long-range one, and the second is more immediate:

  1. We need to be diligent to enter the rest that is the Kingdom of God. This is the true rest toward which all Christians should be intently pressing. It will be a true rest from the sin, confusion, and turmoil that are hallmarks of this age.

  2. In the meantime, as verse 9 reads, "There remains therefore a rest for the people of God." The word "rest" is sabbatismos in Greek, and it refers to both the weekly Sabbath rest and the ultimate rest in God's Kingdom, of which it is a type. God has given us a weekly, twenty-four-hour period when we can be still and use that time to come to know Him.

The people of God need this one day to recharge physically, but more importantly, they need it to pull out of the world, remove themselves from the rat race, and get into communion with God. The Sabbath day allows them to adjust their attitudes, understand godly reasoning, receive instruction, see God at work, and come to know Him more intimately.

Being still need not be limited to the Sabbath day. We should make a concerted effort to find time during the workweek to stop our headlong rush through life, be alone with God, and simply, prayerfully think, which is biblical meditation. In a world like ours, we frequently need to evaluate ourselves and reevaluate our course, and the way to do these things is to be still.

In John 14:27, our Savior says to us: "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." If we can learn to be still, we will enjoy the wonderful benefits of Christ's peace in us.

— Richard T. Ritenbaugh

To learn more, see:
Beating the Rat Race (Part Six)



 

Topics:

Biblical Meditation

Communion With God

Entering God's Rest

Hallowing Sabbath Day

Sabbath Day as a Day of Rest

Sabbatismos

Time for Meditation




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