True Rest
Hebrews 4:1–11 reflects on rest for God’s people, or the lack thereof—depending on obedience or disobedience to His word, which is described in the following verses:
For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from his sight, but all things are uncovered and laid bare to the eyes of Him to whom we have an account to give (vv 12–13).
Those disobedient to His word are “rest-less,” and those obedient “rest-full,” receiving His grace and mercy (vv 14–16). Let’s turn to two Old Testament prophets to help us discern our response to His word as connected to our rest or lack of it.
“By human standards, Jeroboam II was an unqualified success” as the 13th king of Israel—militarily and economically, taking back territory not held since David’s time (The Revell Bible Dictionary)—but “he did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh” during his 41-year reign (2 Kings 14:24).
One prophet from the north (Israel) spoke of favor in restoring their borders (2 Kgs 14:25). Another prophet from the south (Judah) condemned Israel’s boast of this expansion by their own strength, declaring instead a coming oppression by another nation within the very borders being restored. Amos is the second prophet, a shepherd from the south who obeyed the word of Yahweh by leaving the pasture to prophesy against Israel, declaring the demise of powerful King Jeroboam II (Amos 6:13–14; 7:10–11). When pressured by the king’s priest to flee, he instead remained and obeyed the word of Yahweh (vv 12–16). Jonah is the first prophet, the Israelite who spoke of his country’s expansion. His story also tells how the word of Yahweh came to him, but he fled from God’s presence. Even after miraculous rescue from death, his offense persisted over Yahweh’s lovingkindness toward Assyria, the enemy nation that would destroy Jonah’s country despite their bigger borders (Jonah 1:1–3; 4:1–3).
True rest depends on whether we obey Yahweh’s word, even when this means love for our enemies and His judgment of His people. A remnant of Yahweh’s people remained throughout the Old and New Testaments, and still does today in Jesus’ kingdom. May we ourselves enter His rest and invite others to keep doing the same. “Therefore, let us be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall into the same example of disobedience” (Hebrews 4:11).