Are you very busy when you are reading this? Are you trying to think of where are you going to have your lunch while reading this? Are you trying to figure out what will be your boss announcing to you after lunch in this time of economic downturn while reading this? Are you trying to plan your study schedule and at the same time squeezing some time for your love one while reading this? Take a break; you can even stop reading this. You can simply go to window (if you manage to find one) and take a deep breath and be silence and rest.
Today’s text has a lot to talk about ‘rest’. Many different scholars had many different views of what is this ‘rest’ here refers to. Some says that it is referring to an eschatological rest of the future when Christ final kingdom comes (P. E. Hughes), and some says that this rest refers to God’s rest on the seventh day (G. Theissen). Whether this ‘rest’ has a future orientation or a present and now reality; we are not to take rest lightly.
As my personal style in biblical interpretation, I will hold on both suggestions. I believe that the author of Hebrews has an eschatological view of a rest which is permanent at the end of days as he contrasts it with the foundation of the world (v3). On the other hand, when the author quotes an Old Testament Scripture to substantiate his argument, he also brings in the idea of a rest on a particular day, just as God rested on the seventh day from all His works (v4). The text also repeats the phrase: They shall not enter My rest, in verse 3 and 5. To me, this has great implication: the rest can also mean soteriological rest. This is a the kind of rest whereby we enter in now by faith in Christ and continue the process until we enter the eschatological rest when Christ comes again. Harold Attridge articulates this position well:
Thus the imagery of rest is best understood as a complex symbol for the whole soteriological process that Hebrews never fully articulates, but which involves both personal and corporate dimensions. It is the process of entry into God’s presence, the heavenly homeland (11:16), the unshakeable kingdom (12:28), begun at baptism (10:22) and consummated as a whole eschatologically.
So, my question will be: which part of rest you are in? Have you enter the soteriological rest already? Have you put your faith in Christ for such rest? Are you aware of the need to rest now as God is at work while you rest? Do you have any time of your day or day in a month to really rest in the presence of God, to enjoy Him at work? Do you look forward for the eschatological rest whereby you and I will be completely perfected in Christ because of what He has done for us on the Cross?
What does rest mean to us as we are traveling together to the Cross on this journey of Lent? Do you have an assurance of eternal rest? Do you have periodical rest to reflect and re-orientate and refresh as you continue the journey? Do you look forward to the final rest in Christ?
So, start learning to rest.
HHS…
Abel…
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