Within this chapter we find repeated for our benefit Psalm 95:11 and 7. My study Bibles label this chapter "Saint's Rest" and "Believer's Rest"or another version of the same. Enough, lets get to digen for gold, shall we? For this one is of great length. One other note of interest wherever we see "the people of God," we can insert humanity, for this is what GOD sees and thinks on.
Hebrews 4:1-13 "Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said (in Psalm 95:11), "As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest:" although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. For he spoke in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise,(in Genesis 2:2, Exodus 20:11, 31:17) "And God did rest the seventh day from all his works." And in this place again, (in Psalm 95:11) "If they shall enter into my rest." Seeing therefore it remains that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: Again, he limited a certain day, saying in David, (Psalm 95:7-8) "Today, after so long a time; as it is said, Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts." For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. There remains therefore a rest to the people (humanity) of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do." (KJV)
Hebrews 4:1-13 "Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said, (Psalm 95:11) "As I swore in my wrath, 'They shall not enter my rest,'" although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way (in Genesis 2:2, Exodus 20:11, 31:17): "And God rested on the seventh day from all his works." And again in this passage he said, (in Psalm 95:11) "They shall not enter my rest." Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, again he appoints a certain day, "Today," saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted (Psalm 95:7-8), "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts." For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on. So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people (humanity) of God, for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account." (ESV)
Hebrews 4:1-13 "What a foolish thing it would be if we should now fail in a similar fashion to enter into his rest, where we get to celebrate the full consequences of our (exonerational) redemption. (Why waste another lap in the same wilderness of unbelief!) What GOD has now spoken to us through Jesus confirms that we were equally included in the prophetic messages were proclaimed to their Jewish ancestors; their unbelief disqualified them from possessing the promise; they could not make the vital connection with the promise while they remained enslaved to their own dwarfed opinions of themselves! Because the word did not mingle with trust (faith), there was no catalyst to ignite its effects in their hearts, and so the promise did not profit them at all, though it remained active. (They were absorbed with the typical fruit of the "I-am-not-tree-mentally;" they remained more persuaded about a perception of an inferior identity, than what they were about the largeness of their salvation from slavery, into the freedom of the authentic life of their original design. Numbers 13:33) Faith (not shear willpower) realizes our immediate access into GOD's rest. Hear the echo of GOD's [1]cry though the ages, "Oh! If only they would enter into my rest." His rest celebrates perfection. His work is complete; the [2]fall of humanity did not flaw our perfection. (Sadly most translations read, "I have sworn in my wrath that they will never enter into my rest!" The word, wrath is derives from (H639 from H599, 'ânaph, to breath hard, in Greek G3709 from G3713) orge, meaning passionate desire, any strong outburst of emotion. The text doesn't say, "they will never enter my rest!" Both the Septuagint and the Hebrew text quoted from Psalm 94:11 in the Septuagint, which is Psalm 95:11 in the Hebrew, read, "Oh that they would enter into my rest!" Greek ei and Hebrew, בּוֹא. Look at Hebrews 4:6-8, "It is clear then that there is still an opportunity to enter into that rest which Israel failed to access because of their unbelief, even though they were the first to hear the Good News of GOD's intention to restore humanity to the same Sabbath that Adam and Israel had lost. (Both Adam and Israel believed the lie about themselves. [Numbers 13:33, Joshua 2:11]) So, now again many years later, he points specifically to an extended opportunity when he announced through David's prophecy, "Today when hearing my voice, do not do so with a calloused heart." If Joshua, who led the new generation of Israel out of the wilderness of their parent's unbelief, had succeeded in leading them into the rest that GOD intended, David would not so many years later have referred to yet another day!"
First Adam failed to enter into GOD's finished work, and then Israel failed to enter into the consequence of their complete redemption out of slavery; and as a result of their unbelief, they perished in the wilderness. Now let us not fail in the same manner to see the completed work of the Cross. GOD desires for us to see the same perfection; what he saw when he first created humanity in his image and likeness and then again, what he saw in the perfect obedience [literally hearing] of his Son. GOD is not "in his rest" because he is exhausted, but because he is satisfied with what he sees. His rest was not at risk. "His works were finished from the foundation of the world." The word, (1, G575) apo, translates as away from, and [2, G2602, deposit, is from G2598] kataballo, means cast down, the fall of humanity, sometimes translated, foundation [see notes on Ephesians 1:4] "This association goes back to before the fall of the world, his love knew that he would present us again face to face before him in blameless innocence." The implications of the fall are completely cancelled out (exonerated). The entire "Fall" was a falling away in our own vain imaginations from our true identity as the image and likeness bearers of Elohim's seed. Just like Eve, were we all deceived to believe a lie about ourselves, which is the fruit of the "I-am-not-tree." We all, like sheep have gone astray. [Isaiah 53:6]) Scripture records the seventh day to be the prophetic celebration of GOD's perfect work. What GOD saw satisfied his scrutiny. (Remember what happened on the 7th day? I celebrated you! I still do! Behold, it is very good, and GOD rested from all his work. [Genesis 1:31, 2:2] GOD saw more than his perfect image in Adam, he also saw the Lamb and his perfect work of redemption! "The Lamb having been slain from the foundation of the world." [Revelation 13:8] "That which has been is now; that which is to be, has already become, as in been." [Ecclesiastes 3:15, Joshua 2:11]) In Psalm 95 the same seventh day metaphor is reiterated: "Oh, that they would enter into my rest!" It is clear then that there is still an opportunity to enter into that rest which Israel failed to access because of their unbelief, even though they were the first to hear the Good News of GOD's intention to restore humanity to the same Sabbath that Adam and Israel had lost. (Both Adam and Israel believed the lie about themselves. [Numbers 13:33, Joshua 2:11]) So, now again these many years later, he points specifically to an extended opportunity when he announces in David's prophecy, "Today when hearing my voice, do not do so with a calloused heart. Be faith sensitive." If Joshua, who led the new generation of Israel out of the wilderness (where their parents perished through unbelief ), had succeeded in leading them into the rest that GOD intended, David would not so many years later have referred to yet another day. (This moment still remains as an open invitation to humanity to enter into their rest: the living blueprint of our design. This confirms that the history of Israel was a mere shadow and prophetic type of that Promise that was yet to be fulfilled, in us who believe.) The conclusion is clear: the original rest is still in place for GOD's humanity...i.e., people. (The people of this planet are the property of GOD! [Psalm 24:11]) GOD's rest celebrates his finished work; whoever enters into GOD's rest immediately abandons his own efforts to improve what GOD has already perfected. (The language of the Law is "do;" the language of grace is "done.") Let us therefore be [1]prompt to understand and fully appropriate that rest and not fall again into the same trap that snared Israel in [2]unbelief. (The word, [1, G4704 to use speed, is from G4710] spoudatzo, is from (G4710) spoude, diligence, I translated prompt, not labor; this word also reminds us of the English word, speed; immediately! The word, [2, G543 from G545 from G1 and G3982] apeitheia [apathy] is from (G1) a as a negative particle, not; and (G3982) peitho, convince; is often, wrongly translated, disobedience.) The message GOD spoke to us through Christ, is the most life giving and dynamic influence in us, cutting like a surgeon's scalpel, sharper than a soldier's sword, piercing to the deepest core of human conscience, to the dividing of soul and spirit; ending the dominance of the sense realm and its neutralizing effects upon the human spirit. In this way a person's spirit is freed to become the ruling influence again (as seen in Genesis 2) in the thoughts and intentions of their heart. The scrutiny of this living Sword-Logos detects every possible disease, discerning the bodies deepest secrets where joint and bone-marrow meet. (The moment we cease from our own efforts to justify ourselves, by yielding to the integrity of the message that announces the success of the Cross, GOD's word is triggered into action within us and become Christ ones. What GOD spoke to us in sonship (the incarnate word within), radiates his image and likeness in our redeemed innocence. [Hebrews 1:1-3] This word powerfully penetrates and impacts our whole being; body, soul, and spirit.) The entire person is thoroughly exposed to his scrutinizing gaze. Every creature's origin form is on record in the Word. (Revealing GOD's resolve to display his image and likeness in human form.) (The Mirror, with editing.)
Now we shall grow yet again in his knowledge of us and of him who Is. Until next time, May the LORD speedily bring this about in you and yours.
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