Daily Devotional Friday 4th November 2022
by William MoodyHebrews 4
4:1 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. 2 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.1 3 For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said,
“As I swore in my wrath,
‘They shall not enter my rest,’”
although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.” 5 And again in this passage he said,
“They shall not enter my rest.”
6 Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, 7 again he appoints a certain day, “Today,” saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted,
“Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts.”
8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God2 would not have spoken of another day later on. 9 So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, 10 for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.
11 Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. 12 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. 13 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.
Jesus the Great High Priest
14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
(ESV)
Rest is something important. When weary and tired we need a place of recovery and peace. The Promised Land was to be such a place for Israel but many failed to enter it because of unbelief (v1-4).
The writer speaks of the Sabbath as a great picture of the rest that we need and can experience (v4-5). The Promised Land and the Sabbath are themselves not the fulfilment of the rest spoken of. They point to a greater rest that can be experienced ‘Today’ (v6-10).
The big problem in entering this rest is the state of our sinful hearts which are revealed to us by the sharp sword of God’s Word (v11-13).
Just when we might be getting discouraged at being able to enter this rest the writer points to our great hope and the source of true rest, Jesus our great high priest (v14-16). Take time to ponder and pray about these last three verses. The message about Jesus our sympathetic and glorious high priest is glorious and shows that through Jesus alone we can find rest for our sin and our weariness.
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