Settled And Safe In The Saviour- Biblical Rest

The Believer's Rest Matthew 11:28-30 What exactly is Biblical rest? It is a rest beyond the physical rest required by our bodies and minds. In this fallen world there is no rest because there is no rest outside of GOD Himself. Isaiah 48:22 and 57:20 declare that there is no rest/peace for the wicked. "Wicked" refers to those who live their lives without covenant relationship with The LORD GOD. Isaiah 57:20-21describes this lack of peace like the tossing of the ocean. Throughout Scripture, the ocean /sea is a representation of chaos, sin and death. That is why in the New Heavens and Earth there will be no ocean/sea. See Revelation 21:1 Let's look at the lyrics from a song called "Ain't No Rest For The Wicked" by Cage The Elephant :"Oh, there ain't no rest for the wicked Money don't grow on trees I got bills to pay I got mouths to feed There ain't nothing in this world for free I know I can't slow down I can't hold back Though you know I wish I could Oh, no there ain't no rest for the wicked Until we close our eyes for good" There is truth in this except that the condition of having no rest does not end in physical death because when a person "closes their eyes" in physical death, they are immediately eternally open in the place of eternal torment, without rest from it, in Hell. In fact the Bible is primarily referring to this eternal state of anguish when it declares "There is no rest for the wicked". At the Fall of Adam ( Genesis 3) man lost the peace and harmony in The Abiding Presence of GOD. Adam was from that moment in direct conflict with the earth and always toiling to survive and live. See Genesis 3:17-19 So what exactly is Biblical rest? There are 2 Hebrew words for "rest" used in Genesis chapter 2. In Genesis 2:3 God rested from His work of creation. The Hebrew word for "rest" here is "shabbat" meaning to "stop". GOD stopped His work of Creation. The second Hebrew word for "rest" is in Genesis 2:15 and is the the Hebrew word "nuakh" meaning to "abide/rest in, to dwell, to settle." Most English translations say GOD "put/ placed" Adam in Eden. But GOD didn't just "put" Adam in Eden as a physical location. The Hebrew text says God "rested"- "nuakh". He settled Adam in Eden. When you want to settle baby or small child, you gently settle them in your arms and carefully place them in their cot or bed. You don't just put them there, it is a caring tender act. GOD settled, rested His beloved Adam in Eden which He had meticulously prepared for him. Selah Even in physical rest millions of people have sleep problems or nightmares when they sleep. To quieten the inner anguish of the soul people turn to alcohol, drugs etc etc People are tormented in their spirit through guilt, regrets, unforgiveness, trauma, etc Apart from being in relationship with The LORD there is no place of quiet escape. But the reality and eternal truth is that there is no rest outside of The Presence and Being of GOD Himself. Adam in Eden. The Lord Jesus invtes us to come to Him and receive the rest of GOD, to know His salvation and abiding Presence. See again Matthew 11:28-30. We learn from Him in that whilst His life on earth was very full, it was never striving or stressful because He took time not only to physically rest but He arose early to be alone with The Father. In our pilgrimage upon this earth we dwell in space and time and we need both space and time to rest physically and mentally. St. Augustine's famous quote is: "You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you" (or "our hearts are restless until they rest in you"). Found in his Confessions, Book 1 Chapter 1, this quote reflects the idea that humans possess an inherent, divine restlessness, a yearning for God that can only be truly satisfied by finding rest in Him. There is no rest for those outside of a relationship with The LORD either upon the earth or in Hell. No matter how well they may rest their bodies, their soul is in the perpetual chaos and turmoil of this world, like the ever shifting oceans. These restless ocean tides are in direct contrast to the "waters of resting " - Hebrew "mei menuchot" of Psalm 23:2 Biblical rest is an invitation from GOD Himself to abide in His Presence, for all eternity, starting now. We "shabbat", rest from our labours in order to "nuakh" in Abba Father's everlasting arms of Comfort and Grace,in His Word and in His Presence. We become places where His Presence dwells even though our lives are busy,because we are rested/ settled in Him. Although we may be multi tasking in our various roles, like the resting baby, settled in Daddy's arms, we are at peace and at rest. We are not tossed by the chaotic waves of the world system. We are settled in The Everlasting Arms of Mercy and Redeeming Grace. See Exodus 33:14 The rest here is again the Hebrew word "nuakh " found only in The Presence of GOD Himself. See Psalm 91:1 which describes the place of eternal protection and place of eternal abode when we choose to remain, to dwell and abide in Him. The act of "abiding" in the shadow /shelter of El Elyon, The Most High, is the ultimate expression of "nuakh" because like a tiny child we are "tucked in" from every side, into El Elyon, The Most High GOD Himself. Selah Shalom shalom