The Sabbath Fulfilled in Spiritual Rest

The sabbath day of the Old Testament is shown here to point forward to a rest that is constant, not temporary or periodic. (God rested not only on the seventh day from His work of creating the world, but on the eighth day, and the ninth, and every day since.) Also, in keeping with the nature of the New Covenant (an operation on our hearts), this rest has to do with conditions in our soul. We are to cease from our own works, and this rest is entered into by faith. The purpose of being set apart to obey God and seek His purposes instead of our own is fulfilled in a work wrought in our hearts.

When Jesus called people to come to Him, He spoke in this way: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”* (Matthew 11:28-30) It is in taking His “yoke” on us, in walking where He walks, in yielding to Him and obeying Him with our whole hearts, that we “find rest.” Like Jesus, the source of our salvation and our example, we are to “do always those things that please him [God the Father],”* (John 8:29) to have the same spirit: “Lo, I come to do thy will, O God.”* (Hebrews 10:9) This is rest in the soul, all the time.

By God’s grace an operation has been performed on my heart and it is my purpose and delight to rest all the time. God has this for you, too.