Sunday: Many Kinds of Rest
“‘Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls'” (Matt. 11:29, NKJV).
How does taking His “yoke” bring rest to our souls?
Image © Rolf Jansson from GoodSalt.com
This offer points to a personal dimension amid the much larger one of Jesus’ mission to free people from the enemy. His words are actually adapted from Jeremiah, who promises people rest for their souls if they return to the religion of their fathers, instead of the paganism of the surrounding nations (Jer. 6:16).
The concept of rest is very rich in Scripture. It starts with God Himself. He rested when He finished His work of Creation (Gen. 2:2). His rest ushered in a Sabbath rest that was celebrated weekly. Rest was also celebrated through the year during the annual feasts (for example, Lev. 16:31), every seven years in the “Sabbath of the land” (Exod. 23:11), and every 50 years in the jubilee, when slaves were freed and debts forgiven (Lev. 25:10).
Rest could be appreciated when God was present with His people (Exod. 33:14), where there was neither “‘adversary nor evil occurrence'” (1 Kings 5:4, NKJV), nor an enemy (Deut. 25:19). Rest was enjoyed in the land that God gave His people (Josh. 1:13), especially when the people returned from captivity and exile (Jer. 30:10). Rest was also shared in hospitality with strangers (Gen. 18:4), and in enjoying stable family life (Ruth 1:9, Prov. 29:17).
However, rest is absent for God’s people in captivity (Exod. 5:4-5, Lam. 1:3). Rest escapes the wicked, who like the troubled sea, cannot rest (Isa. 57:20). The only rest that such people can look forward to is death and the grave (Job 3:11, Job 3:13, Job 3:16-18). Revelation 14:11 also has a powerful warning about rest for those on the wrong side of the great controversy in the last days.
The rest Jesus offers is a very generous package. It includes the gift of the Sabbath, allowing us time out with the Creator. Christ’s offer of rest recognizes our lost condition and restores us in every way. And when we slip up (as we do) we still have the assurance of a place of rest at our Savior’s side.
What are ways, besides the Sabbath, that we can learn to enjoy the rest that God offers us? How do we find rest for our souls in Jesus? See also Rom. 4:1-6.
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Is this rest misleading?.Jesus says It is finished the battle is over. God's love is not a binding contract. God says he's faithful and true until u the end of time. He's my friend and available in every moment of my life. Not just on Sabbath.
One of my pictures of rest involves walking in this life holding onto the right hand of God. The adventure of life can be on a bumpy and twisted road filled with pain and sorrow, but if I choose to hold on to HIS hand my soul feels rest as I know 'He is right beside me.' For this promise I am grateful.
Come (verb) unto( Preposition )Me (pronoun) All an( indefinite pronoun)
Come :draw close to me everyone ………..
These verbs Prepositions and pronouns are expressions of close proximity and intimate fellowship. With Jesus himself . He is not calling us to a program, or a system of religion, or to a church, and certainly not to human leader.
In Matthew 11:29 to bear the yoke of Christ is to become connected to Jesus as if physically tied to Him and constrained to go only where He goes, to do only what He approves, to speak only what pleases His ear and guided ultimately by His counsel (Romans 6:16-18).
It necessarily brings one into confrontation with his/her own fallen inclinations. It calls forth resistance to unwholesome cherished desires. None is yoked with Christ without having to give up something dear or deny themselves some pleasure or changing some well-designed plan to bring it in line with God’s purpose of salvation.
The yoke sets up a clash with the prevailing culture and creates enemies (Matthew 10:22; 24:9). Those who are determined to please the Creator will be accused of being ‘holier than thou’ or ‘Mr. or Ms. Perfect’ or another label intended to make them feel guilty for trying, just as Christ was reviled (1 John 3:12, 13; 1 Peter 2:23).
Jesus was hated because His righteousness was a constant rebuke to those who were put off by godliness and cared little for holiness (John 7:7; 15:18-20).
Now this yoke does not seem much like a formula for rest. Wait! There is something else in the text between the yoke and the rest. The Savior says learn from Him the lessons of gentleness and lowliness (Matthew 11:29). As those yoked to Jesus take note of His humility and seek to pattern same divine peace and rest becomes a reality in their life (Philippians 2:5-8; Isaiah 26:3).
The more meek and humble the child of God the less affected he/she will be by accusations, even of the false variety. Unmerited attacks and assaults on them for the Lord’s sake are but badges of honor; for it is their joy to share in the sufferings of Christ (1 Peter 4:13). Those growing in humility learn to praise more and complain less and they find rest for their souls (Matthew 11:28-30).
Thank you Hugh! I love studying the lessons and reading comments. I usually copy comments from you and other commentators and share/post them in Facebook, including the name of the original contributor. Let me know if it's okay with you or if I need to ask permission first before sharing it. Thank you and God bless!
Venus,
Thanks for sharing and the encouragement. No need to request permission of this instrument. If the Holy Spirit impresses that is sufficient permission. Just make the Lord your guide.
As well no need to mention my name if not required. No copyright claim, and no credit required on this side.
Keep studying and sharing!
Amen ,gentleness and lowliness are Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22)and we see the importance of not only having the Gifts of the Spirit but we need to have the Fruit of the Spirit.The Bible says 'Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves You will know them by their fruits (Matthew 7:15-16).Hence,from inside i.e our hearts there is need for purity.
It is great to hear from you again, Hugh. I missed your posts.
What are ways, besides the Sabbath, that we can learn to enjoy the rest that God offers us? How do we find rest for our souls in Jesus?
When loss occurs, and it will, you resist or yield to it. Many choose bitterness or deep resentment; others choose compassion, mercy, humility. Yielding is acceptance of what is. You are open to life. Resistance equals inner contraction, thus creating the hard shell of the old man/Rom.6:6, fallen nature/sinful flesh. You are closed. Any action taken in a state of inner resistance, also called sin, darkness,negativity,etc. will create more outer resistance, The Father will seem lacking in helpfulness to you in this state. If the shutters are closed, His sunlight cannot come in. With internal yielding, you surrender, a new dimension of alertness of the Holy spirit opens up. If there is an action taken by you, it will be in alignment with wholeness, supported by the Most High of creative intelligence. The unconditioned vigilance in this state of inner openness you become one with. Circumstances become helpful, and cooperative. Coincidences happen. If no action is possible, you rest in the peace and inner stillness that come with surrender. You rest in God.
I am blessed by the last part of your comment.Our daily lives are full of struggles. We are always at war without and within. I have realised that mental and spiritual wars are the most difficult to win. Unless one surrenders all to Jesus,and take His yoke of meekness and gentleness, there will be no rest. When we surrender all to Jesus, we are at peace because we know that He will take care of whatever darts the devil hurls at us.
We can be at peace amid trials and temptations if we surrender all to Jesus.That is the greatest rest we need. Without mental and spiritual rest we cannot enjoy even the Sabbath rest.
Hugh,
I have been following your comments for at least three years now and each time I find them quite clear, practical, applicable, warm and refreshing.
Many of us would welcome you to author a Sabbath School Quarterly lesson if that department would grant you that. I really believe that we will learn from your own perspective of God's word and interpretation.
May God continues to bless your ministry and also to give you good health in all aspect of your Christian life.
Hello Hugh Dalhouse,
Welcome back, I missed you expounding comments. I have been learning and getting a lot from you.
First of all: What exactly is Jesus' yoke?????
To be like Jesus.To act in the way Jesus would have acted in all circumstances. To be able to calmly endure temptations yet be victorious. When hated, fight back with love. When provoked, reply with silence. This is not easy,but it is a yoke that Jesus will make it light to bear if we choose to take it up.
‘Farmers used to yoke the young ox with the old experienced ox to train them. The old ox will take the major load and the young one will be walking along and learning from him. Jesus is helping those who are exhausted, weary and burdened from carrying the load by themselves! What a comfort, peace and rest to know that Jesus is right with us, walking with us, teaching us and strengthening us side by side!’
Thank you Peter, that question is also echoing in my mind, and how does it brings rest to our souls?
I went around this week asking people who are Christians what they saw as being Jesus' Yoke. One answer was the Holy Spirit. I felt that was a good answer. Another one was The Kingdom of God. While I am sure that one is a good answer, it is very vague and general. I myself felt that the answer lies in Jesus' very words to "...learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart..." It is when we choose to be learners in His School and be like Him in His meekness and lowliness of heart that our burden (yoke,) in following Him becomes easy and light and we experience that rest to our very souls, that "peace that passes all understanding." So His yoke is simply his burden to live for God, for righteousness, for holiness, and to bless others in that process.
Psalm 23:1-2.Whilst touching on the issue of resting in God, I am reminded of this famous Psalm of David. He starts by stating that, the Lord is his shepherd. That on its own shows a person who knows that on his own he cannot do anything. As a shepherd not just a shepherd but a Good Shepherd (John 10:11) the Lord leads him, guides him and that is why he is saying now I shall not want. Verse 2 goes on to speak about lying down in green pastures, which is a sign of rest. You can only rest like that not fearing that any ‘wolves ‘may come and attack me because you know that you are in the care of the Shepherd. Hence, I agree that we need to have an intimate relationship with God and by so doing we can find rest in Him. If you read the book of (Acts 12:6) we are told that Peter was in prison and guess what the night before his trial ,that is the time you would expect him to be unstable, unsettled and confused. Guess what he was doing, he was sleeping. That on its own is a sign of rest. Having that peace within you that amidst all this, God Emmanuel is with me. Just think of it that Peter was aware that James the brother of John was killed by a sword but instead of him getting worked up saying I might be the next in line , he was sleeping just like Jesus who was sleeping through the storm ,(Matthew 8:23-27).He knew quite well that James was killed by a physical sword but the weapon I have, the Word of God is sharper than any two edged sword (Hebrews 4:12).Yes storms may arise, tragedy you name it but as long as we are firmly rooted in Christ we will find rest and we will have this inner peace from within that the world cannot give us (John 14:27).We can only find rest from God.Amen
Taking Jesus' yoke is synonymous with abiding in the Vine. It is a choice to be close. Jesus tells us in this invitation HOW to take His yoke: by choosing to learn of Him. Then He tells us what we will learn: "for I am meek and lowly of heart" and that from this we will "find rest" for our souls. Our souls? Why do our souls need rest?
We are of this fallen world and Jesus is appealing to those who "have no rest day or night" because they worship the beast. What/who is the beast? In short, it is any choice that replaces God with SELF when making a decision such as taking from a tree He has forbidden, or choosing a wife/husband's will over God's will.
Anything that violates a statute of the Lord is worshiping the beast/creature over the creator. The beast symbolizes the exalting of my will over my Creator's will. I become the man of sin described in 2 Thessalonians 2. I make choices according to my will rather than submit to God. It is done easily and naturally when not close to Jesus. The Rest is the justified/sanctified life that will result from "following the Lamb" everywhere, which is the natural result of being yoked with Him. No more struggling with temptation and sin, but a peaceful Rest for the soul.
This Rest is genuine Worship, in the beauty of holiness. (Ps 29:2, Rev 14:7)