Why Did God 'Rest' on the Seventh Day and What Does that Have to do with Me?
Matt 11:28-30 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
There are many layers to this passage, and we will get to them, but first I want to look at the “rest” of God. In Gen 1:31 – 2:3 “God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. 2 Thus the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their hosts. 2 By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.”
The word for ‘rest’here is Shavath – to repose; to sit down. God did not rest because He was tired. He rested because His work of creating the earth was complete. The same can be said of Jesus – After His resurrection and ascension to heaven, He ‘sat down’ at the right hand of the Father not because He needed to get off His feet, but because His work of redemption was complete (Heb 10:12-13). It is a rest of satisfaction. A rest of enjoyment. A rest of repose.
In Genesis, the Father took time to survey and enjoy His completed creation. I can see Him just stepping back, arms wide open, huge smile on His face --- “Ahhh, yes! This is good!”
So this facet of rest, initiated by God, is not just a cessation of work/labor, but a time of intentional enjoyment, appreciation and really celebration of His creation (us!), and it is also meant to be a time of intentional enjoyment, appreciation and celebration by the creation (us) of God.
Psalm 104:31 “Let the glory of the Lord endure forever; Let the Lord be glad in His works.”
Why not make this a breath prayer? Breathe in… “Let the glory of the LORD endure forever”….breathe out…”Be glad in me, Your work, oh LORD!” (SEE attached for details about breath prayers.)
The word for ‘LORD’ here is ADONAI.
One of my favorite songs: Paul Wilbur, “Adonai”. If the link does not work, look it up on YouTube and ENJOY HIM as He enjoys YOU! https://youtu.be/pKWEQs_cbyw
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