Hebrews 4:1-9

1: Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it. 
2: For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard. 
3: For we who have believed enter that rest, just 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 said somewhere concerning the seventh day: “AND GOD RESTED ON THE SEVENTH DAY FROM ALL HIS WORKS”; 
5: and again in this passage, “THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST.” 
6: Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly had good news preached to them failed to enter because of disobedience, 
7: He again fixes a certain day, “Today,” saying through David after so long a time just as has been said before, “TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS.” 
8: For if Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that. 
9: So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God.

*** 

Paul wanted to be sure they understood that there is a rest yet to come to the people of God, and there is the possibility of them falling short of it if they are not careful. After coming out of Egypt, the good news of a land of rest was preached to the Israelites—the land of Canaan, or the Promised Land. Yet hearing that word preached did that generation no good because they didn’t believe. They died in the wilderness as a result of their unbelief.

Paul quoted Psalm 95:11 where David said God swore in His wrath they wouldn’t enter His rest. Yet this promise of a future rest didn’t end with the second generation out of Egypt, led by Joshua, entering Canaan. Paul said we know that Joshua didn’t lead them into the final Promised Land because many years later David said, ‘Today if you hear His voice do not harden your hearts’ (Psalm 95:7). If Joshua would have led them into the rest God was talking about then David wouldn’t have spoken of a day, a rest, yet to come.

Therefore, there remains a rest for the people of God. However, the same thing which kept the Israelites out of their earthly Promised Land can keep us out of the Sabbath rest yet to come if we fall into unbelief and disobedience as they did. We must take care not to fall from faith.

 

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