Slices
Prepare
Psalm 95 features again in today’s verses, so read the whole psalm in its entirety as you prepare to hear God (v 7): ‘Today, if only you would hear his voice’ (Psalm 95:7).
Bible passage
A Sabbath-rest for the people of God
4 Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. 2 For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed. 3 Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said,
‘So I declared on oath in my anger,
“They shall never enter my rest.”’
And yet his works have been finished since the creation of the world. 4 For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: ‘On the seventh day God rested from all his works.’ 5 And again in the passage above he says, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’
6 Therefore since it still remains for some to enter that rest, and since those who formerly had the good news proclaimed to them did not go in because of their disobedience, 7 God again set a certain day, calling it ‘Today’. This he did when a long time later he spoke through David, as in the passage already quoted:
‘Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts.’
8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. 9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. 11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.
12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Explore
The letter to the Hebrews begins with God speaking to the prophets, through Moses, the psalms, David and ultimately through the Son. Verses 12 and 13 in today’s passage conclude the first section of this letter. The penetration of his Word is awesomely powerful (vs 12,13).
But has the writer’s needle got stuck? How many times is Psalm 95 quoted? God rested, having finished his work of creation (v 3). Job done! Similarly, Jesus, also involved in creation, ascended into heaven, sat down on his throne (1:3). Job done!
But God the Father, Son and Spirit is certainly not inactive. This ‘rest’ is not a ‘state of being’ but a ‘real place’ of activity and celebration. Here is the urgent invitation to God’s people to persevere, to be found worthy to enter the place that the writer describes in promised land language (v 11). For example, ‘rest’ in these verses is similar to the idea of ‘city’ or ‘homeland’ in 11:9,10,13–16; 12:22. This is the promised destiny of anyone who obeys and trusts God (vs 1,2).
Respond
This is your destiny. ‘Our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there … who … will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body’ (Philippians 3:20,21). Reflect on this, our hope
Deeper Bible study
Lord, give me the grace to listen carefully to what you are saying to me today.
In these verses the writer of Hebrews moves away from the application of Psalm 95 as a warning to the faithless wilderness generation and applies the same psalm as a promise to his readers. Verses 1–11 begin and end with exhortation, ‘let us be careful’ (v 1) and ‘Let us … make every effort’ (v 11). Both exhortations are about entering God’s rest, still available to the people of God. We are to be careful that none of us misses out on God’s rest, as we make every effort to enter it.
In English, as in Greek and Hebrew, the word ‘rest’ can be a state of rest or a resting place and at times this chapter seems to move between the two. I think the dominant idea is of a resting place. In the psalm and in Hebrews 3, the faithless wilderness generation were excluded from the Promised Land. Now, however, God is no longer leading his people to the Promised Land: he is leading us to glory.1 This is the resting place God entered at the creation2 and where Jesus is seated at God’s right hand. It is this resting place that remains available to the people of God. But we must make every effort not to miss out by following the example of the disobedient wilderness generation.
Verses 12 and 13 are often applied to the Bible, but I think it is more than that. The verses conclude the section that began in 3:7 with the Holy Spirit speaking to us through the Scriptures, bringing to mind what Hebrews 1:1–2 has already said about God speaking to us through his exalted Son. The Word of God is what God is saying to us by his Spirit and through his exalted Son. We are to pay close attention.3
The writer wants nobody to fall away. Are there people in your sphere of influence whom you can pray for and encourage today lest they fall away?
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Job 31,32; Psalms 86,87
Pray for Scripture Union
Local Mission Partner Bodmin Youth Project praise God for the handful of young people who started in their football outreach and have joined their junior youth group. Pray that they will encounter Jesus for themselves, and for wisdom for the team as they lead and teach.
Revealing Jesus
With a staggering 95% of all under 18s not in church, the task of reaching them with the good news of Jesus is huge. But so too is the opportunity!
At Scripture Union, we’re passionate about equipping and enabling local churches like yours to reach ‘the 95’ though our Revealing Jesus mission framework. Revealing Jesus will not only help you to connect with these children and young people but will also provide you with the support and resources you need to continue to walk alongside them as they find and grow in faith.
