Opening Thought
“I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living” (Psa 27:13).
Text: Hebrews 4:9-16
There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall after the same example of disobedience. For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Devotion
Weary wanderer among God’s people, a blessed Sabbath rest awaits you! The Sabbath is the day of holy assembly, the Divine Service, the day of freedom and songs of praise. “There remains therefore a rest for the people of God,” a condition without burden and with full enjoyment of salvation in communion with God and all the saints. “Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all you who love her… that you may feed and be satisfied with the consolation of her bosom, that you may drink deeply and be delighted with the abundance of her glory. … Your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like grass” (Isa 66:10, 11, 14). – But if you want to enter into that rest, then walk with fear and with confidence. The simple-minded come, as well as the discouraged. Let God’s living Word uncover your inmost heart. Let it melt, bruise, and condemn your heart, but let it also heal and comfort you, so that you stand confident before His face and boldly confess your faith before men. God’s Son has become our High Priest, therefore we can be completely comforted. He has not only atoned for our sins with His blood, offered it on the cross, and carried it to heaven, but also He was tempted in all things just as we are – yet without sin. So by His own experience He knows our struggles and pains, our suffering and weariness and all our weaknesses. Yes, He knows better and feels more seriously than you yourself, how sick and plagued your heart is, and what you suffer from sin and Satan. A great High Priest we have, Jesus, God’s Son, great in power and great in sympathy. “For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens” (Heb 7:26). But “in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted” (Heb 2:17-18).
So let us be diligent to enter into that rest, let us really be diligent in this! Here diligence, there rest! We will walk in the light of the Word before God’s eyes with holy sincerity and stand before Him with full confidence under the wings of our merciful and faithful High Priest.
Closing Prayer
O God, accomplish this in us by Your Holy Spirit for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
Hymn
Your Spirit and Your holy Word
Let be our firm foundation!
Increase our faith, true light afford,
To show Your true compassion!
All worldly fraud cast underfoot,
Loose us from Satan’s lying;
And quell in us our flesh and blood,
And free us from our straying.
Give us therewith a steadfast faith
That fearless we are trusting
And do not fear eternal death
But look for heav’nly resting!
Th’ eternal Sun and Sabbath day
Kindle for us in heaven
And grant us joy and peace for aye
With You in bliss unending.
Palladius: Den signed’ Dag, O Frelser blid! L 533:3.6 tr. DeGarmeaux;
tune: Frisk op (LHy 282) or Was mein Gott will (ELH 477); alternate hymn: Glory be to Jesus ELH 283