Opening Prayer: Though I live with sorrow and grief, I will not be discouraged, for I trust in You, Lord. Even when life seems futile and the world crushes my hopes and dreams, I will place my future in Your hands. When my friends desert me, I will seek Your constant companionship. Your promises lift me when I am down, strengthen me when I am weak, comfort me when am hurt, and give me purpose when I have given up. You will not abandon or discard me. My hope is in You, O, God. My life is in Your hands. Your love is unfailing, Your redemption is full. In Christ’s holy name, I pray. Amen!
(Adapted from Deuteronomy 31:6 and Hebrews 13:5).
Today’s Bible Verse: Psalm 16:9 (NKJV):
Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope. For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.
Associated Scriptures:
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, 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 (Matthew 11:28-29).
In peace, I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety (Psalm 4:8).
Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done (Genesis 2:3).
Correlative Quotes:
Our Lord Jesus was not disappointed in his hope. He declared his Father's faithfulness in the words, "You will not leave my soul in hell," and that faithfulness was proven on the resurrection morning. Among the departed and disembodied Jesus was not left; he had believed in the resurrection, and he received it on the third day, when his body rose in glorious life, exactly as he had said in joyous confidence, "neither wilt you suffer my Holy One to see corruption."[1] – Charles Spurgeon
Men may for a time be hearers of the gospel, men may for order's sake pray, sing, receive the sacraments; but if it is without joy, hypocrisy in time will break out?[2] – Richard Greenham
O Christian, stir yourself to redeem your hope before this sun of your temporal life goes down upon you, or else you will for a certain lie down in sorrow. A sad going to the bed of the grave he has who has no hope of a resurrection to life.[3] – William Gurnall.
Author’s Notes:
INTRODUCTION
Most of a person’s time is filled with societal entanglements. We worry and fret over the little things that seem monumental at the time. Time does heal all wounds. Even the emotional scars of life’s worst moments eventually become the thickened skin of reality and are seldom remembered. Life moves forward, and so do we.
When the goal is satisfaction, focus on the plan to reach the goal, not the potential or real pitfalls that distract. Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past (Isaiah 43:18).
God has given us rest for a reason. Rest gives our bodies time to heal. It provides time for many of the stresses of the world to come to a resolution without any action on our part. Once we have rested, the outlook and prospects for the future can become clearer. Decisions do not seem so ominous, and the past can then be put aside. We cannot alter the past. We will only lose sleep over it.
A GLAD HEART
The world teaches both positive and possibility thinking. Society believes thinking positive thoughts will make people more productive in their lives. However, the average person would admit that these thoughts center on fame, fortune, and favor.
Some would say fulfillment will be discovered only through possibility thinking. If we wish for success and live as if we are already successful, then we will become successful. “When you wish upon a star, …your dreams come true.”[4] There is a reason this song is sung by Jiminy cricket in a cartoon.
The fantasy of both positive and contingent thinking is a hallmark of the world’s resumé. This work ethic could be best described as “All work and no play, makes Jack a dull boy.”[5]
Living in a dream world of what might be and working a seven-day week to accomplish it eventually causes physical and mental collapse. Rest is important. God’s rest is even more productive. Psalm 91:1 (NLT) explains: Those who live in the shelter of the Most-High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
What does it mean to enter into God’s rest? The 23rd Psalm has the answer. Jesus is the Great Shepherd. He provides us with a healthy, restful spiritual environment. Jesus is our guide to the obedient life. Even at the point of death, He comforts us. He knows our daily needs and provides for them in abundance. Finally, Life in Christ is the guarantee of eternal life. How can we not stay positive with those assurances?
Rejoice in the now. Psalm 29:2 (NLT) states: Honor the LORD for the glory of his name. Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness. His name is wonderful. The whole universe speaks to his majesty. Psalm 8:9 testifies to this truth when it says: O LORD, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth! Excellence is His name. Perfect was His creation. Disobedience by mankind has been the force creating evil where good should be thriving. Unrighteousness has tainted creation.
We can’t change what has happened in the past. We have no other choice but to live in the now. Now we are commanded and, therefore, obligated to glorify the God of Creation. We must rejoice in His glory. Our acts of rejoicing must be continuous and directed only toward the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The whole Godhead deserves our witnessing to their glory.
Philippians 4:4 lays the foundation for bathing continuously in God’s glory: Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Psalm 150 (NKJV) should be memorized and spoken out loud alone, with your spouse, and/or in the family, every morning and repeated every evening:
Praise the Lord!
Praise God in His sanctuary;
Praise Him in His mighty firmament!
Praise Him for His mighty acts;
Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!
Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet;
Praise Him with the lute and harp!
Praise Him with the timbrel and dance;
Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes!
Praise Him with loud cymbals;
Praise Him with clashing cymbals!
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord!
God’s perfect rest is the result of living a life that is obedient to Him. A good day’s work deserves a good night’s rest. However, we can view each day as positive in Christ and give God glory for what He has achieved through us and still not rest in Him.
A restless night’s sleep will not be quieting, calming, or undisturbed. Too often, we allow the problems of this world to interrupt our sleep at night through the worry of inadequacy leading to failure. Sleep can also be threatened by promising something we know we cannot implement. When we experience wistful or mournful rest, it is incomplete and unrewarding.
An unfulfilled rest shows a lack of trust in God. Proverbs 3:5-6 teaches: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
When we trust completely in the Spirit of God to lead us in the right direction in every aspect of our lives and work, He will respond with the direction needed to be successful. Trusting in God completely not only awards us victory and recognition but with the deep, rewarding sleep that comes from mental stability.
Living a life that is pleasing to God and honors and glorifies Him above all things, allows us to live the abundant life promised by Jesus in John 10:10: The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly.
Spiritual Application:
We do not read, “I will give you partial rest,” but “rest,” as much as if there were no other form of it. It is perfect and complete in itself. In the blood and righteousness of Jesus our peace is perfect..[6] – Charles Spurgeon.
God’s rest is perfect, filled with His peace. Jesus, in John 14:27, promises believers pure uninterrupted peace. Matthew 11:18 tells us, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. God’s promise of rest is for all who come to Him. It is also immediate. When we come to Jesus, He will give us rest at the first moment of conversion. Finally, the Spirit’s rest is for those who are weary of the world and its trappings. They are struggling under its enormous expectations. Maintaining God’s rest means staying positive in Christ, and continually giving God the glory for the victories in life allows us to rest in God’s protective care. Praise Him now.
Lessons within the Lesson:
What are the physical assets granted by resting?
How does Psalm 23 identify our spiritual and natural needs?
Why is it important that we recognize God’s Glory daily?
How, when, and where should we be praising God?
[1] Charles Spurgeon, Psalm 16, Treasury of David, Vol. I, Ibid, P. 197.
[2] Richard Greenham, Psalm 16, Treasury of David, Vol. I, Public Domain, Marshall Brothers, Ltd. Publishers London, Edinburgh and New York. P. 205.
[3] William Gurnall, Psalm 16:9, Treasury of David, Vol. I Public Domain, P. 206.
[4] disneyclips.com/lyrics/lyrics11.html. This website is not endorsed by or affiliated with the Disney Company, Fair Use Authorization, Section 107, of the Copyright Act.
[5] James Howell's Proverbs in English, Italian, French and Spanish (1659), Public domain.
[6] Charles Spurgeon, Rest, Rest, spurgeongems.org/sermon/chs969.pdf, Public Domain, P. 4.