Christ in all the scriptures REST

 Christ in all the scriptures

REST   Leviticus 25

The year of Jubilee  The day of Salvation  The Accepted Time

We established before that the year of Jubilee in Israel was symbolic of God's salvation, and we look now at the first correlation, describing the wonderful features of God's rest.

God instructed Israel to sow and reap the land for six years, and every seventh year, the land must be rested.  "Six years shalt thou sow thy field, and six years shalt thou prune thy vineyard, and gather in the fruit thereof; but in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest unto the land, a Sabbath for the Lord..."-Leviticus 25v3-4.  Work six years and rest every seventh year, this was the commandment of the Lord.  Then after seven sabbaths of rest, every 50th year was to be a year of rest for everyone.  This was to be hallowed, and liberty proclaimed throughout the land-Leviticus 25v10.  Basing our thoughts on the fact that the year of Jubilee was a picture of God's salvation, we can say that the first principle of the Jubilee was rest.  God decreed that the land would rest every seventh year, and every 50th year the whole nation would rest.  In His wisdom He knew the need for rest for both land and people.  What a tremendous experience for everyone to have a year of rest every 50th year.  Any loss of produce, the Lord would make up Himself.  This pattern of living was good for the land and good for the people.  In this time of rest the people were to recover health and material losses during the period, and bask in the exceptional bounty of their God-Leviticus 25v8-50.  During this joyful year, there is no anxiety about provisions, no physical effort to reap the harvest, bodily rest and soul rest was the lovely outcome.

Thus the year of Jubilee focuses on the principle of rest, a very necessary aspect of life, both physical and spiritual.  To understand the power of this, we take knowledge of the condition of man without God.   Isaiah 57v20 says, "But the wicked (the lawless-not subject to the law of God) are like the troubled sea when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt".  What a vivid picture of man without God-subject to restlessness, producing random filth.  God knows this is what sin has done to mankind-refer Proverbs 4v16.  People living with endless problems, not knowing where to turn, beset with disillusionment, doubt and even despair.  Jesus called out to such people in their struggle, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  For my yoke is easy, my burden is light"-Matthew 11v28-30.  Rest is part of God's salvation in Christ.  It does not suggest the absence of burdens, but it does mean the Majesty of heaven walking along with you step by step in life.  God's rest is facing the struggles of life with the help of God, something that many have already experienced.  This comes with salvation when you come to Jesus!  Peter wrote, "Casting all your care upon Him for He careth for you"-1st Peter 5v7. With God's real help you can face all problems in life, as Paul said, who faced many a struggle, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me"-Philippians 4v13.  It is rest from anxiety, from fear and uncertainty; it is rest from the past, certainty for the future, and help for the present.  God's rest is declared in scripture, and is the blessing of all who trust Him.

Exodus 33v14, "And He (the Lord) said my presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest".

1st Kings 8v56, "Blessed be the Lord who hath given rest unto His people Israel, according to all that He promised: there hath not failed one word of all His good promise, which He promised by the hand of Moses His servant".

1st Chronicles 23v25, "For David said, the Lord God of Israel hath given rest unto His people, that they may dwell in Jerusalem forever".

Isaiah 63v14, "As a beast goeth down into the valley, the spirit of the Lord causeth him to rest: so didst thou lead thy people, to make thyself a glorious name".

Ezekiel 34v15, "I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down (rest) saith the Lord God".

Matthew 11v28-30 (already quoted), Jesus said "I will give you rest....and ye shall find rest unto your souls".

No more anxiety, no more doubt, no more fear, just rest in the Lord!

Hebrews chapter 4 expands on God's salvation being rest to the believer:                                Entry into this rest is not by works but by faith in Christ-3v19, 4v1-10.  Entry into it involves hearing the word of the living God in your soul.  God rested on a finished work-Genesis 2 and Hebrews 4.  To be in the good of God's rest we must have faith in the finished work of Christ, which is the major theme of the letter to Hebrews.

For forgiveness for sins that are past, for the prospect of freedom from sin in the future, for blessed Divine help in the present, WE REST IN GOD!

This is the first cameo from the year of Jubilee, and we rejoice in Christ Jesus