Rest
Rest is the pillar of restorative health. (Ps 23:1-3)
Rest - "1. Cessation of motion or action of any kind, and applicable to any body or being; as rest from labor; rest from mental exertion; rest of body or mind. A body is at rest when it ceases to move; the mind is at rest when it ceases to be disturbed or agitated; the sea is never at rest Hence, 2. Quiet; repose; a state free from motion or disturbance; a state of reconciliation to God. Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest to your souls. Matthew 11:28." (Webster's Dictionary 1828)
Rest can be either a temporary or a permanent cessation/state.
Rest from:
a taxing, resource-consuming activity
Examples: rest from physical labor
Examples: rest from mental labor
Examples: rest from war
Rest for:
restoring a reduced resource
Examples: nightly sleep for physical/mental restoration
Examples: recreation for physical/mental restoration
recognizing a past event
Examples: celebration of a holiday/memorial day
Examples: weekly Sabbath rest in memory of the creation
awaiting a future event
Examples: the rest of death, awaiting the resurrection
God has unlimited resources. (Ps 50:10-12)
God does not get tired (weary). (Isa 40:28)
Yet, God rested on the first Sabbath in observance of His creation. (Ge 2:1-3)
Yet, God continues to rest every Sabbath along with His people. (Hab 2:20)
Yet, in our future heavenly abode, God will continue to rest every Sabbath along with His people. (Isa 66:22,23)
God is the Source of our rest. (Ex 33:14, Ps 116:5-8)
True rest integrates physical, mental, and spiritual aspects.
Physical rest
Nightly sleep
We need nightly sleep to restore our body. (Ps 4:8, Ps 127:2, Pr 3:24, Ecc 5:12)
Adults need 7-8 hours per night.
The body is designed to sleep when it is dark.
The hours before midnight have double the restorative value as those after midnight.
We need nightly sleep to restore our mind.
The brain's waste management system (the glymphatic system) works during sleep.
Lack of sleep results in fatigue.
Lack of sleep impairs mental functioning.
Lack of sleep impairs emotional functioning.
Lack of sleep lowers testosterone (the primary male sex hormone).
Lack of sleep leads to disease.
Rest from physical work
We need periodic refreshment breaks from extended physical activity. (Mk 6:30,31)
We are to finish our work by the evening. (Ps 104:23, Lk 21:37)
Rest from eating
Our stomach needs regular rest from digestive work. (1Co 9:25-27)
We need to eat 2 good meals a day: morning (breakfast) and evening (lunch/dinner). (1Ki 17:1-6)
Start eating the second meal no sooner that 5 hours after breakfast.
If a third meal is eaten, it should consist of foods that are more quickly digested, such as fruit and bread.
Stop eating no later than 5 hours before bedtime.
With this plan, breakfast is, literally, breaking a fast.
We are not to overwork/stress our stomach by overeating. (Pr 23:2, Pr 23:19-21, 1Co 10:31)
Rest from debt
There is to be no debt. (Ro 13:8, Lev 25:35-37, Dt 15:6, Pr 22:7, Pr 13:11)
However, where debt occurs, it is to be periodically freed.
Every 7 years, all debts are to be cancelled. (Dt 15:1,2, Ne 10:31 last part)
Every 50th year (a year of Jubilee), all land is to be restorated to its original family owner. (Lev 27:24, Lev 25:13)
Rest for the land
Every 7 years, land used for agricultural needs a year of rest. (Lev 25:1-5)
During this time, the poor and the wild animals receive a benefit via free access to the land's fruits. (Ex 23:10,11)
During this time, the nutrient content of the soil is restored.
Continuous, uninterrupted agriculture will deplete the soil of necessary nutrients.
There is more to rest than physical rest.
Mental rest
Rest from mental work
We need periodic refreshment breaks from extended, sedentary, mental activity. (Ecc 12:12)
During these breaks, we need to move around to equalize our circulation. (Lev 17:11 first part)
Rest from stress
We need peace of mind.
We need to humbly present our troubles to God. (Php 4:6,7, 1Pe 5:6,7)
We need to trust that God is in control and will help us. (Ps 46:1-11)
We need regular rest from stress in the form of wholesome, individual and family recreation. (Php 4:8)
Examples: playing musical instruments (1Sa 16:23)
Examples: creating works of art
Examples: building practical things
Examples: family nature outings
Recreation is time to express, contemplate/reflect, and give thanks.
Recreation is not to be confused with entertainment/amusement.
Rest from talking
When talking with someone, we are to periodically rest from talking by listening to the other person. (Ecc 3:7, Jas 1:19)
It is disrespectful to dominate a conversation. (Pr 10:19)
Rest from war
God fights for us, and through us, against evil. (Jos 23:6-10, Jdg 5:31 first part)
However, God wants us to have rest from war. (Ecc 3:8 last part, Jos 11:23 last part, Jos 21:43,44, Jos 23:1 first part, Hos 1:7, Hos 2:18)
We are to trust that God will fight for us against evil. (Ps 4:8, Ps 20:7, Ps 35:1-10)
We are to prefer and seek peace. (Ps 35:11-14, Zec 9:10, Mt 5:9, Ro 12:18)
There is more to rest than physical and mental rest.
Spiritual rest
Daily devotions
Each day, we are to periodically rest from our work and spend time with God. (Pr 8:17, Ps 55:17, Da 6:10, Mk 1:35, Lk 10:38-42, Php 4:6)
When praying to God, we are to periodically rest from praise, thanksgiving, intercession, and supplication by listening to God. (Ps 46:10)
We are to hear God's still small voice. (1Ki 19:11-13, 1Co 2:14)
Each day, we are to periodically rest from our work and spend time in God's word. (Jos 1:8, Ps 119:97, Mt 4:4, Ro 10:17, Ro 15:29,32 refreshed)
Weekly, Sabbath rest
We need the weekly Sabbath rest. (Mk 2:27)
We need the weekly Sabbath rest to build up our family and church relationships. (Heb 10:24-26)
We need the weekly Sabbath rest to build up our relationship with God. (Ex 20:8) (compare Ex 19:6, Lev 19:2, 1Th 4:7, 1Pe 1:15,16)
We need the weekly Sabbath rest to worship God in honor, praise, and thanksgiving. (Ps 100:3,4)
Our workers (employees) also need the weekly Sabbath rest. (Ex 23:12)
According to God's design, days begin and end at sundown. (Ge 1:5,8,13,19,23,31)
The Sabbath is the 7th day of the week, Saturday. (Ex 20:10,11)
The Sabbath begins at sundown Friday and continues until sundown Saturday. (Ne 13:19)
We are not to do any secular work on the Sabbath. (Ex 20:9,10)
Doing good deeds on the Sabbath is expected. (Mk 1:21-31, Mk 3:1-5, Lk 13:10-16, Lk 14:1-6)
Examples: healing, witnessing
Unavoidable, necessary work on the Sabbath is approved. (Mk 2:23-26, Jn 5:8-11)
Examples: healthcare workers, firefighters, pastors
We are to prepare ahead for the Sabbath. (Ex 16:22,23, Lk 23:54, Mk 15:42)
Examples: preparing food
We are not to buy or sell on the Sabbath. (Ne 10:31 first part, Ne 13:15-22)
Jesus kept the Sabbath. (Lk 4:16)
Jesus was crucified on Friday, the day of preparation for the Sabbath. (Lk 23:52-54)
Jesus "rested" in the grave on the Sabbath. (Lk 23:55,56)
Jesus rose to work on Sunday, the first day of the week. (Mk 16:9, Lk 24:1,2)
The apostles kept the Sabbath while Jesus was on the earth, since they followed Jesus.
The apostles continued to keep the Sabbath after the resurrection. (Ac 13:13,14,42,44, Ac 16:13-15, Ac 17:2, Ac 18:4,11)
Jesus indicated that the Sabbath would still be kept after His resurrection. (Mt 24:7,8,20)
The Sabbath is the weekly memorial of the Creator and His creation. (Ge 2:1-3, Ex 20:11, Rev 14:6,7)
The Sabbath is the weekly memorial of salvation/righteousness by faith in Jesus. (Dt 5:15, Ro 6:16-18, Heb 4:2,4,9,10,14,16) (compare Eph 2:8,9, Php 3:9)
The Sabbath is a sign of God's true worshippers. (Ex 31:13-17, Eze 20:12,20)
Rest from sin
It is God's will that we cease from sinning. (Pr 28:13, Isa 55:7, Jer 6:16 first part, Jn 8:11, Eph 4:21-24, 1Th 5:22, Heb 12:1, 1Jn 3:5,6)
Sin is the transgression of any of God's commandments. (1Jn 3:4, Jas 2:10)
We are to obey/keep God's commandments. (Mt 7:21, Jn 14:15, Ac 5:32, Rev 12:17, Rev 14:12, Rev 22:14)
We are to be transformed into the likeness of Jesus. (Ro 8:29, 2Co 3:18, Eph 4:13)
Jesus never sinned. (Heb 4:15, Jn 14:30)
When we rest from sin, we are refreshed by God. (Ac 3:19)
Only through Jesus, can we rest from sin. (Ps 37:7 first part, Mt 11:28-30, Isa 11:10, Jn 3:36, Ac 4:12, Heb 1:3 by himself purged our sins, 1Jn 1:9)
Jesus, Himself, took the penalty for our sins. (2Co 5:21 first part, 1Pe 2:24 first part)
Jesus, Himself, frees us from the power of sin. (2Co 5:21 last part, 1Pe 2:24 last part)
Rest in death
The dead sleep in their graves. (Job 14:10-12, Ps 143:3, Mt 9:24, Jn 11:11-14, Ac 2:29,34 verse 34 first part)
The dead have no thoughts. (Ps 146:4, Ecc 9:5)
The dead do not communicate with anyone. (Ecc 9:10)
The dead do not praise God. (Ps 6:4,5, Ps 115:17, Isa 38:18,19)
There are two resurrections. (Da 12:1,2, Jn 5:28,29)
The dead awaken at the first or second resurrection. (Isa 26:19 awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust, Rev 20:4-6 and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.)
The first resurrection (of the righteous) occurs when Jesus returns. (Job 14:14,15, 1Co 15:20-23, 1Th 4:13-18)
The second resurrection (of the wicked) occurs 1000 years later. (Rev 20:5,7-9)
Rest in Heaven
Our eternal, Heavenly rest will begin at the first resurrection. (Job 19:25-27, Da 12:9,13)
We will receive incorruptable bodies and immortality. (1Co 15:51-54)
There will be no night in Heaven. (Rev 22:5)
We will no longer be subject to weariness/fatigue. (Isa 40:31)
We will be free from sin, suffering, and death. (Na 1:9, Rev 21:4)
We will live in the direct presence of God. (Rev 21:3)
At the second death, the wicked will eternally forfeit life. (Rev 20:11-15, Mal 4:3)
We find true rest in Jesus. (Mt 11:28-30)