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I Am Resting in the Lord
Verse 7:
Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.
In this psalm David is once more talking to himself.
Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God (NIV). Then David repeats this same phrase in Psalm 42:11 and 43:5. David is saying in this verse to himself that he needs to get back to that place of rest where he once was. "[To] Be at rest once more."
Matthew 11:28-30: "'Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy laden, 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 shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My load is light'" (NASB).
You will notice at the conclusion of verse 7 he gives the reason for commanding himself to "Be at rest once more, O my soul": "for the Lord has been good to you."
Eugene Peterson paraphrases that last phrase: "God has showered you with blessings."
Hebrews 4:1 gives us a warning: "Therefore, let us fear lest, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you should seem to have come short of it" (NASB).
The writer of the book of Hebrews warns his listeners: "...'Today if you hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts...'" (NASB).
Hebrews 4:10: "For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His" (NASB).
Hebrews 4:16: "Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need" (NASB).
Let's answer the Lord with honesty and sincerity by singing Hudson Taylor's hymn "Jesus, I Am Resting, Resting":
Jesus, I am resting, resting In the joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness of Thy loving heart.
Thou hast bid me gaze upon Thee,
And Thy beauty fills my soul, for by Thy transforming power; Thou has made me whole.
O, how great Thy loving kindness, Vaster,
broader than the sea!
O how marvelous Thy goodness,
Lavished all on me!
Yes, I rest in Thee, Beloved,
Know what wealth of grace is Thine,
Know Thy certainty of promise, And have made it mine.
Jesus, I am resting, resting In the joy of what Thou art; I am finding out the greatness
Of Thy loving heart.
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