Verse 8: "For if Joshua brought them to rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that."
In Joshua 21 we read: "The Lord gave them rest on every side, just as he had sworn to their forefathers. Not one of their enemies withstood them; the Lord handed all their enemies over to them. Not one of all the Lord's good promises to the house of Israel failed; every one was fulfilled" (21:44-45 NIV).
The book of Joshua is followed by the book of Judges, throughout which the restlessness of the people is evident. The lowering of their moral conceptions prevented them finding rest. The story of that book may be summarized by repeating 3 words 7 times over: disobedience, discipline, and deliverance.
Verse 9: "There is remaining therefore a Sabbath rest for the people of God"
Here we are talking about that future rest. Revelation 14:13: "And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, 'Write, "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!"' 'Yes,' says the Spirit, 'that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them'" (NASB).
John Barridge, a close friend of George Whitefield, said: "Lord, if I am all right, keep me so; if I am not right, make me so."
Verse 10: "For the one who entered into His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His."
Revelation 3:10-11: "Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell upon the earth. I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, in order that no one take your crown" (NASB).
Francis Fenelon said: "Here is a way to know if you've actually trusted God with something - you will not think about the matter any longer, or will you feel a lack of peace." (The Seeking Heart, 66)
There is a past, present and future rest for the children of God. The past rest comes at salvation, the preset rest comes as we yield to His will, and the future rest will be our eternal inheritance.
"There is remaining therefore a Sabbath rest for the people God" (Heb. 4:9 NASB).
Let us see rest as the fruitage of the 4 P's: (1) The Promise of His Presence. Hebrews 13:5-6:"...He will never leave us nor forsake us..."; (2) Peace. Isaiah 32:17: "And the work of righteousness shall be peace..."; (3) Power. Isaiah 40:31: "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength..."; and (4) Purpose. Hebrews 4:9: "There is remaining therefore a Sabbath rest for the people of God."
