“Creation of Rest”
SERMON Title: Creation of Rest
SCRIPTURE: Genesis 2:1-3 (ESV)
Introduction:
Oftentimes, the focus of the creation story is on days 1-6. But there is also something created on day 7. God introduces the concept of rest into His creation by choosing to rest Himself. The use of the word “rested” comes up twice in our passage –
“Rested” on the seventh day from all His work that He had done
So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God “rested” from all His work that He had done in creation.
This word “rested” in Hebrew is Shabbat, and also the origin word of our English word “Sabbath”. We will explore the importance of rest and compare the creation story of day 7 with the previous 6 days.
Overview:
God created rest differently
In comparison to the ways of creating light, the water, the sea, the sky, the plants, the humans – in the prior 6 days, God doesn’t say anything.
Rest isn’t created by doing something. On day 7, the introduction of rest is accompanied with introducing who God is.
God is emphasizing who He is (“being”) over His activity and speech (“doing”).
God accomplishes what He is doing simply in who He is.
Meaning of rest
Rest in the way God intended has never been truly realized by humans.
Rest is not:
Necessarily sleeping
Something we do to regain strength
Not the antidote for tiredness
God did not rest because He needed to. We as humans need to rest because we get tired.
How can we define rest?
Psalm 46
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah.” (1-3)
“There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns. The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; He utters His voice, the earth melts. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah.” (Psalm 46:4-7)
“Come, behold the works of the Lord, how He has brought desolations on the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; He burns the chariots with fire. “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah” (Psalm 46:8-11)
The rest we are all seeking is the counter to unrest, to chaos, to turmoil, and to trouble.
To rest is to be free from the unrest of stress, striving, chaos, and trouble. To rest is to trust in God’s unfailing love.
To rest is to be free from the unrest of stress, striving, chaos, and trouble. To rest is to trust in God’s unfailing love. This peace and comfort found in the Lord’s love is the rest that is created on Day 7.
God created rest not for His sake but for ours. By being quiet and by being still, He is freeing us from striving and working. He is creating the possibility of rest, not for Him but for us as a gift.
But the reality of this gift of entering into the Lord’s loving and comforting presence is not aware for many of us. We have not tasted of the goodness of the true rest that He intends for us to experience.
Rest is not distancing yourself from God and the church but being fully present in the presence of God.
Application:
What does the Sabbath rest as a gift mean for us?
1. Set time aside weekly
This may be Sunday’s for you or it may be another day of the week.
The important thing is to choose to set time aside. Making time for God and for us to experience this Sabbath Rest, in celebrating the Lord’s Day.
2. Worship
This time of being with God is so we may experience God in His presence.
To worship God includes anticipating the experience of God’s presence in the time of worship.
Whatever helps you connect with God and be in His presence, do that as a part of your worship.
3. Engage in activities that bring you joy
We do not have to be limited in spiritual activities, but we are open to the freedom of enjoying all the activities that bring us peace and joy; activities that allow us to appreciate and love life.
There are boundaries to keep as we partake in activities we find joy in. In particular, not sinful activities. To also consider other people and to sacrifice for them, when you decide on how to spend your Sabbath, such as family or roommates.
Enjoyable activities include those which allow you to be calm and allow you to experience the blessing of being created by God.
4. Disengage from distractions
Choose to intentionally offer and set aside time to be joyful in God’s presence. Anything that gets in the way of that, disengage from it.
As we spend time away from these consistent and continual distractions, we will experience the blessing of being alive and free in God’s presence.
We spend time in Sabbath rest because it is commanded and encouraged in the Bible, and because we may come to enjoy it so much.
All of God’s creation story points to His goodness for us – the heaven and the earth, the birds and beasts of the earth… but the crowning gift of God’s creation for humanity is the Sabbath rest for His children. The joy and opportunity of being alive and free in God’s presence.
Lastly, the point of God’s rest for us is to be still and know that He is God. Not just for one day but that every week we are supposed to live in rest and trust in God’s unfailing love, and to know God is for us.
Even in the midst of all that is going on, we can rest in God and we can trust in His unfailing love. The gift of the Sabbath rest is a weekly reminder of that.
No human is able to make it on their own without the Sabbath rest God desires to give to us.
There is no end to resting in God. There is no end because we will never reach a point where we do not need to rest in God. We are created to be in relationship with Him because He is the source of rest where we get to enjoy His loving presence for eternity.
Sermon reflection questions:
Do you think you are able to rest well given your current lifestyle? What is important to experience or have when you seek rest?
Do you currently practice Sabbath? If so, what does a typical Sabbath day look like for you? If you do not practice Sabbath, out of the 4 points mentioned above, which one(s) do you struggle the most with?
Do you believe that rest was created as a gift from God for you? How does this understanding compel you to live differently than those who do not seek or need Sabbath rest in their lives?
