Rest (Hastings' Dictionary)

In the Scriptures rest is ascribed to God, and also to man in a variety of aspects ; and the uuderlyin" conception in each case is the necessary relation of the rest of man to that of God. 1. At the close of His creative actii-ity God rested, it is said, from all His work which He had made (Gn 2- nyf [see Sabbath, adinit.], usually rendered in LXX by KaTaTravetv, but sometimes by dvaTaveii'). This implies t!

ie twofold thought tliat creation, with all tliat the creative process invohed, was com- pleted unce for all, and that God was satisfied with the work at that stage accomplished. But this assertion of rest on the part of God contains no denial of subsequent action, no theory as to such action, and is consistent with ceaseless activity (Jn 5", cf. Th. Aquin. Smnm. Theol. Qu. 73. 2).

The apparent silence or inactivity (opv') on the part of God in presence of the impiety of men is the rest of One who is watchful and will strike at the fitting time (Is 18*). Z. The rest (n«, nmjp) promised by J° the cove- nant-God to the people of Israel is the rest of a settled dwelling-pl.ace.

But the rest of the people in this case is coincident with tlie rest of God ; tor with the permanent settlement of the ark by a plan of rest (1 Ch 22') God is represented as enter- ing into His rest and the people into theirs, which is also His (2 Ch 6", Ps 1328- "). Into this rest some did not enter because of disobedience (Ps 95", He 4«). 3. In addition to this national rest, a rest of a more spiritual and individual character is spoken of.

To IMoses tlie promise of the Divine presence with a settled abode as a goal is the guarantee of rest (Ex 3S'*). Jeremiah ofFers it (yin?) to his countrymen on condition of their walking in the eternal paths (Jer 6"'), in liarmony with tlie will of God given of old (cf. Is 28'^ where we tirul •ij;n? II ■irBjp). Those who do so are by a kindred word described as the quiet or restful ones (Ps ZS").

Because obedience to the will of God is the secret of rest, it cannot be possessed by tlie un- rig'iteous, whose normal condition is a restlessness like that of the waves of the se.a (Is 57'-''). 4. To men worn out with worrying toils and struggling under burdens too heavy for them (tlie immediate reference being probably to the Pharis.aic burdens), Christ promised rest (Mt U^-**).

It is His own rest that He offers to tliose who with a meek and lowly heart recognize the will of His Fatlier as the law of the inner life, and take His yoke upon themselves. It is not a rest from toil but in toil (.In .5"), not the rest of inactivity but of the har- monious working of aU faculties and affections — of will, lieart, imagination, conscience — because each has found in (Jod the ideal sphere for its satisfac- tion and development. 5.

The teaclung of Scripture as to future rest is most explicitly set forth in He 4'-" and Rev It". Taking up the creative rest of God (nj;-) along with the rest referred to in Pa 95" (inijn) (both words being^ rendered in LXX KaTawami/)', the author of the Ep. to the Hebrews argues thus : God rested at the creation of the world, and subsequently promised to Israel the rest of a settled abode.

That something more than an external rest was, however, implied, is proved by the fact that at a later period He swore that they should not entei into His rest. As that promise still held good and was yet unfullllled, a Sabbath rest (aa/3^iaTt(T/i(5s) to the people of God remained (He 4"), which had been unappropriated or only partially appropriated by the past.

Into that rest believers now enter (He 4^) ; but because it is the very rest of God Him- self (He 4'"), its full fruition is yet to come. The rest of the blessed dead is not merely the rest of the grave (Job 3"-"), it is a rest from toils (in tQv K&TTuv, Rev 14''), but not from work, a rest only ' from sorrow and trouble and hard service' (Is 14'). In .all these forms of rest God and man are indis- .sohibly related. The rest of God the Creator is set forth as t!

ie condition and type of the rest of man. The rest of J" is one with that of His people. The rest offered to men by Christ is His own rest, which is also that of His Father. The blessed rest of man is rest in God, with God, nay, the very rest of God. See, also. Sabbath, p 317. Ltterattrb. — Sp.ath in Schc-iikel's Bib. •Lex. vol. V. 118; Cremer, Bib.-Theol. Lex.* 82(>-(>.i8 ; Trench, ST Syn(myrmi\ 146, 147 ; A. B. Davidson, Hebrews, 97-101. John Patrick.