Recently as I was reading in the book of Isaiah, the above passage spoke deeply to my soul, particularly the last phrase: “and his rest shall be glorious.” This verse is a prophecy of the Messiah, which the apostle Paul made clear when he quoted it in the book of Romans.
Rom 15:8-9, 12 – Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers: 9 And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name. . . . 12 And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.
The preceding verses of Isaiah 11 prophesied of the first and second comings of Christ and the new heavens and earth, during all of which times the Messiah would bring rest to His people. Whatever “that day” in Isa 11:10 refers to, in it “his rest shall be glorious,” and that is music to the ears of a weary soul such as I.
At His first coming, Jesus came to a people who were laboring under the exceedingly heavy yoke of the law of Moses, which, as the apostle Peter said, “neither our fathers nor we were able to bear” (Act 15:10). In addition to that, the Pharisees had bound “heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and [laid] them on men’s shoulders” (Mat 23:4). The Jews, being “ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness” (Rom 10:3) through keeping the law, failed to understand that “Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth” (Rom 10:4). It was to tired souls such as these that Jesus uttered the following immortal words:
Mat 11:28-30 – Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
No longer do God’s children have to labor under the arduous burden of saving themselves or others from sin and the eternal condemnation it brings, for “we which have believed do enter into rest” and “he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his” (Heb 4:3, 10).
His rest is glorious.
After Jesus “finished the work which [God gave Him] to do” (Joh 17:4) and gave “eternal life to as many as [God had] given him” (Joh 17:2), He “sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Heb 1:3). Unlike the priests under the law of Moses whose job was never done because their sacrifices could never take away sins, Jesus Christ our great high priest sat down and rested after He made one sufficient sacrifice for sins.
Heb 10:11-14 – And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. 14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
His rest is glorious.
As Job so eloquently said, when this wearisome life is over, “man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep” (Job 14:12). When the saints of God die and their bodies lie in the grave awaiting the resurrection, their souls “shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness” (Isa 57:2).
In the present heaven, when the martyrs cried out to God wanting to know how long He would wait to judge and avenge their blood on their persecutors, it is written that “white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season” (Rev 6:11).
The world considers it a tragedy when a godly man dies, especially if he is young and healthy, but the word of God says such a man is blessed, not cursed.
Rev 14:13 – And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.
I have often expressed the sentiment of the sweet psalmist of Israel, “Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest” (Psa 55:6). And someday I shall.
Psa 90:10 – The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.
And His rest shall be glorious.
At the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, when He returns to deliver us from this present evil world and create new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness, there will be no more pain, tears, sorrow, or tiresome toiling, but instead an eternity of bliss as we behold the face of our Savior and dwell forever with Him.
Rev 21:3-5 – And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
And His rest shall be glorious.
“…Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” (Rev 22:20)
