Rest

Rest

Everyone thinks too highly of himself. They strive to defend themselves in their imagined heights and strive to climb even higher. Their position cannot be defended precisely because they are too high; therefore they cannot be at rest and cannot be quiet, exactly as it is written in Isaiah 57:20: “But the ungodly are like the troubled sea, for it cannot rest . . . .”

For example, people strive to defend an honor which is not really theirs. Therefore they have to be on guard at all times; consequently, they cannot be quiet. It still does not succeed for them, with the result that life is a burden. It is the same as with a blanket that is too short with which to cover yourself. If you pull it up over your chest, your legs stick out, and if you pull it down over your legs, your chest is uncovered.

On the other hand, if you go down into the dust where you rightly belong, you will find rest; then all such useless striving falls away. In other words, we enter into rest step by step by abasing ourselves step by step. This occurs through God’s Word (Heb. 4:11-12). Note the relationship between verses 11 and 12. It happens through the Word piercing and dividing and judging, thus showing us where we need to humble ourselves.

This is the same as when an object is thrown into the air. It is too high; it is in motion and not at rest; it rests when it has come down as far as it can, until it has come to a state of rest.

Sin—conceit, the lust to dominate, vanity, arrogance, affectation, etc., causes us to be too exalted. Gradually, as the light shines on a sin and reveals it, we have the opportunity of entering into rest and thus becoming more and more meek and lowly of heart.

It is unspeakably blessed to be together with people whose souls are at rest. This kind of rest and the lack thereof is noticeable as soon as you come into contact with a person. A person usually defends himself when he is not at rest (his indefensible position up in the air!!!); he also attacks and finds fault with others. He has no peace, he cannot be quiet, but like the troubled sea he constantly casts up mire and dirt to no avail!

The only thing that helps—which also helps powerfully and forever—is to go down into a state of rest.