Entering God’s Rest: Reading Psalm 95:7–11 in Hebrews 3–4

Abstract

The theme of Heb 3–4 is the promise of entering God’s rest. Psalm 95:7–11 is the basis of the exposition about exhortation and warning to enter His rest in Hebrews. The inner-biblical and Christological reading of Ps 95:7–11 in Hebrews exemplifies the spatial concept of entering God’s rest, making it more meaningful and relevant to the readers for their faithfulness, encouragement, hope, and realization of such rest today and hereafter. Studies about God’s rest in Hebrews have shown little agreement on the meaning, nature, and implications of “rest” (i.e., κατάπαυσις and σαββατισμός). This paper exegetically examines the connections between the believers entering God’s rest and Jesus entering the heavenly sanctuary to understand the promise of rest based on Ps 95:7–11 in Heb 3–4. Believers’ entering God’s rest and Jesus’s entering the heavenly sanctuary are closely connected, indicating that κατάπαυσις is God’s sanctuary. Jesus entered the heavenly sanctuary through His blood and sat down at the right hand of God’s throne as their High Priest and King of the new covenant. To enter God’s rest is to enter His sanctuary. Entering His rest becomes possible through faith in Jesus, who is in God’s presence in the heavenly sanctuary where the believers can confidently worship God and find true rest, happiness, and salvation.