In Genesis 2, we hear that God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it He rested from all his work that he had done in creation. The notion of rest can have all sorts of meaning in our modern context, but for the Hebrew rest was synonymous with shalom. Rest meant to find delight and joy in an accomplishment. In Christ, we find joy and delight in the work our week and today we rest in God. In Christ we are united to God’s rest on the seventh day of creation; we are united to Him. Our rest today is a rest of joy. This entire liturgy is a liturgy of rest for the weary and heavy-laden. It is a liturgy that says YES and AMEN to God’s work for us and Yes and Amen to what we are about to do. To rest is to see by faith that God is calling His holy assembly to gather to be refreshed and restored. This liturgy is a restorative liturgy. So, this morning prepare yourselves to enter into God’s rest. God has declared this day holy.
