The Marriage of Rest by Michelle Garver

Published May 15, 2014 |

In Psalm 132, David is praying for the Lord to come to dwell with him. He says that he will not sleep, until he finds a place for the Lord to dwell. (vs. 4,5) He was so zealous for the Lord’s house that he lost sleep! The Lord too is looking for a place to dwell…a resting place. A place to have His Spirit.

We so often emphasize our need for rest. In Hebrews, we are told to labour into that rest. The rest that is found when trusting in Christ! But He too is seeking rest. True resting in Him cannot occur, unless He can truly rest in us. He will only rest in us as we take up our cross daily by choosing His will and not our own.

Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Joh 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
1Jn_4:13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. 1Jn_4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

This is another reason we purge ourselves of self and sin. Not for self’s rest, but for Him. Because He too needs a habitation. He desires and longs to fill our hearts with His presence. (Ps. 132:13,14) To abide with us in unity.
He has been preparing a home for us already. He is now looking for a people that He too can dwell in. Shall we desire and long for the home, if we have not given our hearts to be a home and rest for Him? If two become one, they each surrender their lives fully. Christ’s promises are only for those who obey and surrender all. He has already paid the price and gave His life. Now He is looking for a people who will do the same for Him.
In whom you also are being built up together to become a fixed abode for God through the Spirit. Eph 2:22 (Wymth)
Rest in Him, and Him resting in us. It is Him overtaking self. This is the crucifixion of self. But we must allow Him full reign in our hearts. Otherwise He cannot fully dwell and live there.
When two people get married there is a rest in dwelling together. In submitting to one another’s wills, they come to a place of unity and surrender. How much should Jesus and the church also enter into this unity of rest.

We can only really truly rest in the Lord, if He is able to rest in us. His presence brings us rest from the fight around us and within. His Spirit is where we see deliverance from sin, self, and the temptations that come. We see this rest, by yielding our members for His purpose.