Soul Rest

Living in the Spirit
November 21, 2018

Scripture Reading: Psalm 132:1-12 (13-18)

Lord, and go to your resting-place,
   you and the ark of your might.
Let your priests be clothed with righteousness,
   and let your faithful shout for joy.
For your servant David’s sake
   do not turn away the face of your anointed one. –Psalm 132:8-10

God set the example of resting in the creation story where in Genesis 2:2 God rested on the seventh day. The Psalmist in the above scripture acknowledges the Ark of the Covenant as God’s holy abode. This scripture was most likely a part of a special ceremony. People need at times to express themselves, their feelings, a recommitment to a cause, or a renewal of self. We do that in secular moments such as Memorial Day and the 4th of July. Christians recognize special moments throughout the church year as do other religions.

I have been very busy over the last few days needing to find time to do personal stuff like laundry and grocery shopping. I must confess procrastination is the cause of my laundry stacking up. After a busy day, my recliner hold’s its grip on me along with a good book or a Thunder game. My washing machine and dryer both are capable of operating at such times, but the chair just will not allow me to carry the clothing from the basket to the machine. I seem to have an innate need to have some time in my life when I can rest or be restful.

I find it interesting the author of the scriptures relates rests with priests being clothed in righteousness. Does that indicate an intentionality to being righteous? Is holy rest a time when our souls shower ridding ourselves of the grime that life throws at us in our daily walk and then we dress from the inside out in new clean garments of righteousness preparing us for the continuation of our journey of faith?

Prayer: Lord, order my life in your way guiding me to just the right amount of soul-rest to carry me through my journey of faith. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.