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Attempts at Honesty

Reflections on the interplay of the Bible and Culture

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Home Bible Reflection Give God no rest

Give God no rest

Posted on April 27, 2016 Written by Mark McIntyre Leave a Comment


Isaiah 62:6-7 says,

“On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have appointed watchmen; All day and all night they will never keep silent. You who remind the LORD, take no rest for yourselves; And give Him no rest until He establishes And makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth.” (Isaiah 62:6–7, NASB95)

Give God no restGod is challenging believers to give God no rest until He establishes Jerusalem as a praise in the earth.

In the Lord’s Prayer, we are taught to pray, “your kingdom come.” This a petition that fulfils the command to give God no rest.

When I read about terrorists blowing themselves up, I can respond in fear, or I can follow Jesus’ suggestion to pray, “your kingdom come.” When I read of political leaders’ corruption, I can leave it in God’s hands by praying for the return of Jesus to set things right. When I consider my own failings, I can pray, “your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.”

We are invited to be bold before God. We are invited to plead for the establishment of peace.

One definition of gossip is telling a story to someone who cannot influence the outcome of that story. So when I complain about world events to someone who cannot change those events, it is like I am gossiping. The problem with gossip is that it riles up the hearer and does nothing to solve the problem.

It is better to bring the problem to the one who can fix it. This makes sense, but I often forget to do this.

This is why Isaiah’s reminder is so important. God is telling us that he wants us to bring our concerns to him. He wants us to pray for, long for, a day of ultimate peace. He wants us to beg for the ultimate establishment of his kingdom.

Let’s start begging.


Filed Under: Bible Reflection Tagged With: kingdom, Peace, prayer, rest

About Mark McIntyre

A follower of Jesus Christ who shares observations about how Scripture should impact the church and the world. Mark is the original author and editor of Attempts at Honesty.

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