Give God No Rest

"I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they shall never hold their peace day or night. You who make mention of the LORD, do not keep silent, ⁷ and give Him no rest till He establishes and till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth."

Isaiah 62:6-7

These verses remind me of the great love God has for the Jewish nation and Jerusalem.  Watchmen were set on the walls to provide early recognision of enemy attack, but God's people were called to look to Him.  Unless the LORD guards the city the watchmen watch in vain.  God allowed Jerusalem to fall before the Babylonians and Romans, yet even now those who fear God ought to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.  God directed His faithful watchers to intercede on behalf of Jerusalem, to "give Him no rest till He establishes and till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth."  It is amazing our great God who promises to provide rest for our souls says concerning our prayers for the establishment of His kingdom in Israel to command, "Give me no rest."

God's will and the fulfilment of His plans do not depend on man.  It is not like the sheer volume of prayers moves God's timetable, but those who fear the LORD will be moved by Him in pray in due time.  Prayer does not bend God to our will, but the Holy Spirit enables us to pray according to God's will.  Jesus spoke often of the importance of persistence in prayer.  He gave an example of man who had an unexpected visitor, and persistently knocked at his friend's door late at night asking for bread to feed his guest.  Jesus said in Luke 11:8-9, "I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs. ⁹  "So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you."  If we are evil and give good gifts to our children, how much more will God give the Holy Spirit to those who give Him no rest in asking Him?

Another memorable example Jesus gave was in the parable of the unjust judge.  Luke 18:1-7 reads, "Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, ²  saying: "There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. ³  Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, 'Get justice for me from my adversary.' ⁴  And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, 'Though I do not fear God nor regard man, ⁵  yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.' " ⁶  Then the Lord said, "Hear what the unjust judge said. ⁷  And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?"  The unjust judge did not care for widow or even justice, but saw fit to avenge the woman because of her persistence:  how much more will God aid His own children who cry out to Him?

When our souls are troubled, let us draw near to Jesus Christ in faith and find rest for our souls.  Concerning our cares, trials, and troubles let us give God no rest, remembering to intercede for Jerusalem and others according to God's Word.  Do not lose heart nor be weary in doing good.  Keep asking, seeking, and knocking, and the LORD will open a way to rest and perfect peace.