Israel had failed to enter into the rest that God had provided, through unbelief which was constantly their great sin. Another rest is set before us, a heavenly one, which only those who believe can enter.
The gospel has been proclaimed to us just as the good news of Canaan was to Israel. Is this word to us mixed with faith?
Here the subject is not rest for the conscience. That we have if we believe on Jesus Christ risen from the dead. There is also a rest which lies ahead for those who have salvation. In creation, God rested on the seventh day. When the work was all finished, He rested. The believer labors to enter into His rest. Whatever the Lord has given us to do we pursue, until that moment when we enter into our rest, our work having been finished. This is the day of work, not rest. It is supposed that we are laboring now in view of that rest.
Joshua could not give permanent rest to Israel. There was continued warfare to take possession of the land. David speaks of another day when, "There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God." When we finally enter into our rest we shall cease from our own work, as God did from His at creation. The millennial day will be the rest for God's earthly people.
We find the Word of God living and operative, and being sharp, it divides asunder soul and spirit, joints and marrow, also discerns the thoughts and intents of the heart.
The soul is the seat of the desires; the spirit is the higher part of our being that brings us into contact with God.
What if I desire to do something which may be right in itself but at the same time may not be the right thing to do? My spirit in contact with God through His Word enables me to know God's will about the matter. I am sure that prayer is the avenue which we should take.
Next the Spirit of God sets before us a Priest Who has passed through the heavens to the throne of God, the Son of God. He is touched with the feeling of our infirmities, having passed through all temptations and trials. He has provided succor and grace. We go to the throne of God to receive what our Priest has provided.