In Psalms ninety-five, verses seven to eleven, the New Testament applies these verses to believers in Christ. The “rest” mentioned in verse eleven is no longer Canaan but our salvation in Him. The Israelites’ disobedience in the wilderness after their exodus from Egypt serves as a warning to believers under the new covenant. Because of their unbelief in God’s promises, disobedience, failure to resist sin, and hardness of heart, they were barred from entering the promised land.
The New Testament explicitly declares that God intended His judgment on Israel for their disobedience and unbelief to serve as a warning for all believers, as in First Corinthians ten, verse eleven. The Israelites had the good news preached to them, as in Hebrews four, verse six, were redeemed by the blood, as in Exodus six, verse six, and chapter twelve, verse thirteen, passed through the Red Sea, as in Eodus fourteen, verse twenty-two, were baptized in Exodus fourteen, verse nineteen, and verses twenty-nine to thirty, partook of spiritual food, as in Exodus sixteen, verse four, First Corinthians ten, verse three, drank from the spiritual drink, the living water of Christ in Exodus seventeen, verse six, and First Corinthians ten, verse four, and were led by the Holy Spirit, as in Numbers eleven, verses seventeen, and twenty-five.
Likewise, believers must realize that they may fail to enter God’s rest in heaven because of unbelief, disobedience, and allowing their hearts to grow cold and hard.
The theme verses under A Call to Praise the Lord depict the people of God being led by Him out of bondage to celebrate their victory over the enemy. However, when new challenges arise, are we going to resort to complaining tactics to God, or will we obey His holy Word and trust Him to carry us through it?