Psalm 95

The month of Elul is a time of God's accessibility. But Tishrei is coming up: a season of evaluation and judgment. In this teaching, learn how the Selichot prayers will help you make the most of God's accessibility during Elul so that you arrive at the new year fully prepared to receive forgiveness, pardon, and atonement from God.

The Sabbath represents the Messianic Era and the menuchah of the world to come. In Hebrews 3:7-4:11, the writer of the holy Epistle to the Hebrews compares this present world to the work week of preparation, and he warns us to prepare ourselves now for the Kingdom and the World to Come. This important message demonstrates that Hebrews 4 should not be used to justify a spiritual interpretation of the Sabbath that makes actual Sabbath observance obsolete. 

Three possible interpretations of Psalm 95:11 prepare us for understanding the discussion in Hebrews 3:7ff regarding the generation in the wilderness that did not enter into God's rest. An important preface to the Sabbath discussion of Hebrews 4.

Psalm 95:11 says, "Therefore I swore in my wrath, 'They shall not enter my rest.'" The Book of Hebrews quotes this verse and interprets it in three possible directions: