We talked about the need to “zoom out” and the reality that we were designed to be creators. But there is a final step in God’s rhythm that most of us completely miss. We tend to view rest as simply the absence of work. A gap in the schedule or a chance to catch up on sleep but in the Bible, rest is actually the presence of something much deeper. To understand what God is offering us, we have to look at two specific Hebrew words: Shabbat and Nuakh.
The first is Shabbat which literally means to stop or cease. This is the “stop” we see etched into the Ten Commandments. At that time it was written, the concept would have differed than we view it today. They would have visualized a King finally taking his seat in a completed palace versus taking a long nap. Think of it this way, you have just completed your she-shed or man cave and the moment you finish and set the tools down is Shabbat. Or when you finish mowing the lawn, turn off the engine and put the mower away. The noise stops. The labor is over. Shabbat.
But stopping isn’t the whole story. There is a second movement called Nuakh. This means to dwell, to settle, or to find security. If Shabbat is the act of finishing the work on that she-shed/man cave. Nuakh is the act of walking inside, sitting in your favorite chair and simply enjoying the space. It’s the feeling of sitting on the patio after the mowing is done, looking out at those perfect diagonal lines in the grass.
Another example in the Bible is when God “placed/rested” Adam in the garden. That word shares the same root as Nuakh. You see Adam wasn’t just dropped, he moved in, to dwell and settle. Shabbat is more activity based while Nuakh has a relational aspect. Shabbat is merely ceasing when Nuakh is to dwell and settle in. Shabbat is what makes room for the Nuakh. You can stop working but still have a restless soul, merely stopping is just a break. True rest only happens when the stopping leads to a settling.
Let’s go one step further. If you’ve watched “The Chosen” you might have heard the characters greet each other with “Shabbat Shalom.” One example is where Mary Magdalene is preparing her home for the Sabbath. When people arrive at her door, they exchange “Shabbat Shalom”. The Jewish Sabbath begins at sundown on Friday and ends at nightfall on Saturday. So as we say, “have a good weekend” they would say “Shabbat Shalom”.
Ok, so we know Shabbat is the stop but what is Shalom? Shalom is peace, wholeness and completeness. It is a state of being. When someone says Shabbat Shalom they are wishing them a Sabbath experience that brings them peace and wholeness.
Think of them this way.
Shabbat
The kitchen is a whirlwind. The stove is a mess, the timer is beeping, and the counter is a hot mess. You feel like you could cook for another five hours and still not be “done.” You look at the clock, and despite the three things left on your to-do list, you drop the spoon. You physically step back from the counter. You aren’t stopping because you are tired; you are stopping because you are declaring that the work no longer owns you. You turn off the flame mid-simmer and walk out of the kitchen.
Nuakh
Now that you’ve walked away from the stove, you are still buzzing from the rush. Your heart is racing, and your mind is still counting what still needs done. Nonetheless, you go to your favorite chair and sit down. You feel your body sink into that cushion. You take a long deep breath and ever so slowly count to 10, suddenly you feel the tension leave your shoulders and calm enters your mind.
Shalom
You are now still. The work has stopped, and your body has settled. You look across the room at the table you prepared. You pick up your fork and take a bite. You look at the faces of the people joining you and realize that even though you stopped mid-task, nothing is missing. The bread is enough. The wine is enough. It is the feeling of wholeness. There is no more striving, only the harmony of being exactly where you are supposed to be, with everything you need.
Shabbat – Cease the labor.
Nuakh – Settle the soul.
Shalom – Experience the wholeness.
Shabbat creates space for Nuakh.
Nuakh is the entry point for Shalom.
Shalom is complete peace.