Newsletter February 2023 Part 2
God’s yoke
Run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem; see now and know; and seek in her open places if you can find a man, if there is anyone who executes judgment, who seeks the truth, and I will pardon her. (Jeremiah 5:1)
To avert judgment on His rebellious people, God tells Jeremiah to search for any righteous persons, but the prophet cannot find even one person who seeks truth. They have all departed from God’s way and refuse to receive correction and return to Him. Concluding that their obstinance is due to ignorance, Jeremiah decides to go to the great men. Surely, they should know the way of the LORD, the judgment of their God. (v.5). However, his expectation is disappointed; those he thought would know better have wilfully rebelled against God. Instead of remaining in God’s will and thus under His protection, they have broken the yoke and burst the bonds. Therefore, they have fallen prey to wild animals. The God whom they rejected has given them over to their enemies. Soon they will be carried away to Babylon where they will remain for three generations. After 70 years, when their descendants seek Him with all their heart, the LORD will bring them back to Jerusalem. (Jeremiah 29:14) His mercy will prevail over judgment, and He will again give them a future and a hope. (v.11)
The story of God’s people is a story about His faithfulness despite their unfaithfulness. He continuously seeks one who would be able to stand in the gap and intercede on behalf of His people. Eventually He Himself comes into the world that He created. The Word of God takes on human flesh and dwells among His people, yet the very ones who should know His promises declared by the prophets over the centuries fail to recognise Him. Despite the demonstration of His divine power, they reject their Deliverer and King.
Seeing their unbelief, Jesus responds (Matthew 11:25-27), “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. While the seemingly wise reject Jesus, the seemingly ignorant, those who are weak and needy, hear His call, put their trust in Him, and follow Him. To them He says (vv.28-31), Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Jesus calls us to come under His yoke – his lordship. His yoke is not heavy, His intention is not to burden us down. He wants to guide us in His perfect way so we can enter into His rest. Breaking His yoke and bursting His bonds of love leaves us lost and wandering in the wilderness, where we are easy prey for the enemy of our souls.
God does not call His own to be a lawless people, but to come from a law that could only condemn for sin to the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
(Romans 8:3-4)