The Yoke
This is what the Lord said to me: “Make a yoke out of straps and crossbars and put it on your neck.
Jeremiah 27:2
The Lord commands Jeremiah to make a yoke and bind it to his neck as a symbol for how the nations will be subservient to Babylon. If they resist, they will face the brunt of the Babylonian war machine. This image continues into the next chapter where the false prophet Hananiah takes it off Jeremiah’s neck and breaks it, declaring that God would lift the burden soon. Oh, how mistaken he would be!
Yesterday was Independence Day in the United States, remembering when we threw off the yoke of England. Breaking the yoke of oppression is a good, Biblical idea. However, that doesn’t mean all yokes are bad. Placing yokes on animals to make them work is normal. The animals are expected to serve their human masters. God is to be our master, but that doesn’t mean he’s trying to overly burden us. Jesus described his way of life as being under an easy yoke:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30
To Ponder…
- What yoke do you see that needs to be lifted from the oppressed?
- Are you carrying a yoke? What is it?
