Reading
SAA Notes
Zedekiah is given a graphic message from the Lord that will preserve him and his family and kingdom – submit to the Iraqi king. All the prophets in the church at that time told a different story – resist and God will bless you with victory. Read the biblical test for prophets – Deuteronomy 13. History confirms Jeremiah!
SJA Notes
* Lord God, Your word to us can sometimes be a hard word, sometimes soft, but always life to us. Please teach us today.
“Bring your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him and his people and live.”
What a resounding and shocking word this can be!
God tells His people not to rebel and try to fight against the mighty Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar.
Instead they were to submit under this foreign power.
Today’s passage in Jeremiah is both an encouragement for and a conviction to us.
The root of this decision-making is that we are first bending our knee, first bowing our heads, first submitting under the yoke of GOD’S WILL FOR US.
In Matthew 11 we read Jesus saying,
“Come to me, all 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.”
This life-altering truth from our King will reveal itself deeper and deeper as we continue to walk the narrow road.
Our freedom lies in being yoked to Christ. What a word this is, strange to some.
Freedom is not throwing off the shackles of obedience and submission.
Free _is_ making sure we obey and submit under the Creator God, the one who loves us, who died for us, who has in store a wonderful inheritance for us.
Will we take up Jesus’ yoke today and each day onwards?
* Father God,
Please help us as we wrestle with submitting under Your will.
Please strengthen our faith that we might learn each day what it means to walk in trusting obedience of You.
Amen.