But my mouth would encourage you; comfort from my lips would bring you relief.
Job 16:5 (NIV)
| Oh,
Please Let Us by Cathy Vinson |
Is it LAWFUL?
LET me. You MAY. It is PERMITTED. MAY I? Is it PERMITTED? This was such a dominating
concern of Jesus' time. All these words come from one word, exesti (ek-from + eimi-to be).
Would the religious culture of Jesus' day actually rob one's being? Jesus was speaking to His times when He beckoned His own to turn unto Him. He saw clearly to diagnose the labored and burdened state of the souls He loved. The laboring was a striking against, a beating, a laborious toil, trouble, resulting in weariness. Could this be the striking again and again to reach the standard of righteousness imposed by the religious elite? Jesus saw they were being burdened. They were bearing, carrying a load unyoked with anyone to share it with them. ("...they tie up heavy loads and put them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them" (Mt 23:4). Jesus speaks to these ones the word of rest. Wonderful...cessation, refreshment (up, to make to cease). Rest comes when one's feet are raised UP on a bed or easy chair. And so these men hear the Lord and go on. Simple men. Men who would in their hunger passionately grab the nearest grain at hand and eat it (12:1). To this the heavy hand comes down again..."Your disciples do what is not lawful" (vs 2). Already the precious word of rest will be challenged. Oh, how is it feeling to them? ("...do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery" (Gal 5:1)). What were the Pharisees doing to them? Jesus could see. They were "condemning" (vs 7) (against, coming down + just, right), pronoucing a sentence against the the righteous state of the disciples. How does this feel? Has it happened to you, to have challenged your standing before God? What a tender conscience is in our standing. Jesus comes to their aid and speaks His verdict. They are "blameless" (vs 7). The soon coming King of the Universe, then their simply-dressed rabbi is calling them "guiltless" (negation of aitia-charge of a crime). If only they will receive His granting of freedom over the clamor they are so akin to being beaten by. Oh, might they hear the new word that is being inserted into the heavy air of their age! |
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| "Come
unto Me, all you that are laboring and being burdened..." ( Matthew 11:28)
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Other Whispers from the Wilderness Devotions are found HERE
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