~ The yoke is a form or symbol of bondage or servitude. It is something that binds or joins together ~
The yoke can be a burden when borne alone but it is easy when two or more are bound together in a common effort, “True-Yoke-fellows." Examples of a common are a yoke of oxen, a team of sled-dogs and a man and woman that are married.
In the Book of Leviticus 26:13 God said, “I am the LORD your God, which brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, that ye should not be their bondmen; and I have broken the bands of your yoke, and made you go upright.”
There are some yokes that are not desirable like being in debt or being in prison in a third-world country. While other yokes can by quite desirable ~
In the book of Isaiah 58:6-11 it is written, “Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? *Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? *Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward. *Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity; *And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noon day: *And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.”
When a person is bound to helping others by doing good things the results is not only good for the one being helped but there are positive results for the one performing the good deeds.
Isaiah 9:2-4, "The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. *Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil. *For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian."
No doubt you’ve heard the old saying, “share the wealth”. This saying produces an abundance of benefits for everyone.
Jeremiah 2:20, "For of old time I have broken thy yoke, and burst thy bands; and thou saidst, I will not transgress; when upon every high hill and under every green tree thou wanderest, playing the harlot."
Being bound in a common cause and helping others get release from undesirable situations is not a new concept, it has always been for the common good.
Jeremiah 31:16-19 says, "Thus saith the LORD; Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears: for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the LORD; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy. *And there is hope in thine end, saith the LORD, that thy children shall come again to their own border. *I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the LORD my God. *Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth."
Jeremiah also said in Lamentation 3:25-28, "The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. *It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD. *It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. *He sitteth alone and keepeth silence, because he hath borne it upon him."
If a person is instructed, taught and trained to help out others any way they can from a young age, they will be more likely to continue the practice when they are older.
When my wife and I first got married I advised her to offer to assist in any way possible when we were a visitor in another person’s home or establishment. In doing this she would always be well thought of, she would always be considered a welcome guest and they would most likely be sad to see her leave.
Nahum 1:12-13, "Thus saith the LORD; Though they be quiet, and likewise many, yet thus shall they be cut down, when he shall pass through. Though I have afflicted thee, I will afflict thee no more. *For now will I break his yoke from off thee, and will burst thy bonds in sunder."
Being set free from anything that troubles you is always a welcome delight ~
Jesus in St. Matthew 11:29-30 said, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. *For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Like I said before, there are some yokes that are good even desirable, like serving in the medical field, law enforcement or the military and like being married. These types of yokes are not only beneficial to others but are beneficial to the one being bound therein (employed therein).
The Apostle Paul in 1st Timothy 6:1 said, “Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.”
A good yoke generally is one that is an honorable tribute to the one or ones being assisted and to the one or ones providing the assistance.
My advice is to always consider giving of yourself to every good work and withdraw yourself from every evil work.
Derwood A. Stewart, Minister
House of Prayer Sabbath Ministries
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