Rest for the Weary Soul

Transcription

1 Rest for the Weary Soul Introduction: Work can be either a pleasant or miserable experience depending on the nature of one s task master. Some people are miserable to work for while others are a joy. The Scripture provides us with an example of a king that was miserable to serve. 1 Kings 12:1 (ESV) Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king. 1 Kings 12:2 (ESV) And as soon as Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard of it (for he was still in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon), then Jeroboam returned from Egypt. 1 Kings 12:3 (ESV) And they sent and called him, and Jeroboam and all the assembly of Israel came and said to Rehoboam, 1 Kings 12:4 (ESV) Your father made our yoke heavy. Now therefore lighten the hard service of your father and his heavy yoke on us, and we will serve you. 1 Kings 12:5 (ESV) He said to them, Go away for three days, then come again to me. So the people went away. 1 Kings 12:6 (ESV) Then King Rehoboam took counsel with the old men, who had stood before Solomon his father while he was yet alive, saying, How do you advise me to answer this people? 1 Kings 12:7 (ESV) And they said to him, If you will be a servant to this people today and serve them, and speak good words to them when you answer them, then they will be your servants forever. 1 Kings 12:8 (ESV) But he abandoned the counsel that the old men gave him and took counsel with the young men who had grown up with him and stood before him. 1 Kings 12:9 (ESV) And he said to them, What do you advise that we answer this people who have said to me, Lighten the yoke that your father put on us? 1 Kings 12:10 (ESV) And the young men who had grown up with him said to him, Thus shall you speak to this people who said to you, Your father made our yoke heavy, but you lighten it for us, thus shall you say to them, My little finger is thicker than my father s thighs. 1 Kings 12:11 (ESV) And now, whereas my father laid on you a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions. 1 Kings 12:12 (ESV) So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king said, Come to me again the third day. 1

2 1 Kings 12:13 (ESV) And the king answered the people harshly, and forsaking the counsel that the old men had given him, 1 Kings 12:14 (ESV) he spoke to them according to the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions. Therefore, the people refused to serve the king. 1 Kings 12:16 (ESV) And when all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them, the people answered the king, What portion do we have in David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse. To your tents, O Israel! Look now to your own house, David. So Israel went to their tents. The imagery of the yoke is that of hard or arduous service and labor. It originates from the plowing of oxen. Often times oxen were teamed by yoking them together side by side. Luke 14:19 (ESV) And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused. Luke 14:19 (NLT) Another said, I have just bought five pairs of oxen, and I want to try them out. Please excuse me. In yoking them together, it was important that they were evenly matched or the stronger animal would suffer and the work would not be done as efficiently. Deuteronomy 22:10 (ESV) You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together. The imagery of being unequally yoked is then applied to marital and other personal relationships. 2 Corinthians 6:14 (KJV 1900) Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? We can not serve the Lord as effectively if we are yoked with an unbeliever. The imagery of the yoke is then applied to service rendered to God. Philippians 4:3 (KJV 1900) And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life. 2

3 Philippians 4:3 (ESV) Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. The Pharisees put heavy burdens upon the people due to their commands and demands. Matthew 23:4 (ESV) They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. In a similar manner the Judaizers were seeking to place demands on new believers that would have been burdensome. Acts 15:10 (ESV) Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? The worse yoke that is pictured in the scriptures was the yoke of slavery. Hard arduous work to be performed for a cruel master. Once having experienced freedom in Christ the believer was not to be taken into bondage by the Judaizers. Galatians 5:1 (ESV) For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Theme: Key Verse: We are encouraged to serve Jesus Christ the king because it is not an arduous task to serve the Lord but rather a refreshing and rewarding experience. I. There are many who are burdened in practicing their religious faith. Matthew 11:28 (ESV) Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will Mat 11:28 (NASB) "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will II. The reason that they have grown extremely tired is due to the grievous commands that they had to endure. 3

4 Matthew 11:28 (ESV) Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will Mat 11:28 (NASB) "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will Matthew 23:4 (ESV) They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. III. Jesus invites those who have encountered a burdensome religious practice to be refreshed through Him. Matthew 11:28 (ESV) Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will Mat 11:28 (NASB) "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will 2 Cor 7:13 (NASB) For this reason we have been comforted. And besides our comfort, we rejoiced even much more for the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all. Phile 1:7 (NASB) For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother. IV. Jesus invites those who have become weary in practicing their religious faith to serve Him. am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Mat 11:29 (NASB) "Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and YOU SHALL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. V. They are refreshed by learning more about Jesus. am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Mat 11:29 (NASB) "Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and YOU SHALL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. 4

5 A. We are refreshed in learning that Jesus is mild. Mat 11:29 (NASB) "Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and YOU SHALL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. Hosea 11:4 (ESV) I led them with cords of kindness, with the bands of love, and I became to them as one who eases the yoke on their jaws, and I bent down to them and fed them. B. We are refreshed in learning that Jesus does not act like a typical king for He is humble. Mat 11:29 (NASB) "Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and YOU SHALL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. Leviticus 26:13 (ESV) I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that you should not be their slaves. And I have broken the bars of your yoke and made you walk erect. C. We are refreshed in that we experience an oasis in life. Mat 11:29 (NASB) "Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and YOU SHALL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. VI. The reason that we find a rest in serving Jesus. A. We find rest in serving Jesus because He is charitable. Matthew 11:30 (ESV) For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. 5

6 B. We find rest because the backpack He gives us to carry is light. Matthew 11:30 (ESV) For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. C. The light yoke of Jesus stands in contrast to a heavy yoke of the Pharisees. Deuteronomy 28:47 (ESV) Because you did not serve the LORD your God with joyfulness and gladness of heart, because of the abundance of all things, Deuteronomy 28:48 (ESV) therefore you shall serve your enemies whom the LORD will send against you, in hunger and thirst, in nakedness, and lacking everything. And he will put a yoke of iron on your neck until he has destroyed you. Isaiah 47:6 (ESV) I was angry with my people; I profaned my heritage; I gave them into your hand; you showed them no mercy; on the aged you made your yoke exceedingly heavy. He is not like the king who disciplines with whips and scorpions. 1 Ki 12:11 (NASB) 'Whereas my father loaded you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.'" VII. Conclusion: A. We are to find joy in serving Jesus. B. It should be a delight to worship our God. Psalm 122:1 (NLT) I was glad when they said to me, Let us go to the house of the LORD. C. I hope you can enjoy this evening. 6