Week beginning 17th July

 

Song: I sing the almighty power of God

StF 107 I sing the almighty power of God - YouTube

Reading: The book of Exodus chapter 33, verses 7 to23

Song: Immortal Invisible, God only wise.

Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise (Tune: St Denio - 4vv) [with lyrics for congregations] - YouTube

Reading: Matthew’s gospel, chapter 11, verses 1 to 19

Song: I heard the voice of Jesus say

I heard the voice of Jesus say (Hymn) - YouTube

Reading: Matthew’s gospel, chapter 11, verses 20 to 28

Prayer:

Father, you know our dissatisfaction when our life falls short of what we expect. We pray that you won’t let our dissatisfaction lead to despair. We search for a fuller and richer life. Be with us in the search, reveal the aim, point out the way and encourage us to go on.

Be with us in our search for justice and peace. May we be led in ways which promote both, not one to the exclusion of the other.

Be with us in our search for economic justice. May all see that it is in everyone’s interests that everybody should prosper.

Be with us in the search for truth. We pray that information does not get suppressed. May all be honest in all their dealings.

Be with us in our search for community. May we work for the integration of all in our society, so that all feel wanted and accepted.

Our search continues as long as we live. May we be patient in our searching, and may we believe that you will never disappoint mus.

Amen.

Song: Love Divine

Love Divine All Loves Excelling - YouTube

At the moment, we are clearing my late mother-in-law’s house, and at the same time, trying to declutter our own. This means that we are spending some time visiting antique and second-hand dealers in an attempt to rind new homes for various items. . We are seeing all sorts of things, and finding many objects, especially church objects misdescribed by dealers. At the same time, we are discovering the uses for all sorts of things that we have found.

But we still have many household and other items from the past that we don’t know what they are or what they do. My late father-in-law had a series of talks that were “What are they?” He had a collection of items from yesteryear and asked people to identify them. Unfortunately, we haven’t found the answer sheet yet!! We only know some of them. We are planning a “Can you tell us what it is?” day or weekend at chapel, probably next year.

At an antiques emporium, we saw a Yoke. I’ve never seen one, only pictures. For those of you who don’t know, it is a farming implement, used for carrying two buckets, traditionally by milkmaids. The design means that you can carry the weight on your shoulders not your arms, this increases the amount you can carry. The most comfortable yoke would be made to fit the user, made to measure.

A similar idea is used in the far east, where the two buckets or baskets are joined with a yoke which is balanced on one shoulder, and the load is carried fore and aft, to make getting through crowds easier. Not a wide load!

I’m not sure that Jesus was talking about such a yoke, nor even whether such things were in use is first century Palestine

So perhaps he had something different in mind.

Very ancient word. Similar words in many languages.

Using my dictionary, I found several definitions of the meaning of this word.

1. a wooden crosspiece that is fastened over the necks of two animals (Oxen, mules, horses donkeys and water buffalo.) and attached to the plough or cart that they are to pull.

There are several different designs, traditional in different places, according to the type of animal. Can be attached to the neck, head or withers of the animal.

The word can be used to refer to something regarded as oppressive or restrictive:

as in "the yoke of imperialism"

In ancient Rome an arch of three spears representing a yoke was used for a defeated army to march under

The word can also refer to a pair of animals yoked together:

as in "a yoke of oxen"

2. a part of a garment that fits over the shoulders and to which the main part of the garment is attached:

3. a frame fitting over the neck and shoulders of a person, used for carrying pails or baskets.

4. the crossbar of a rudder.

• 5. a bar of soft iron between the poles of an electromagnet.

6. a control lever in an aircraft.

The word can also be used as a verb.

1. put a yoke on (a pair of animals); couple or attach with or to a yoke:

   "a plough drawn by a camel and donkey yoked together"

   2. cause (two people or things) to be joined in a close relationship:

   "Hong Kong's dollar has been yoked to America's"

   Many systems are used to enable animals to work together. Harnesses of one sort or another are used to get the animals to work in the same direction, such as dog harnesses, where the animals might scatter in different directions.

In the Old Testament, there are different Hebrew words, translated “Yoke”

tsemed, meaning pair.

Mot , motah meaning bar. In Isaiah 58 and Jeremiah 28, this is used figuratively of bondage to law or overlords.

Ol, used many times, and is also used figuratively of bondage or loads

In the New Testament, the word Zugos is used 6 times,

2 here, in Matthew 11.

Also in Luke 14:19 Another said, “I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.” meaning pair.

Acts 15:10,  Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear?

Gal 5:1, Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

1 Tim 6: 1, All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God’s name and our teaching may not be slandered

The word also used in Revelation, 6: 5 where it is translated scales or balance.

It seems likely that Jesus is talking to an audience that would have understood “Yoke” to refer to a burden. An Obligation to something onerous, such as The Law. Introduced to enable the people to work with God, the law had become a burden to many, something done for its own sake, because the hierarchy said it was the thing to do. There would also be overtones of a pairing, a joining together, an enabling of two to travel in the same direction.

He is saying that he is an easier master, that to travel in partnership with him is less onerous that the law to which they are used.

He is also comparing himself to Moses.

In our reading, Moses talks of God knowing him, and his desire to know God: similarly, Jesus talks of him knowing the Father and the Father knowing him. God tells Moses that he will give rest; similarly, Jesus says that he will give rest to those who are burdened. Jesus is showing that he is the new Moses of the new covenant.

Last week, our preacher asked the questions: “Do our earthly desires pale into insignificance before our desire to do God’s will? Are we looking to the examples of the saints who have gone before us? Are we following them in speaking out against oppression?”

This is what being yoked to Jesus means: going in his direction; working with him; accepting his support and assistance in our endeavours.

Song: Let him to whom we now belong.

Let Him to Whom We Now Belong (Singing the Faith 557 / StF557) - YouTube

I was unable to find a version of this song on line which includes the verse below. Wesley summarised perfectly what I understood the passage to say.

We come in deep humility
your easy yoke to prove,
and own it perfect liberty
to serve the Lord we love.