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“It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth” (Lamentations 3:27).
“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” (Matthew 11:29).
We do not see yokes much in western countries today, for most of the farm work is now done with tractors. However, in many parts of the world oxen are still used to pull ploughs, wagons, and other equipment. Often these yokes are double, to permit two oxen to pull together.
The Lord Jesus asks us to take His yoke upon us, so that we are on one side of the yoke, and He on the other side. When farmers wish to get a young ox used to pulling in a yoke, they often place it alongside an older ox. The older ox is used to pulling steadily, and helps the younger one to go at an even pace. So it is with us when we are in the yoke with the Lord Jesus.
Samuel Rutherford, a godly man who lived in the 17th century, once said, “Oh, what a glorious yoke are youth and Grace, Christ and a young man!” He could easily have said, “A young woman” as well. Notice too that he capitalized “Grace,” showing that he was referring to the Lord Jesus. It is good to get used to being in the yoke with the Lord Jesus when we are young. Walking with Him is not difficult; rather, as our verse tells us, we will find rest unto our souls.
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