January 23, 2024 - Exodus 23

Additional laws concerning lawsuits and justice, the treatment of strangers, the Sabbath and the Sabbatical year, and annual festivals.  The people were to obey God in all these things and, if they did so, the promise was:  “Pay careful attention to him and obey his voice . . . if you carefully obey his voice and do all that I say, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries. . . . You shall serve the Lord your God, and he will bless your bread and your water, and I will take sickness away from among you” (23:21-25).  Sometimes, we tend to think that biblical instructions as to how we are to live are a nuisance and sort of a chain and a sword hanging over us ready to strike if we step out of line.  Yes, terrible consequences exist for disobedience, but God gave his laws to Israel, and he gives his instruction to us, not to make us miserable but in order to bless us with good life and joy. 

Jesus invites us:  “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).  John encourages us:  “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments.  And his commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3).

How gentle God’s commands!

How kind His precepts are!

Come, cast your burdens on the Lord,

And trust His constant care.

While Providence supports,

Let saints securely dwell;

That hand which bears all nature up

Shall guard His children well.

Why should this anxious load

Press down your weary mind?

Haste to your heavenly Father’s throne,

And sweet refreshment find.

His goodness stands approved,

Down to the present day:

I’ll drop my burden at His feet,

And bear a song away.   --Philip Doddridge (1755)