Are you doing your homework?

Don't you just feel so loved by the Father when you come across a passage of Scripture that just speaks to your soul? That's how I've been feeling ever since I read this section of verses from Lamentations 3 the other week::

¹⁹ I remember my affliction and my wandering,
the bitterness and the gall.
²⁰ I well remember them,
and my soul is downcast within me.
²¹ Yet this I call to mind
and therefore I have hope:

²² Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
²³ They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
²⁴ I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”

²⁵ The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him;
²⁶ it is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of the Lord.
²⁷ It is good for a man to bear the yoke
while he is young.

 

I've read this many times in the past, especially the ever popular verse 22, but for whatever reason, this time it spoke to me even more than usual.

 

Affliction, wanderings, and bitterness are common to humankind. When we go through difficult times, they stick with us for years to come, perhaps even our entire lifetime. But in verse 21 it says, "Yet" as a forerunner for the next few thoughts. We can have hope in Christ's love, compassions, and faithfulness. They wash over us anew each day, just when we need them. He is enough for us in our darkest of days. In the midst of it all, we have to remember He is still good. What He calls us to do is wait and seek Him. It doesn't mean that it will be easy, but that He'll be by our sides through it all.

 

The part that gripped my attention was verse 27. My immediate thought was, "What does it mean to 'bear the yoke?' I consider myself young and lately I've felt that I've been bearing a yoke. But I don't get what this verse is trying to say." So I reached for a Bible commentary (Life Application Bible) and this is what I found:

 

"To 'bear the yoke' means willingly coming under God's discipline and learning what he wants to teach. This involves several important factors: (1) silent reflection on what God wants, (2) repentant humility, (3) self-control in the face of adversity, and (4) confident patience, depending on the Teacher to bring about loving lessons in our lives. God has several long-term and short-term lessons for you right now. Are you doing your homework?"

 

Well, looks like I need to go. School is in session and this student has homework.

 

Blessings!