The Yoke-Destroying Anointing

‘The yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.’— ISA. x. 27.
THE Assyrian yoke of old was not so real, so tangible, so continually felt a yoke, as that under which many a child of God is writhing; yet they are ‘called unto liberty,’ even ‘the glorious liberty of the children of God.’2 And if the yoke of sin is felt to be real, the promised destruction of it surely will not be less so. If it is, as we know by sorrowful experience, no imaginary bondage, neither shall the deliverance be imaginary.

1 2 Thess. i. 12. 2 Gal. v. 13 ; Rom. viii. 21.

You feel the yoke, but how shall it be destroyed? 1. Because of the grand anointing of our Lord Jesus Christ by God Himself ‘with the Holy Ghost and with power” to proclaim liberty to the captives; 2 the grace and might of the triune Jehovah thus combining in the proclamation of the liberty which Jesus purchased by taking upon Him the form of a slave and becoming obedient to death.8
2. ‘Because of the anointing’ which we ‘have received of Him,’* because the precious ointment upon our High Priest’s head goes down to the skirts of His garments,5 shared by His least and lowest members.
Perhaps we stop here and say, * But I cannot realize that I have received it, because my yoke is heavy upon me.’ Then see how you shall receive it; there is only one way—not by fresh revelation or special voice from heaven, but simply by faith— ‘that ye might receive the promise of the spirit through faith.” Give glory to God, and be fully persuaded that what He has promised He is able also to performand His ‘free Spirit’ will be faithful to His promise, and the yoke, even your yoke, ‘shall be destroyed because of the anointing.’8
All other yokes are sub-included in the yoke of our sins, and this is exactly what Jesus came to save us from; the very first, as it is the all-inclusive New Testament promise, ‘Thou shalt call His name Jesus: for He shall save H1s people from their sins.” Are all His wonderful promises about this

1 Acts X. 38. 2isa. Ixi. 1. 3 phil. ii. 7, 8.
4 I John ii. 27. 6 Ps. cxxxiii. 2. 6 Qal. iii. 14.
‘ Rom. iv. 20, 21. 8 Ps, li. 12 ; Heb. x. 23. 9 Matt. i. 21.

mere empty words, with no power or reality in them? Are they the exceptions to His declaration that ‘My words shall not pass away’?1 the only promises which are not Yea and Amen in Christ Jesus ? * Listen! they need no note or comment. ‘Sin shall not have dominion over you.’ ‘Ye were the servants of Sin, but, . . . being made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.” ‘Now being made free from sin,’ ‘the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.’* ‘Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. … If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.’5 Let us look at the context of each (only not quoted for want of space), and, if our experience has nothing answering to all this purpose of His goodness’8 let us ask Him to show us His own meaning and His own royal intention, and to ‘reveal even this unto you ” by the unction from the Holy one,8 who convinces all the more deeply of sin when He convinces also of the practical power of Christ’s blood to cleanse from all sin, and of the reality of His present salvation.3 Do not hug the yoke which He has promised to destroy.
‘And it shall come to pass in the day that the Lord shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve, that thou shalt . . . say, How hath the oppressor ceased!’10 ‘In that day . . . his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder.’

1 Matt. xxiv. 35. 2 2 Cor. i. 20. 8 Rom. vi. 14; ib. vi. 17, 18.
4 Rom. vi. 22; ib. viii. 2. 6 John viii. 34, 36.
• Eph. i. 4. 7 Phil. iii. 15. 8 , John ii. 20.
• John xvi. 8; 1 John i. 7. 10 Isa. xiv. 3, 4.

But ‘that day’ may be this day! Why not ?’ For now will I break his yoke from off thee.” ‘Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty;” and He hath said, ‘Ask, and ye shall receive.” Recognize the anointing by faith, and then ‘stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage;’* for ‘this is His commandment.’ Then you shall ‘walk at liberty,’6 and give Him the glad ‘offering of a free heart,’ rejoicing in His easy yoke,* and (shall we not add), ‘proclaiming liberty every man to his neighbor.”

Upon Thy promises I stand,

Trusting in thee: Thine own right hand

Doth keep and comfort me I
My soul doth triumph in Thy word;
Thine, Thine be all the praise, dear Lord,

As Thine the victory.

Love perfecteth what it begins;

Thy power doth save me from my sins;

Thy grace upholdeth me.
This life of trust, how glad! how sweet!
My need and Thy great fullness meet,

And I have all in thee.

Jean S. Pigott.