Wednesday, 9 October 2013
Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see, And bow down their back always. Romans 11:10
Special Note: If you’re in Sarasota, please be advised that Church on the Beach will move into its new home this Sunday. If you’re looking for a place to worship and learn God’s word, or if you need to move to such a church from where you’re currently attending, please consider the Superior Word – 6512 Superior Avenue, Sarasota, FL 34231.
Here we have a continuation of the quote from verse 9 which is found in the 69th Psalm –
“Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see; And make their loins shake continually.”
Like the previous verse, these words are not an imprecation by Paul, but rather are declarations of what will come about because of the Jewish rejection of Christ. And they have certainly been fulfilled literally in the past 2000 years. In a direct quote, the first half of the verse states, “Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see.” This isn’t speaking of literal blindness, but the spiritual blindness which shows a complete lack of discernment about the issue of Jesus.
This blindness is a self-inflicted wound. They rejected Jesus and sent Him to the cross, but they still had a chance to repent of their ways and acknowledge His lordship, proven by the resurrection. Instead, they willingly kept the matter under wraps. Matthew 28:11-15 shows us the beginning of this deception –
“Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened. When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, saying, “Tell them, ‘His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.’ And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will appease him and make you secure.” So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.”
The blindness was there before the crucifixion and it remains even now. Jesus stated the reason for this by His own mouth –
“And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” John 3:19
The people would rather be blind and live in darkness than see and be in the light. What they desired, they received. Thus the declaration of the psalm is fulfilled in a self-inflicted manner, once again showing that condemnation is both a choice and yet is deserved by all. One must willingly choose the light by accepting Christ as Scripture reveals Him. Faith then is a step into light, not a blind leap within the darkness.
The second half of the quote diverts from the Hebrew which states, “make their loins shake continuously.” Instead, Paul says, “bow down their back always.” The sense is actually the same. When one is given a heavy burden to carry, their loins will shake from the strain of the load. The result of that strain is to be bowed down. The Greek word means “to bend together.” The idea is that because of the heavy load, they will bend completely in half.
This picture is one of servitude and bondage. The master directs the load; the slave carries it. This load has been the continued burden of both the law and all of the additions which have been added to it. The burden of the observant Jew is simply overwhelming, so much so that many Jews have simply turned and become completely secular. Rather than the freedom which is found in Christ, there is the self-inflicted bondage of the law. Again, this is certain because Jesus specifically offered a better way –
“Come to Me, all you 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
Life application: Christ is the fulfillment and end of the law for all who believe. For those who reject Him, there is only bondage, disillusionment, and blindness. Be sure to tell those who haven’t heard the good news that in Him there is an easy yoke with a light burden.
Lord God, I simply refuse to carry the cumbersome yoke and the heavy burden any longer. Too long I tried to be pleasing to You in my own right, but for every deed, there was the question, “Is it enough?” In Christ, I don’t need to ask. His work is all that I need – a righteousness which is given to me by faith in His work. This is what You ask of me, and this is what I accept… I trust Jesus alone. Hallelujah and Amen.