“Redeem me from the oppression of men,” the psalmist prays, “that I may obey your precepts.” This prayer echoes the words of God, through Moses and Aaron, to Pharaoh when Israel was enslaved to the Egyptians: “Let my people go, so that they may worship me” (Exodus 7:16; 8:1, 20; 9:1, 13; 10:3). God freed his people from Egypt and led them immediately to Sinai where he gave them his law. Here there was a deliberate transition from one ‘yoke’ to another. They were not freed from the yoke of slavery to wander aimlessly in the desert. If they had done this, they would have ended up being plundered and enslaved again. No, they were set free to take their rightful place under the yoke of God’s loving rule. This is what Jesus calls us to when he says: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matt 11:28-30). God may have said the same thing to the Israelites as he called them out to freedom, and the psalmist echoes a desire to see himself set free to walk with God in the same way. The more you yield your life to God, the more liberated you will be and the more you will come alive. Don’t get locked into worldly ambitions, these will only crush your potential. Step into God’s way and see your life bloom.
Ask God to free your heart to focus only on his will for your life.
Read Psalm 119:129-136
