Strange Speech and a Strange Yoke

Strange Speech and a Strange Yoke

Man is alienated from God, and his self-will always discovers something else besides what God’s Word says. It is natural for man to use strange speech when it concerns things that pertain to God.

“Thus says the Lord: ‘Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls.’ But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’ Also, I set watchmen over you, saying, ‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’ But they said, ‘We will not listen.’” Jer. 6:16-17.

God wants to save and help people and make them happy and glad, but they are alienated from God, His love, and His goodness. Ask where the good way is, and walk in it; then you will become good and can help others become good.

Jesus says, “And when he [the shepherd] brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” John 10:4-5.

Strangers speak with a strange voice; the sheep hear it and flee from them. They sense the danger of listening to a strange voice and are not just content to walk away; they flee! Unbelievers speak with a strange voice—they stumble at the Word in unbelief, to which they also were appointed. 1 Pet. 2:8.

They say, “No Christian can be perfect. What we do means nothing for salvation; there is no one who can gain full victory,” etc.

The above are some examples of strange speech. The Scriptures state, “Become complete,” in 2 Cor. 13:11, and in many other places about the same topic. In many places it is also written that as far as salvation goes, what we do is of tremendous significance. We can also say that someone who is crucified with Christ is on Calvary, but he no longer walks around at the foot of the cross. Those who overcome, just as He overcame, have the promise given to the seven churches in Revelation.

“Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.” Jas. 1:18; 1 Pet. 1:23. The firstfruits are born by the word of truth. The others cannot bear to hear the truth; they are born by the harlot’s preaching, and are strangers, as Jesus also says: “I never knew you.”

“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matt. 11:29-30.

The sheep know this voice, and they follow Him, for His yoke is easy and His burden is light. There is a love relationship between the sheep and their Shepherd that the strangers do not experience. The strangers love themselves and their own lusts, and they view Jesus’ yoke as bondage and coercion.

“Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?” 2 Cor. 6:14.

In the old covenant they became unclean when they touched a corpse; they were unclean for seven days and had to be purified on the third and on the seventh day; then at evening they would be clean. Num. 19:11-19. This is a picture for our times. The believer is alive because of his faith, but the unbeliever is dead because of his unbelief. When the believer cultivates a relationship with an unbeliever and has fellowship with him, he becomes unclean and must be purified from the defilement. If he does not do that, he makes the church unclean and defiles he weak who cannot keep themselves clean. Therefore: be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers, but rather “Come out from among them and be separate from them, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.” 2 Cor. 6:17.

“And I heard another voice from heaven saying, ‘Come out of her, My people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.” Rev. 18:4.