Bible Commentaries
2 Chronicles 12

Verse 8

EASY OR GALLING YOKE—WHICH?

‘Nevertheless they shall be his servants; that they may know My service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.’

2 Chronicles 12:8

The history of life is made up of different services. Every man serves something. ‘Know ye not that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey?’

I. In the service of the world you are always dealing with uncertainties.—The things of God are sure and for ever. He Who gives is the unchangeable Jehovah, Who never recalls a gift, and all His gifts have in them eternity.

II. In the service of the world nothing ever thoroughly satisfies; nothing meets all the aspirations of a man.—In God’s service a man has just what his soul wants.

III. The Christian service of religion does not work up to get its great objects.—It has them. It does not work for wages, for it has received what it wants as a gift. It works out a salvation which it has.

IV. The one service is a service of freedom, the other of bondage.—It is bondage to serve where there is no affection. It is bondage to work for what you can get, and not even to be sure that you shall ever get it. But to feel that you are your Father’s child, that His eye is looking at you and His hand holding you while you work—that is liberty. It is the same service with that of those servants who serve Him indeed in heaven.

Rev. James Vaughan.