Note: Specifically in verse 3 I like the translation of the Amplified because it brings into focus the true meaning of the individual words and makes clearer what the collective thoughts of the commentators are here. Vs. 3, “Let us break Their bands [of restraint] asunder, and cast Their cords [of control] from us.” It shows, in my opinion, perhaps a clearer picture of the complaint. They are complaining against God that He has shackled them with chains of restraint and handcuffed them for the sake of control. They are inferring that His law and kingdom are oppressive to them and to be shunned for freedom’s sake. It is obvious the freedom they desire is not true freedom; but, they desire to wallow in sin as slaves unto it, gratifying their flesh in defiance of God. (Rom 6:16-18)
“The kings of the earth set themselves”
• The commotion is not caused by the people only, but their leaders [cause trouble and stir up the rebellion]. In determined malice they arrayed themselves in opposition against God. It was not temporary rage, but deep-seated hate, for they set themselves resolutely to withstand the Prince of Peace. CHS
• Not only the rabble and the common people join in the confederacy against God and His Christ, but the kings and [rulers]. (Acts 4:27) But, is there not a more violent opposition made against Jesus? Is not hell up in arms against the kingdom of Jesus? Nay, my soul, were not all thy powers, when in a state of unrenewed nature, as rebellious as any? And even now, are not the breakings out of the remaining indwelling corruptions of thy sinful body too often rising up against thy lawful Sovereign? Hear Paul’s complaint: see whether it is not thine own, and lie low in the dust before God. (Rom 7:21-25) RH
“the rulers take counsel together”
• They go about their warfare craftily, not with foolish haste, but deliberately. Like Pharaoh, they cry, “Let us deal wisely with them.” (Ex. 1:10) Oh that men were half as careful in God’s service to serve Him wisely, as His enemies are to attack His kingdom craftily. Sinners have their wits about them, yet saints are dull. CHS
• It is a combined and confederate opposition… to assist and animate one another in this opposition; they carry their resolutions unanimously, that they will push the unholy war against he Messiah with the utmost vigor, and thereupon councils are called… and all their wits are at work to find out ways and means for the preventing of the establishment of Christ’s kingdom. (Ps 83:5) MH
“against the Lord, and against His Christ (Anointed; Messiah)”
• What an honor it was to David to be thus publicly associated with Jehovah! And, because he was anointed, to be an object of hatred and scorn to the ungodly world! David Pitcairn
• This doctrine runs through the whole gospel; for the prayer of the apostles… manifestly testifies that it ought not to be restricted to the person of Christ. (Acts 4:25-28) JC
“Let us break their bands asunder”
• “Let us rid ourselves of all restraint.” Gathering impudence by the traitorous proposition of rebellion, they add – “let us cast away”; as if it were an easy matter, - let us fling off “their cords from us.” Do you dream (Kings) that you shall snap to pieces and destroy the mandates of God – the decrees of the Most High – as if they were but tow ? Yes! There are monarchs who have spoken thus, and there are still rebels upon thrones. However mad the resolution to revolt from God, it is one in which man has persevered ever since his creation, and he continues in it to this very day. To a graceless neck the yoke of Christ is intolerable, but to the saved sinner it is easy and light. We may judge ourselves by this, do we love that yoke, or do we wish to cast it from us? CHS
• What was their desire of Him? To have His goods? No, He had none for Himself; but they were richer than He. To have His liberty? Nay, that would not suffice them, for they had bound Him before. To bring the people into dislike of Him? Nay, that would not serve them, for they had done so already, until even His disciples were fled from Him. What would they have then? His blood? Yea, “they took counsel together for to put Him to death.” (John 11:53) Henry Smith
• The law of Christ is no more as bands and cords, but as girdles and garters which gird up [man’s] loins and expedite his course. John Trapp
• Not that they openly avowed themselves rebels against God, (for they rather covered their rebellion under every possible pretext, and presumptuously boasted of having God on their side;) but since they were fully determined, by all means, fair or foul, to drive David from his throne, whatever they professed with the mouth, the whole of their consultation amounted to this, how they might overthrow the kingdom which God has set up. He represents them speaking scornfully of his government, as if to submit to it were a slavish and shameful subjection, just as we see it is with all the enemies of Christ who, when compelled to be subject to His authority, reckon it not less degrading than if the utmost disgrace were put upon them. JC
• They will not be under any government, they are children of Belial, that cannot endure the yoke, at least the yoke of the Lord and His anointed. If the Lord and His anointed will make them rich and great in the world, they will bid them welcome; but if they will restrain their corrupt appetites and passions, regulate and reform their hearts and lives, and bring them under the government of a pure and heavenly religion, truly then they will not have this man to reign over them. (Lu 19:14) It is a vain thing [which they attempt], when they have done their worst Christ will have a church in the world and that church shall be glorious and triumphant. It is built upon a rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Matt 16:18) MH
Personal Summary:
To start, I love Robert Hawker’s application here. Not because it is entirely the point of the verses under consideration. But, how often do we look at verses like this and feel ourselves above the fray? We seem to feel as if we have never conspired against God; whether when we were a degenerate member of the lost; or, in lesser fashion, hopefully, while we were saved. I can personally attest to the fact that I repeatedly pitted myself against God when I was lost, and intentionally so. I can recall a time when I screamed out at God with every ounce of anger I could muster cursing His very name. It is a great act of mercy and forbearance that God didn’t strike me down on the spot and send me directly to hell. But in that reflection we are apt to have, we must not forget where we came from, what the Lord has saved us from. Yet, even since we have been saved, we find ourselves being disobedient followers, obstinately pursuing our own interests at various times throughout our walk. Oh! The pain and guilt that our sin now causes us when the Lord shows it to us! How many of us when taking stock of our sin, have, at some time or another, wondered how can I both be saved and behave like this? In fact, at times have we not been so appalled at our sin that we wonder if we are saved at all? If not for the seal of the Spirit upon our hearts I would venture to say that we would all be fully convinced we were indeed still lost. (Rom 8:16) The point being that when we read this it should appall us that mankind acts this way. It should equally appall us that we have behaved this way right along with them at various points throughout our lives. The key difference being that we are redeemed and viewed through the imputed righteousness of Christ which He gained on the cross for our sins. They are condemned men waiting for the noose to tighten on their wicked necks; with the mighty and righteous hand of God acting as their executioner. Thus we cannot allow our walk to be one merely that in recognition of sin stagnates and wallows in misery because of sin past either. For as Paul says in Php 3:13-14, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” It is good to be convicted of your sin and humbled before the Lord which leads to repentance. It is better to understand that you are forgiven and to continuously strive for the glory of Christ until we are finally called home to Him and sin shall reign no more. (Rom 5:21)
Yet here we see the reality of the world we live in. This doesn’t only apply to some 3000 year old predicament that no longer affects us. No, it is real today, it is happening all around us. Our President this year proclaimed to the world that we were NOT a Christian nation . And this hardly got a whisper from the vast majority of the people living in America. The nation that God has built and that He has prospered and kept safe under His mighty providential eye. So that it is evident that even within our own country the people and the rulers conspire and plot against God. They hate Him and they hate His followers, they have seething rage against Him, they grind their teeth in rage and disgust at the mere mention of His name. (Verify for yourself the next time you try to share the Word of God with a lost person.) Lamentably, persecution may be something we have to face in America before long. Are we ready and prepared to lay everything on the line like David was? As Mr. Pitcairn said above, “What an honor it was to David to be thus publicly associated with Jehovah! And, because he was anointed, to be an object of hatred and scorn to the ungodly world!”
I read a prayer the other day in “The Valley of Vision” entitled “Longings After God”. In it, it says something entirely applicable to this conversation:
Wrap my life in divine love,
and keep me ever desiring thee,
always humble and resigned to thy will,
more fixed on thyself,
that I may be more fitted for doing and suffering.”
Are we prepared for persecution and if it knocks its heavy hand at our door are we willing to pray that God fit us better for doing and for suffering? We know we will be victorious because we are members of one body with Christ to whom “every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear”. (Isa 45:23) We are assured of suffering and we are assured of victory. Take heart and do both to the glory of God and the furtherance of His kingdom. For in the end, regardless of what takes place on this earth, we have a course that we must travel and it is oh so different from the course of evil men. “Your life is short, your duties many, your assistance great, and your reward sure; therefore faint not, hold on and hold up, in ways of well-doing, and heaven shall make amends for all” —Thomas Brooks
In the end the glorious yoke of Christ is not a burden but an honor. It is not heavy and cumbersome; it is light, it is advantageous for us to bear, it inspires love in us towards God, and what can be better than that?
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