THE COLD SHOULDER

THE COLD SHOULDER!

Neh 9:29

29 And testifiedst against them, that thou mightest bring them again unto thy law: yet they dealt proudly, and hearkened not unto thy commandments, but sinned against thy judgments, (which if a man do, he shall live in them;) and withdrew the shoulder, and hardened their neck, and would not hear.

Zech 7:9-11

9 Thus speaketh the Lord  of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother:

10 And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.

11 But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear.

               The commentary of Keil and Delitzsch says that “the simile is taken from the ox, who rears against the yoke, and desires not to bear it.” We know the simile as “the cold shoulder!” You have done it to others and have, no doubt, had it done to you.

           I remember another stroll through Wal-mart and happened upon a lady who had been absent from our worship services for a number of weeks. Her little girl smiled sheepishly and declared: “We’re not going to your church!” Children will tell you what their parents will not. I turned to the mother and said “We have been missing you at church lately.” To which she simply replied “It’s been crazy!” I suppose I was to think that circumstances had been so “crazy” as to prevent her from attending. But I rather think the child had told me the truth.

           God is at no time closer than when He is chastening His children! Don’t give God the cold shoulder. It will not go well with you if you do. Bend to His will and bear His yoke because His yoke is easy and His burden is light.

Prov 3:11-12

11 My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction:

12 For whom the Lord  loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

Dear Lord, forgive my cold shoulder! Restore me to the sweet fellowship I once had with you. AMEN