SET THE CAPTIVE FREE
PSALMS 79:11
Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee; according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die;
HERE WE HEAR THE CRY OF A PERSON IN DISTRESS
A PERSON WHO IS BEING HELD CAPTIVE AGAINST HIS WILL
AS WE STUDY THE OLD TESTAMENT BEING IN CAPTIVITY OR A PRISONER WAS A WAY OF LIFE AT TIMES IT SEEMS
OFTEN TIMES ISRAEL WOULD FIND THEMSELVES AT THE MERCY OF THEIR CAPTOR CRYING OUT TO GOD FOR HELP
USUALLY BECAUSE OF THE HARDNESS OF THEIR HEARTS, AND FOLLOWING UNGODLY LEADERSHIP
Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee—The sighing of him who is bound. The allusion here is, doubtless, to those among the Hebrews who had been taken captives, and who “sighed” not only on account of the sufferings which they endured in their bondage, but because they had been taken from their country and home. The meaning is, “Hear those sighs, and come for the deliverance of those who are thus held in captivity.”
According to the greatness of thy power—. It is implied here that great power was needful to deliver those who were held in captivity, power such as God only could exert—power which could be wielded only by an Omnipotent Being. It was the power of God only which could rescue them, as it is only by the power of God that sinners can be saved.
Preserve thou those that are appointed to die—This might apply to those who were condemned to death; or, to those who were sick and in danger of death; or to those who were prisoners and captives, and who were, by their sufferings, exposed to death.
Captivity
Once taken, Captives were often treated with great cruelty and indignity (1 Kings 20:32; Josh. 10:24; Judg. 1:7; 2 Sam. 4:12; Judg. 8:7; 2 Sam. 12:31; 1 Chr. 20:3)
When a city was taken by assault, all the men were slain, and the women and children carried away captive and sold as slaves (Isa. 20; 47:3; 2 Chr. 28:9-15; Ps. 44:12; Joel 3:3)
The captives were exposed to the most cruel treatment (Nah. 3:10; Zech. 14:2; Esther 3:13; 2 Kings 8:12; Isa. 13:16, 18).
Captives were sometimes carried away into foreign countries, as was the case with the Jews (Jer. 20:5; 39:9, 10; 40:7).
Tortured under saws and harrows
2 Sam 12:31; 1 Chr 20:3
Blinded
Judg 16:21; Jer 39:7
Maimed
Judg 1:6-7
Ravished
Lam 5:11-13; Zech 14:2
Robbed
Ezek 23:25-26
Yokes were placed on them
In Jer. 27:2; 28:10, 12. The yoke speaks of severe bondage, or affliction, or subjection (Lev. 26:13; 1 Kings 12:4; Isa. 47:6; Lam. 1:14; 3:27).
In the New Testament the word “yoke” is also used to denote servitude (Matt. 11:29, 30; Acts 15:10; Gal. 5:1).
Neck
To put one’s feet on the neck of an enemy is a sign of complete victory (Josh. 10:24). A yoke placed on the neck is a frequent emblem of servitude (Gen. 27:40; Deut. 28:48; Isa. 10:27)
THERE WHERE GENERATIONS THAT GREW UP IN THIS TYPE OF BONDAGE KNOWING NO OTHER WAY OF LIFE
HERE WE SEE GENERATIONAL CURSES AT WORK, BECAUSE OF THE REBELLION OF THE FATHER, THE SON HAS TO SUFFER
TODAY THERE ARE PEOPLE STILL IN BONDAGE
MAYBE NOT THE SAME TYPE OF BONDAGE THAT ISRAEL OFTEN FOUND THEMSELVES IN BUT, A BONDAGE JUST AS REAL
THERE ARE MANY TODAY WHO SATAN HAS THEM IN BONDAGE
IT IS AS IF THEY HAVE A YOKE AND CHAIN AROUND THEIR NECK, AND THEIR LIFE IS BEING CONTROLLED
THEIR BONDAGE TORTURES THEM, - THEIR BONDAGE ROBS THEM, - OFTEN THEIR BONDAGE BLINDS THEM
SATAN’S FOOT IS ON THEIR NECK, AS THEIR FACE IS TO THE GROUND AND YOU ARE BEING USED AS HIS STEPPING STONE
SADLY ENOUGH MANY KNOW THE WAY OUT OF THIS BONDAGE BUT CHOSE TO LIVE THERE ANYWAY THEY HAD RATHER SUFFER THE OPPRESSION OF BONDAGE THAN BE FREE
THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO SATAN TRIES TO KEEP IN BONDAGE
THEY ARE BOUND BE HEALTH
THEY ARE BOUND BY FINANCES
THEY ARE BOUND BY OPPRESSION
THEY ARE BOUND BY PAIN
THEY ARE BOUND BY CIRCUMSTANCES
THEIR BONDAGE CONTROLS THEM, THEY ARE A SLAVE TO THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES
AND THEN THERE ARE SOME TODAY WHO ARE IN A BONDAGE TO SEDUCING SPIRITS
THEY HAVE A SPIRIT OF JEALOUSY THAT CONTROLS THEM, A SPIRIT OF ENVY, A SPIRIT OF CONTROL
SOME HAVE A SPIRIT PF SOWING DISCORD
AND AS A RESULT OF THESE ENTRAPMENTS SATAN STILL CONTROLS THEM TO A MAJOR PART OF THEIR LIFE
BUT THERE IS GOOD NEWS THIS MORNING
THERE IS A WAY OUT OF YOUR BONDAGE
ISAIAH 58:6
6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? 7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
8 Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward. 9 Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity; 10 And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday: 11 And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.
12 And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.
REMEMBER WHAT PAUL TELLS US IN ROMANS 6:18
Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. 19I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. 20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. 21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. 22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
GALATIANS 5:1
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage
LEVITICUS 26:13
I am the LORD your God, which brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, that ye should not be their bondmen; and I have broken the bands of your yoke, and made you go upright.
ISAIAH 10:27
And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.
MATTHEW 11:29
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
BELOVED THIS MORNING THE LORD HAS SPOKEN TO YOU BY HIS WORD AND BY HIS SPIRIT CONCERNING THE YOKE OF BONDAGE THAT IS AROUND YOUR NECK
THIS MORNING THE LORD WANTS TO LIFT THAT BURDEN, AND REMOVE THAT YOKE
PSALMS 55:22
Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
ARE YOU READY TO ALLOW THE LORD TO LIFT THE YOKE FROM OFF OF YOUR NECK
NOT ONLY WILL HE LIFT IT: IT WILL BE DESTROYED BECAUSE OF THE ANOINTING OF GOD, NEVER TO HINDER YOU AGAIN
