Sometimes we are told to “Make a joyful shout to the LORD” (Psalm 100) and “Praise Him with clashing cymbals! (Psalm 150)” Other times, we can be quiet.
We can be quiet in His strength
In Matthew 11:28, Jesus says, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
The picture here is of oxen pulling a plow or a wagon. The two animals would be yoked together. A yoke is “a device for joining together a pair of draft animals, especially oxen, usually consisting of a crosspiece with two bow-shaped pieces, each enclosing the head of an animal.” In order to be yoked together, animals must be comparable in size, stamina and desire to work. This provides an important spiritual lesson to the believer.
When we are yoked to Jesus, we go where He goes (by necessity). Because of the yoke, we must look at what He looks at, see what He sees. By being joined together like this, we benefit from His wisdom and His strength, and we can just be quiet. Sometimes it is good to just walk alongside Jesus, yoked to Him, quietly learning from Him.
