The Yoke of YWHW in the book of Jeremiah

Jeremiah 2:20 YWHW’s Yoke

"For long ago I broke your yoke and tore off your bonds;
But you said, 'I will not serve!'
For on every high hill and under every green tree
You have lain down as a harlot.

The text finds its context within a lament of Israel’s past. YWHW is recalling the past history of bringing the Israelites out of Egypt and lifting pharaohs yoke or burden. The Israelites yoke was one of marginalization, slave labor, oppression and suppression. YWHW lifted that yoke and gave the people liberation from their oppressor. Earlier in the text a form of the Shema is invoked, the call for the people to hear whom their new Lord has become. Israel was now a vassal of YWHW, they served Him now and were under a lighter burden, an easier yoke, summed up by the Decalogue.

Jeremiah 5:5 Judah & Jerusalem Break YWHW’s Yoke

"I will go to the great and will speak to them,
For they know the way of the LORD and the ordinance of their God "
But they too, with one accord, have broken the yoke and burst the bonds.

The text leading up to our text speaks of several warnings. There is an active pursuit for YWHW and or Jeremiah to find one just person that seeks the truth. Here we are reminded of the Biblical theme of a leader bargaining with God to save the city for the sake of the righteous ones within it. We hear that the people have refused to receive correction and repent. The people have lost the way of the Lord and no longer follow YWHW’s yoke. The appeal in the scripture is to the great or wise people or leaders of the city, because surely they will know how to follow God’s yoke. But we are told that the yoke has been broken and the bonds have been set aside.

Jeremiah 27:2-28:14 (27:2,8,11,12, 28:2,4,10,11,12,13,14)
The Yoke of Babylon and the battle between prophets

God commands Jeremiah to create a physical yoke to wear. Judah and Jerusalem are told that they will not submit to the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon. They are then told if they do submit to Babylon’s yoke God will protect them and they will live. Next, we find that YWHW has broken the yoke of the king of Babylon. Hananiah then takes the yoke that Jeremiah is wearing and breaks it. He declares in the same way YWHW will break the yoke of the king of Babylon. Jeremiah returns with YWHW’s response that the yoke has now been turned from wood to iron, the yoke has been rebuilt and strengthened.

Jeremiah 30:8 The Liberation of Judah and Jerusalem from Babylon’s Yoke

'It shall come about on that day,' declares the LORD of hosts,
'that I will break his yoke from off their neck and will tear off their bonds;
and strangers will no longer make them their slaves.

The text leading up to this point speaks of a new future and a hope of a time when God will again liberate the people and free them from their oppressor’s yoke. The story comes full circle, as the people have been set underneath God’s yoke once again. YWHW promises once again to save them from the other nations, and to then chasten and teach them once again.

There is a continual theme of grace offered in the understanding of God’s yoke and the yoke of the king of Babylon. The people are offered a way out by submission and repentance, and even when they rebel, grace is later offered to the people as they again become exiled. God later offers an easy yoke of repentance and return to the covenant. The Jewish understanding of yoke was the teaching of an individual like a rabbi who was followed by others as they were discipled in a way of life. Jesus in his ministry offers the people a yoke that is light and easy, one of rest and peace. It is no mistake that Jesus offers a yoke that is both gentle and humble. Jesus, in the establishment of a new covenant offers God’s yoke, His way of life, once again to a people who are always in need of grace.