The dark forebodings of the text grow darker as it goes on. The grim
slavery which it threatens as the only alternative to joyful service of
God is declared to be lifelong 'penal servitude,' and not only is there
no deliverance from it, but it directly tends to wear away the life of
the hopeless slaves. For the words that follow our text are 'and he
shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee.'
That is dismally true in regard to any and every life that has shaken
off the service of God which is perfect freedom, and has persisted in
the service of sin. Such service is suicidal; it rivets an iron yoke on
our necks, and there is no locksmith who can undo the shackles and lift
it off, so long as we refuse to take service with God. Stubbornly
rebellious wills forge their own fetters. Like many a slave-owner, our
tyrants have a cruel delight in killing their slaves, and our sins not
only lead to death, but are themselves death.
But there is a bright possibility before the most down-trodden vassal
of sin. 'The bond-servant abideth not in the house for ever.' He is not
a son of the house, but has been brought into it, stolen from his home.
He may be carried back to his Father's house, and there 'have bread
enough and to spare,' if a deliverer can be found. And He has been
found. Christ the Son makes us free, and if we trust Him for our
emancipation we 'shall be free indeed,' 'that we, being delivered out
of the hand of our enemies, should serve Him without fear, in holiness
and righteousness before Him all our days.'