When God’s Message Becomes A “Burden”.
Isaiah 13
KJV
1+ The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see.
Do you know that in ancient times, messages from God were called “burdens "? This was so-called because the messages were most often “unpleasant ”to the recipients!! However, the usage was figurative.
Read what Jeremiah was told to say in response to the people’s inquiries concerning God’s word to them.
Jeremiah 23
KJV
33+ And when this people, or the prophet, or a priest, shall ask thee, saying, What is the burden of the Lord? thou shalt then say unto them, What burden? I will even forsake you, saith the Lord.
Also, it appears the term was “coined” by the people and was so used by God to address them; it is important to note that God communicates or addresses us using words that we use or are familiar with.
You’ve read before the “hand” of God! His “ears” are not deaf, the eyes etc. God is spirit and spirit does not have ears, hands ears etc. Yet He is described as having them! We called this “ anthropomorphism”!
Don’t worry your head if you don’t know it or can’t pronounce it. You’ll go to heaven or hell whether you know it or not!
As stated earlier the word “ burden” was a terminology possibly “coined” by the people. Read this
Jeremiah 23
KJV
38 But since ye say, The burden of the Lord; therefore thus saith the Lord; Because ye say this word, The burden of the Lord, and I have sent unto you, saying, Ye shall not say, The burden of the Lord;
Read a few examples ;
(The Burden of Babylon ) message to Babylon
Isaiah 13
KJV
19+ And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees' excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.
Isaiah 14
KJV
4+ That thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased!
(The burden of Moab)
Isaiah 15
KJV
1+ The burden of Moab. Because in the night Ar of Moab is laid waste, and brought to silence; because in the night Kir of Moab is laid waste, and brought to silence;
(The Burden Of Damascus)
Isaiah 17
KJV
1+ The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap.
2+ The cities of Aroer are forsaken: they shall be for flocks, which shall lie down, and none shall make them afraid
(The Burden Of Egypt)
Isaiah 19
KJV
1+ The burden of Egypt. Behold, the Lord rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it.
Joel 3
KJV
19+ Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom shall be a desolate wilderness, for the violence against the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land.
( Tyre And Tarshish)
Isaiah 23
KJV
1+ The burden of Tyre. Howl, ye ships of Tarshish; for it is laid waste, so that there is no house, no entering in: from the land of Chittim it is revealed to them.
( Nineveh)
Nahum 1
KJV
1+ The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.
(Israel)
Malachi 1
KJV
1 The burden of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi.
(Miscellaneous prophecies “burdens” )
Isaiah 21
KJV
11+ The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?
KJV
1+ The burden of the valley of vision. What aileth thee now, that thou art wholly gone up to the housetops?
Isaiah 30
KJV
6+ The burden of the beasts of the south: into the land of trouble and anguish, from whence come the young and old lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they will carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures upon the bunches of camels, to a people that shall not profit them.
Very interesting, God’s messages of warning and correction are to the recipients a burden”. We are not different from them, many today see messages intended to warn, correct and help them as “ burdens”! As a result, they turn a deaf ear or delete them!
Just like the prophets of old, who care if our messages are heard, read or deleted! A speaker, writer etc like the prophets of old is under divine obligation to speak /write etc, God’s message! Be it a “ burden “ or not!
Read how Paul said it;
1 Corinthians 9
KJV
16+ For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!
Read how the term “burden” probably began ;
Jeremiah 23
KJV
33+ And when this people, or the prophet, or a priest, shall ask thee, saying, What is the burden of the Lord? thou shalt then say unto them, What burden? I will even forsake you, saith the Lord.
A thought to share. Is a “message” from God a “burden” to you?