Set The Captive Free

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?