THE LIFTING OF THE BOWED DOWN
by thebaileydrink
MERRY FRIDAY BY PARRIS-
“When all you can see is dark”
“And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?” Luke 13:11
Some say Luke’s allusions to the story of the healing of the “daughter of Abraham” comes into the larger paradigm of the warfare between the seed of the woman and the seed of the Serpent. I would say this has played out throughout history.
But lets step into this scene in the synagogue, a place that is supposed to be safe and welcome for anyone. This woman unseen by so many, came bent together. . . . unable to unbend says Ellicott. Even Spurgeon goes into detail saying, “that she had lost all her natural brightness. They are perpetually bowed down, and though they recollect happier days the memory only serves to deepen their present gloom.” This poor woman was bowed towards herself and towards that which was depressing. She seemed to grow downwards; her life was stooping; she bent lower and lower, as the weight of years pressed upon her. Her looks were all earthward, nothing heavenly, nothing bright could come before her eyes; her views were narrowed to the dust, and to the grave.
This woman like so many of us was bound by Satan according to Jesus. We become tied up as if we were animals unable to see or feel love. What I love about this story is that Jesus was fully aware of her rights as being a daughter of Abraham. She being unable to even use her eyes to look up, nor her voice to ask, Jesus went to her to unloose her like he does with us today.
Spurgeon goes onto to say again, “I conceive that the Lord poured His life into her.” While the Pharisees mocked Jesus for healing on the sabbath. Jesus replied back, “ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham be loosed?” He also rebuked the pharisee because they took more care of their animals than this women.
All it takes is just one touch! Christ touches the woman and she becomes loosed, her back straightened and she got back her voice glorifying God. You too are a child of the father, who loves you and someone or should I say something has bound you up. Don’t let the “spirit” of this world keep you tied up. We can be loosed, we can raise the weary hands, lift the muted voice and declare to the world that our God lives!