Yoke-Fellows in Sin, Yoke-Fellows in Pain

My soul is sore vexed.—Yoke-fellows in sin are yoke-fellows in pain. The soul is punished for informing; the body for performing. As both informer and performer, both cause and instrument, so shall the stirrer-up of sin and executor be punished together. (A. Symson, B.D.)

But then, O Lord, how long?—The delays of Elohim are appointed seasons. There is a measured time for the crosses of all His children, before which they shall not be delivered. The Israelites remained in Egypt until 430 years were accomplished. Joseph languished three years in prison until his appointed deliverance. The Jews endured 70 years in Babylon. As the physician appoints times for fasting and recreation, so Adonai knows the convenient times both of our humiliation and exaltation.

Observe the impatience of our nature in misery: our flesh rebels against the Spirit, entering into reasoning and quarreling with the Holy One, as Job and Jonah did, and as David does here.

Yet albeit the Lord delay His coming to relieve His saints, He hath great cause. When we were in the heat of our sins, He cried by His prophets: "O fools, how long will you continue in your folly?" and we would not hear. Therefore, when we are in the heat of our pains, thinking long until deliverance, no wonder if Adonai will not hear. As He cried and we would not hear, so now we cry and He will not hear.