The
opening word of verse 12 connects this passage with all that has preceded it
concerning our heavenly Father’s chastisements. ― “Wherefore.”
With that word, the Holy Spirit tells us why our heavenly Father deals with us
in such goodness, grace, and love when he chastens us. The Lord our God
chastens us that he might keep us in his grace, that he might keep us looking
to Christ, that he might keep us from the apostasy by which multitudes have
perished.
We all like to think we are spiritually strong, in good health, and fully capable of doing what we ought to do. But that is not the case. The fact is the Lord’s sheep are sheep. Weakness is common to sheep. They are easily exhausted. Often, they are lame, lame because the Good Shepherd graciously breaks their feet. When he breaks their feet, it is that he might carry them in his arms and teach them to follow him.
Verse 12 speaks
of sluggishness, weariness, and weakness. ― "Lift up the hands which hang down,
and the feeble knees." Remember,
the passage before us speaks of believers as a people running a race. When a
runner’s hands dangle at his side, when his knees begin to wobble, it is not
likely that he will proceed much further. This is precisely the condition in
which David found himself in Psalm 73. He wrote, "My feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped”
(v. 3).
How weak our hands are! How feeble our knees! How sluggish and
inactive we are in prayer! —In hearing the Word of God! —In Worship! —In
holding fast our profession! —In the performance of those things by which the
gospel of Christ is to be adorned!
We are easily wearied and fatigued with weights and burdens of sins and afflictions. We are faint, fearful, and timorous, because of unbelief, because we do not trust God’s goodness, grace, love, and the promises of his unfailing goodness, compassion, grace, and care. Are we not?
This is the Lord’s word of exhortation to you and me. —"Lift
up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees!" He here calls for
us to be active in every duty—courageous before every foe—and of good cheer in
every woe. He is calling for us to patiently bear every burden he puts upon us,
looking to him for help, and strength, and protection.
Particularly, this is a call for us to help one another in such times of need. Eliphaz commended Job because God’s servant Job had been such a helper of his weak brethren. ― "Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands. Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees" (Job 4:3-4).
We know that Paul is
primarily referring to and urging us to help one another because Hebrews
When our brethren are weak, when it appears that they are ready to
quit the race, let us refresh and strengthen them with love, sympathizing with
them, speaking comfortably to them, and bearing their burdens. That is what
brothers and sisters do for one another. It is called “love” (Gal. 6:1-3).
When one of God’s children appear to be lame, perhaps
lame by their own foolishness, we are to make straight paths for their feet,
that they may be healed ― "And
make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the
way; but let it rather be healed" (v. 13). The word "feet"
refers to our walk, our manner of life, both in the church, and in the world—“How
beautiful are thy feet with shoes, O Prince’s daughter”(Song
7:1). There are straight paths made ready for our feet to walk in.
These “straight paths” are the “old paths” of Gospel
truth (Jer.
How
tenderly the Lord urges us to this business of caring for one another. ― “Lest that which is lame be turned out of the way.”
The word “lame” is a very strong word. It means that which is twisted
and broken. Who would not pity a man fallen in the streets, whose legs had been
twisted and broken? How much more we ought to pity a lame member of Christ’s
body. How much more we ought to pity a lame member of our family. It matters
not whether the lameness is the lameness of his corrupt nature, or lameness caused
by his own foolish and sinful behavior, or lameness caused by the neglect of
his soul.
Ours is not to judge and blame, or even diagnose, but to heal. ― “But let it rather be healed.” As Gill explains, “Let the fallen believer be restored, the weak brother be confirmed, the halting professor be strengthened, and everyone be built up and established upon the most holy faith, and in the pure ways of the Gospel.” Shall we not do for one another what our God does for us? Read Micah 4:6-8 and Zephaniah 3:19-20.
How can we heed this admonition? How can we strengthen our own hands and one another’s? How can we strengthen our own feeble knees and each other’s? How can we make straight paths for our own broken legs and one another’s? Read verse 14, and you will see. ― "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord."