The Significance of Knees

I recently attended a training event where we were asked to give a short teaching. The topic I was given was `Knees`. Although I struggled a bit on the day, I have been pondering the topic and thought I would share my thoughts.

The knee is the joint that connects your thigh to your lower leg and is the biggest joint in your body. It is part of the skeletal system, but also contains cartilage, muscle, ligaments and nerves. The functions of the knee are to support your weight, and to allow your legs to bend and move. Because there are many parts to the knee, many things can go wrong and problems, should they arise, can be life-altering.

In the Hebrew culture, the knee is the symbol of strength (as I said, it holds up our body weight), and to bow our knee before God is to bend our strength before Him, and it is seen as an expression of worship. Today's verse from Romans 14:11 reminds us of the sovereignty of God. He is above all things, and everything will come under Him at the last. How important it is for us to submit to His authority and come before Him humbly, bowing our `knee` and submitting our strength to Him.

But if we read around this verse, we see that Paul is talking about criticism of others. Verse 10 says,`You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat`. Verses 12 -13 read, `So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God. Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister`.

This reminded me of Isaiah 35:3, `Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way`. Perhaps then, rather than criticise or judge, it is our job to build each other up and help those who are struggling to bear the weight of the circumstances of their lives. Please don’t hear this as a criticism, but as a gentle reminder to ask God today whom we might encourage and build up, so that we can `steady the knees that give way`. A simple act of kindness can be life-giving to another.

Maybe today you are in need of encouragement and building up. Ask God to meet you in this place of need. He longs to come and hear all your pain and struggles. Be real with Him. He will come and meet you, just as He promises in His word. The end of Isaiah 35: 4 says, `He will come to save you`.