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“search the scriptures” John 5:39
We are very familiar with the shoulder being used as a figure of speech. I am shouldering the responsibility of this article. However, you may give me the cold shoulder if you do not like what you read - but that will be okay so long as I have broad shoulders!
The shoulder is mentioned a surprising number of times in the Bible with fifty plus references. As we would expect from general usage, the shoulder is often used in connection with strength - for example, in Genesis chapter 24, Rebekah is spoken of as carrying the water pot on her shoulder.
An anthropomorphism is a human attribute being used to describe God’s character or actions. We know that we are made in the image of God, Gen. 1, so it is not surprising that there are some similarities. Remarkably, God deigns to use aspects of our own being - to which we can easily relate - to help us understand more of His. So, we have expressions such as ‘The eyes of the Lord are in every place’, Prov. 15. 3, or ‘the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear’, Isa. 59. 1. The clear statement that ‘God is a Spirit’, John 4. 24, avoids any doubt about these passages referring to a literal eye, hand or ear, but we also readily grasp the symbolic meaning.
Although the word ‘anthropomorphism’ looks imposing, it is simply a combination of two words. ‘Anthropoid’ meaning ‘resembling a human being’ and ‘morph’ meaning ‘shape or form’. We are rightly amazed that God would be so gracious in His desire for us to come to some understanding about Him that He would use anthropomorphisms! However, even more remarkable is that His desire went further. In the incarnation, the Lord Jesus was willing to take on a literal human body. He who in His unbounded strength is ‘upholding all things by the word of his power’ - and could have come in whatever form He chose - was willing to have just two human shoulders!
‘And of Benjamin he said, The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by him; and the Lord shall cover him all the day long, and he shall dwell between his shoulders’, Deut. 33. 12. This delightful verse brings before us the strength of the shoulders of God - and is such that those who trust in Him can be described as dwelling in safety. The covering (the shelter or shield) He provides is not a passing protection but that which lasts ‘all the day’. We speak of someone appearing to have the weight of the world on their shoulders, and ancient mythology depicted Atlas with a globe on his upper back, but we have a God so strong He truly can ‘uphold all things’.
Nonetheless, I would suggest the verse is also alluding to a deeper thought regarding the shoulders -that it is a loving and intimate type of security being described. When the Apostle John reclined upon the Saviour in the upper room it was between His shoulders and with the use of the description ‘beloved of the Lord’, Deut. 33. 12, it is easy to think of John’s description ‘the disciple whom Jesus loved’. The shoulder is a place of strength, but it is not provided by one distant or impersonal but by One who loves us more than we can imagine and desires the closest of communion with us.
The sense of both strength and love is present in the high priestly work of the Lord Jesus pictured in the priestly garments that Aaron wore, as described in Exodus chapter 28. In addition to all the names of God’s people being on the breastplate (in the place of affection and sympathy), they were also upon the onyx stones on his shoulders (in the place of strength). There is also a clear connection between the shoulder and the breastplate in the description given in verses 24 and 25. This all reminds us of Hebrews chapter 4 where our Great High Priest is not just spoken of as ‘Jesus’ but ‘Jesus the Son of God’, v. 14. It is a precious truth to know that we are both between His shoulders in the breastplate and upon His shoulders in the onyx stone - a double encouragement that He both fully understands each problem and can meet every need.
On the onyx stones upon the shoulders the names of the tribes were put in age order, Exod. 28. 10. Helpfully, this reminds us that the strength of God for His people is from the ‘oldest to the youngest’ -whatever stage of our Christian life we are at, ‘He is able’.
Along with Exodus, the book of Isaiah has the most mentions of shoulder including the well-known prophecy concerning the coming of Christ ‘the government shall be upon his shoulder’, Isa. 9. 6. In a similar vein, Isaiah says, ‘I will commit thy government into his hand … And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open. And I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place; and he shall be for a glorious throne to his father’s house’, 22. 21-23.
So often we see human governments struggle to accomplish the goals they set and so are in awe of the One who will bring true, lasting peace and prosperity to the whole world under His future rule. That unassailable power is also a present encouragement. Isaiah chapter 22 verse 22 is quoted in Revelation to the church at Philadelphia, ‘I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength’, 3. 8. There will often be discouragements in the Lord’s work, but ‘my strength is made perfect in weakness’, and we should be looking for the open doors of opportunity. With our technology, resources, and freedoms, we have scope for witnessing that no previous generation has known - there are many circumstances today where it is still true that ‘a great door and effectual is opened unto me’, 1 Cor. 16. 9 - and when we ‘put our shoulder to the work’, we can do so in dependence on His might.
As with all characters in the scriptures, we can use them to direct our attention to Christ and for at least two individuals their shoulders are mentioned in a way that does so readily. In Judges chapter 16, Samson carried the gates of a city on his shoulders. Yet it was his own sin that had put him in the position of needing to use his strength to escape the Philistine ambush. How different from the language of Psalm 24, ‘Lift up your heads, O ye gates … and the King of glory shall come in’, v. 7. Regarding King Saul, it was said that ‘from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people’, 1 Sam. 9. 2. Saul being ‘head and shoulders’ above the people marked him out as different from others, but his moral failures were obvious. The Lord Jesus came without anything unusual in His shoulders or physically in any other part of His body and yet morally about every aspect of Him we would say ‘he is altogether lovely’.
In contrast to the significant number of references to shoulders in the Old Testament, there are just two specific mentions in the New Testament -and both are from the teaching of the Saviour in the Gospel accounts. In Matthew chapter 23 verse 4, the Lord Jesus spoke of the legalism of the Pharisees, ‘For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers’. In direct contrast to this, the shepherd of Luke chapter 15 verse 5 carries the sheep that had been lost upon his shoulders. The Lord Jesus never places an unreasonable burden upon us to bear, Matt. 11. 28-30, and as the One opposite in character to the false shepherds of Israel, the true Shepherd of the flock carries His people home.
As has often been remarked upon, the strength required to administer world affairs in the future in Isaiah chapter 9 verse 6 is spoken of using the singular noun - ‘the government shall be upon his shoulder‘. In contrast, the resources available to the believer are seen in picture as they are carried home using the plural - shoulders. Sometimes, the expression ‘standing on the shoulders of giants’ is used to convey the advantage a generation has because of the work done by those that have gone before. There is certainly much to be grateful for from believers in the past who have lived spiritual lives. Even greater, though, is the way the Christian is not resting on the shoulders of giants but those of God Himself.
While not specifically mentioned, it would hardly seem to be stretching the imagination to say that the shoulders of the Saviour were involved in His work at the cross. ‘He bearing his cross went forth’, John 19. 17, reminds us of shoulders that bore suffering and shame. He bore, ‘our sins in his own body on the tree’, 1 Pet. 2. 24, reminds us of the greater load of sin that He endured. In moving contrast to what has already been considered from Deuteronomy chapter 33 verse 12, it was between His shoulders He bowed his head and dismissed his spirit.
Having considered the shoulders of God, what practical encouragement is there for the believer?
The perfect comfort of our Great High Priest goes far further than ‘a shoulder to cry on’. His understanding and ability to help are unrivalled with all the people of God upon, in picture, both His heart and His shoulders. It is good to talk problems over with friends and better to spend time talking them over in prayer.
In connection with the Nazarite vow and the ram that was offered in Numbers chapter 6, both of which remind us of consecration to the Lord, it was the shoulder of the animal the priest was to offer. As we consider the greatness of our God and Saviour as revealed in the use of the shoulder, our response should indeed be to give of our strength - our time, our energy, our abilities, and resources He has blessed us with, whatever is our best - for Him.
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