Bel bows down, Nebo stoops low;
    their idols are borne by beasts of burden.
The images that are carried about are burdensome,
    a burden for the weary.
2 They stoop and bow down together;
    unable to rescue the burden,
    they themselves go off into captivity.

3 ‘Listen to me, you descendants of Jacob,
    all the remnant of the people of Israel,
you whom I have upheld since your birth,
    and have carried since you were born.
4 Even to your old age and grey hairs
    I am he, I am he who will sustain you.
I have made you and I will carry you;
    I will sustain you and I will rescue you.

In verse 20 of the previous chapter we read:

‘Gather together and come;
    assemble, you fugitives from the nations.
Ignorant are those who carry about idols of wood,
    who pray to gods that cannot save.

The theme of carrying is now repeated; it is picked up and enlarged on. The question is: do we want gods who we have to carry, or the God who carries us? Do we want a religion that is a burden to us, or the Saviour who relieves us of our burdens? This is the choice between false and true religion. In fact it has been said that here, in a nutshell we have the difference between false and authentic faith: the false is built on works, but the genuine is based on grace (Eph.2:8,9).

I think there is a special word of encouragement here to elderly believers. As we get older, we are likely to feel our physical, mental, emotional (and spiritual) vulnerability and fragility increasingly. What a beautiful picture, then, of the Lord carrying us to the end of our days. Let’s take this to heart:

“Listen to me, family of Jacob,
    everyone that’s left of the family of Israel.
I’ve been carrying you on my back
    from the day you were born,
And I’ll keep on carrying you when you’re old.
    I’ll be there, bearing you when you’re old and grey.
I’ve done it and will keep on doing it,
    carrying you on my back, saving you (3,4: The Message).

The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms (Is.33:27).

(NB also Ex.19:4; Dt.1:31;32:11; Is.63:9 for further references to the Lord carrying His people. It always has reference to the Exodus. That is the point at which Israel as a nation was conceived and brought to birth).