From My Perspective - - - 

When one considers the ramifications of an imposition, it soon becomes evident that it is a task or an assignment that can be easily construed as someone else’s burden or obligation that has been placed upon another. It has been imposed or given as a duty or requirement to be carried out to completion. It is often considered to be of the magnitude of something that is extraordinarily burdensome or an unusual requirement or task. Sometimes it is that Person A doesn’t want to waste his time on the task so he gives it to Person B to complete it (an many times Person A will take the credit for that which Person B has done).

The word – Imposing – can be used in a positive and descriptive way, such as: Boulder Dam (or Hoover Dam) is an imposing creation of man. An now, the Bridge that crosses over the Dam is itself an imposing design. If one considers European Castles or Cathedrals, it can be said that they are imposing. Those who entered this country by way of Ellis Island in New York Harbor were greeted by the Statue of Liberty – a very imposing statue that welcomes the “tired masses yearning to be free.” Depending on one’s circumstance – imposing – can also be used in a negative manner. For the one who is on trial for some crime he has committed, if he is found to be guilty, the court will impose an appropriate sentence as punishment for the crime committed.

The Bible makes use of the concept of Imposition. In Deuteronomy 11:26-32, the Lord speaks to His people about their relationship to Him and His Law. He wants to Bless them – but – He also expects them to Honor Him with their obedience to His Word. He says: “See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside from the way that I am commanding you today, to go after other gods that you have not known…you shall be careful to do all the statutes and the rules that I am setting before you today.” The Blessing the Lord wants to impose is conditional. The people must make a choice (a) to acknowledge God in all things and at all times, or (b) to ignore Him and His word and suffer the consequences of and for their disobedience.

This truth is emphasized again in Deuteronomy 30:14-20 where the Lord says, “But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it. See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil.  If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you today, by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, I declare to you today, that you shall surely perish…I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying His voice and holding fast to Him, for He is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers…to give them."

This perspective and commitment for life is stated succinctly in Joshua 24:15, “…if it seems evil (or burdensome, an imposition) to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." This is the bottom line for one’s life – choose the Lord – or – choose some fabrication of man. May your choice and covenant be – “as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Consider these things with me!