THE CERTAINTY OF GOD'S PROMISES The point of our text is simply this: strong commitment on the part of the one making the promise should end all doubt and questions. "For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife" (Heb 6:16). Even men are satisfied by a confirming oath. Legally, when an affidavit is presented, a certain trust results. A firm commitment, or swore dedication, to do what is promised is considered binding in civil gatherings. Where this does not exist, there has been a moral decline. -- Tomorrow:
"For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise." (Hebrews 6:13-15).
The argument is this: If men, who are inferior to God, are more apt to be believed when they attach an oath to their promise, how should we regard the promises of Almighty God when He annexes His own oath to them? Ought not such a word to be heartily embraced in faith? Should there be any reluctance on the part of men to believe what God has sworn that He will do?
When men "sware," or take an oath, they do so by someone greater than themselves. The Word of God contains several oaths by godly men. They will serve to illustrate the point the Spirit is making.
1. ABRAHAM TO THE KING OF SODOM. "And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, THE MOST HIGH GOD, the possessor of heaven and earth, that I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich" (Gen 14:22-23).
2. ABRAHAM TO ABIMELECH. "Now therefore swear unto me here BY GOD that thou wilt not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son's son: but according to the kindness that I have done unto thee, thou shalt do unto me, and to the land wherein thou hast sojourned. And Abraham said, I will swear. (Gen 21:23-24).
3. ABRAHAM REQUIRES AN OATH OF ELIEZER. "And I will make thee SWEAR BY THE LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell" (Gen 24:3).
4. JACOB IN MAKING A COVENANT WITH LABAN. "The GOD of Abraham, and the GOD of Nahor, the GOD of their father, judge betwixt us. And Jacob sware by the fear of his father Isaac" (Gen 31:53).
5. RAHAB REQUIRES AN OATH OF THE SPIES. "Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me BY THE LORD, since I have showed you kindness, that ye will also show kindness unto my father's house, and give me a true token" (Josh 2:12).
6. BOAZ SWEARS TO RUTH. "Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman's part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, AS THE LORD LIVETH: lie down until the morning" (Ruth 3:13).
7. ELIJAH TO ELISHA. "And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Bethel. And Elisha said unto him, AS THE LORD LIVETH, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Bethel" (2 Kgs 2:2).
8. PAUL TO THE ROMAN CHURCH. "For GOD IS MY WITNESS, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers" (Rom 1:9).
9. PAUL TO THE THESSALONIANS. "For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloak of covetousness; GOD IS WITNESS" (1 Thess 2:5).
10. PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS. "Moreover I CALL GOD FOR A RECORD upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth" (2 Cor 1:23).
Such statements from godly men assure others that deceit is not present. They assist in removing doubt. On a practical level, this is one of the reasons for notarizing official documents, or swearing in a legal setting. It also forms the basis for holding the individual to his word.
Now our text will tell us that if we treat the oaths of men with such respect, much more ought the oath of God to be highly regarded. That regard is evidenced by taking hold upon His promise, and believing it without doubting.
PRAYER POINT: Father, I know there is no need for you to swear by an oath to me. You have done so to help me to believe. In the name of Jesus, help Thou mine unbelief.