Several years ago I got called by the state to undergo the selection process for the service of being a juror. The process took a couple of days, after which I was not selected, for whatever the reason (not sure really?) But actually I was relieved to hear it because I didnt want to be there in the first place anyhow. But while I was sitting there undergoing this selection process I got to thinking about those who forswear themselves by an oath to tell the truth. And I even imagined those old court room dramas on television where the person places his (or her) hand on the Holy Bible and swears by it to tell the truth, sometimes saying so help me God. And then I thought on the Word of God, and how we are told not to swear an oath.
We see this in James 5:12; But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation. To me, if someone asked you to do something, or even asked you to tell the truth, a simple yes I will do my best would suffice, or perhaps even a no, I dont think I can do that would also be acceptable. And I think that is the point the Lord is trying to make when he said in Matthew 5:33-37;
Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.
Now I know there were those in scripture who did swear by God, such as Abraham, and those who did make a vow, like Jacob, and David, but the Lord warns us against these things because frankly sometimes we are just not able to perform our vows. In Numbers 30:2; If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.
Sometimes, because of our own fleshy weaknesses, or maybe even because of some unforeseen circumstances we might not be able to perform our vow or oath. So in a sense to make a vow, or foreswear an oath to God, could be seen as putting ones self in bondage, or even under a curse.
Which we also see here in those men who thought they were doing Gods service when they swore by an oath to kill Paul in Acts 23:14; And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul. And if those men had actually, and truly kept their oath they would have more than likely of starved themselves to death right, but I doubt they actually kept their own oath?
Which then made me think of all those who have perhaps foresworn an oath to God, or by Gods name, and then did not keep it? Much like many who would also take such an oath falsely, and even profane the Lords name by using the Lords name in a vain and in an irreverent way as is also warned of here in Leviticus 19:12; And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.
And then this made me think of all those public officials like the President of the United States on down the line who also swear by an oath when taking a pledge of public office. And I wondered if they truly understood the obligations and the implications of making such a vow by either placing their hands upon the Holy Bible, or swearing the oath of office by the words so help me God?
Then I wondered about just how many of them truly believe in the God they swear to, or on? Are they really all God fearing Holy Spirit filled Christians who swear to the only true God? After all a lot of their words and actions seem to bear witness to the contrary. It also seems to me that many of them give God and His Holy Word a backseat (if any at all) over their lives, and in their ways of government policies, and politics? Even the money they print makes the claim in God we trust. But who is their God, and in whom do they really trust? Makes you wonder?
I mean it seems kind of strange to me that those who would serve themselves, and also serve sin over righteousness and the very Truth in Gods Word, would also swear an oath to the same God whom they do not actually believe in, or even serve by faith in the first place? Which then made me think of the irony of the whole situation; how these who make our laws and policies, which also bind others with heavy burdens, have also unknowingly bound themselves with a sworn oath to the Lord our God.
We see this in James 5:12; But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation. To me, if someone asked you to do something, or even asked you to tell the truth, a simple yes I will do my best would suffice, or perhaps even a no, I dont think I can do that would also be acceptable. And I think that is the point the Lord is trying to make when he said in Matthew 5:33-37;
Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.
Now I know there were those in scripture who did swear by God, such as Abraham, and those who did make a vow, like Jacob, and David, but the Lord warns us against these things because frankly sometimes we are just not able to perform our vows. In Numbers 30:2; If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.
Sometimes, because of our own fleshy weaknesses, or maybe even because of some unforeseen circumstances we might not be able to perform our vow or oath. So in a sense to make a vow, or foreswear an oath to God, could be seen as putting ones self in bondage, or even under a curse.
Which we also see here in those men who thought they were doing Gods service when they swore by an oath to kill Paul in Acts 23:14; And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul. And if those men had actually, and truly kept their oath they would have more than likely of starved themselves to death right, but I doubt they actually kept their own oath?
Which then made me think of all those who have perhaps foresworn an oath to God, or by Gods name, and then did not keep it? Much like many who would also take such an oath falsely, and even profane the Lords name by using the Lords name in a vain and in an irreverent way as is also warned of here in Leviticus 19:12; And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.
And then this made me think of all those public officials like the President of the United States on down the line who also swear by an oath when taking a pledge of public office. And I wondered if they truly understood the obligations and the implications of making such a vow by either placing their hands upon the Holy Bible, or swearing the oath of office by the words so help me God?
Then I wondered about just how many of them truly believe in the God they swear to, or on? Are they really all God fearing Holy Spirit filled Christians who swear to the only true God? After all a lot of their words and actions seem to bear witness to the contrary. It also seems to me that many of them give God and His Holy Word a backseat (if any at all) over their lives, and in their ways of government policies, and politics? Even the money they print makes the claim in God we trust. But who is their God, and in whom do they really trust? Makes you wonder?
I mean it seems kind of strange to me that those who would serve themselves, and also serve sin over righteousness and the very Truth in Gods Word, would also swear an oath to the same God whom they do not actually believe in, or even serve by faith in the first place? Which then made me think of the irony of the whole situation; how these who make our laws and policies, which also bind others with heavy burdens, have also unknowingly bound themselves with a sworn oath to the Lord our God.
