May 27, 2025 | Be God's Family
God’s Solemn Promises
Scripture: Hebrews 6:16-20(NIV)
16 People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. 17 Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. 18 God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. 19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20 where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.
Devotional
“Do you swear or affirm that the testimony you are about to give is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?” In court, every witness who approaches the witness stand must answer this question in the affirmative before they get asked any other question. It is the oath every witness must take. I don’t have to read this from a card, I have it committed to memory.
What is an oath? An oath is a solemn promise. Today, it is usually a promise to tell the truth. For those who hold public office, the oath is required to hold office as a promise to faithfully execute the duties of that office. It is required of the President of the United States all the way down to City Court judges. But for most of our society, it’s not considered an essential part of our daily lives.
In the ancient world, however, oaths were considered far more important. It was considered a solemn vow made before God (“with God as my witness…”). It was considered a very serious commitment to speak truthfully, and to act upon a promise. Breaking an oath had very serious consequences as it was an affront not just to man but to God himself.
The curious aspect of this passage is why did God take an oath, when there is no power above Him? It’s because He didn’t have to, He chose to. God is perfect in all that He does, and His love for us is steadfast and never changing. This is God’s way of reassuring us that His solemn promise to us will be kept.
In the Old Testament, God promised to send Jesus as our High Priest, our Savior, our Advocate. That promise is fulfilled in the New Testament. The word Testament means “proof or evidence that something exists or is true.” The Bible is God’s sworn and true statement of His promises to our world.
God always keeps His Word to us.
Poem
It Is Good To Know
Psalm 100
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Psalm 100:5
In this ever-changing world
With the earth’s crust
Rising and sinking
Along its faults
With the sky’s canvas
Hurling and black-holing
In the darkness
With the sea’s waves
Crashing and eroding
Constant washing
In this ever-changing time
With politician’s decisions
Shaking and molding
Our future’s views
With death’s grasp
Taking and rotting
Beloved souls in flesh
With calendar’s days
Marching and leaving
Tasks done and undone
It is good to know
The goodness
The steadfastness
The enduring
The faithfulness
The anchor
The hope
The love
The unchanging
The firm
The security
Of our sovereign God
And His Christ
