Believers likened as a scribe, according to Christ, should understand the scriptures richly in all wisdom, knowledge and understanding, able to bring treasures of life from the Old and New Testaments of the word of God. Are the scriptures, both the old and new, not given by the inspiration of God, profitable for teaching, reproof, corrections and instructions in righteousness? Matthew 13:52.
In your race and quest for heaven, the Lord will deny you an entrance into his kingdom if you will not honor the terms of contract between you and him, why call me Lord, Lord, and will not do what I ask you to do? The moment you confess with your mouth to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you are entering into an oath with the Son of God. In your relationship with Christ, there are rules of engagements: all believers, whether you like it or not, conscious or unconscious of it, are under the oath with Christ to strive lawfully within the bond of the scriptures, if they seek to obtain the crown of life with other rewards of inheritance prepared for them in heaven – if a man strives for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. 2 Timothy 2:5.
What is an oath? An oath in a simple answer is the entirety of God’s word given with the goal of upholding spiritual and moral ethical standard at home, church and in the society as it is written, you shall fear the Lord thy God; him shall thou serve, and to him shall thou cleave, and swear by his name. Deuteronomy 10:20.
An oath is undoubtedly, the assurance that the word spoken or promise (s) given shall be taken to heart and be performed even in the absence of the second party. It is an end to all strife, doubts, uncertainties, insecurities, mistaken identity and fears . Hebrews 6: 16.
Oath can be personal between you and God, just as David made an oath to God from the book of Psalms 132 verses 1 -5: Lord, remember David, and all his afflictions: how he swear unto the Lord, and vowed unto the mighty God of Jacob; Surely I will not come into the tabernacle of my house, nor go up into my bed; I will not give sleep to mine eyes, or slumber to mine eyelids, until I find out a place for the Lord, an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob. When you say the Lord is my witness or let the Lord be our witness, you have already sworn in his name: this should not be a false statement, lest you take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
When you sing to your national anthem, you are singing allegiance and loyalty to your nation’s law and constitution. An oath is a promise made to be faithful to a body, organization or country, showing consistent support to something or someone. It is a verbal declarative or written statement of fact (s), a promise (s) of engagement to one’s duty in the sincerity of heart, honesty and integrity in the diligent care and act to the performance (s) of the duty or duties of the matter or subject under question. Sometimes, words given or promises spoken can be forgotten and denied, but a signed written statement shall stand against the traitor if they break the oath of allegiance.
The Israelis answered Joshua, nay, we will serve the Lord, they made an oath unto Joshua to be loyal to God. And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God, and took a great stone, and set it up there under an oak, that was by the sanctuary of the Lord as a signature mark of the oath – And Joshua said unto the people, you are witnesses against yourselves that ye have chosen you the Lord, to serve him. And they said, we are witnesses. Now therefore put away, said he, the strange gods which are among you, and incline your heart unto the Lord God of Israel. And the people said unto Joshua, the Lord our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey. So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and set them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem. And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God, and took a great stone, and set it up there under an oak, that was by the sanctuary of the Lord. Joshua 24:22-26.
Serious people put themselves into a serious task when they enter into a godly oath. When you heard Elisha saying to Elijah his master that as the Lord lives and as your soul lives, I will not leave you, that’s an oath of the Lord and he kept to his word until the taken away of his master by the chariots of fire taken up to heaven. 2 Kings 2:2.
God gives us exceeding great and precious promises, but he also bond himself to his Word with an oath, that we might not second thought or doubt any of his promises: wherein God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: that by two immutable things in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us. Hebrews 6: 17-18: (a) the death of Christ, by raising him up from the dead: Romans 8: 32: (b) the integrity of God himself who is faithful to his word, whose yes, is yes, and no is no as the God who is strong to execute his word. Joel 2:11.
Abraham called Eliezer his chief servant to look for a wife for his son Isaac, though Eliezer was born and raised up from Abraham’s house as a servant who should be trusted to do what is right and expected, yet, he was asked to swear in the name of the Lord for the mission.
The final agreement between both of them could not stand except the Spirit of God directed Abraham to make his servant swear an oath of reassurance to certify him that he will do exactly as it was demanded or required of him – Abraham was old: and well stricken in age: and the Lord has blessed him in all things. And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh: and I will make thee swear by the Lord, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shall not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of Canaanites, among whom I dwell: but thou shall go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac. And the servant said unto him, Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land: must I bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou camest? And Abraham said unto him, beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again. The Lord God of heaven, which took me from my father’s house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence. And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath: only bring not my son thither again. Genesis 24:1 – 8.
Here, not only is the marital destiny of Isaac at stake, but the continuation of Abraham’s legacy is also in danger, hence the need for a virtuous bride for Isaac cannot be compromised. To ensure this, Abraham, though the father of faith, bring his most trusted servant under the oath of the Lord, obliging him to do right thing as agreed upon, otherwise, let God, who is the faithful witness, avenge the cruelty of breaking the oath against the traitor, should he do otherwise. Genesis 24:8.
The agreement was that Isaac should not be married to any of the daughters of Canaan (strange women), and he should not take him back to the land of Ur which was the place of Abraham natal, an idolatrous place and people.
Eliezer must be true to his mission by the oath. It must be not be a false or pretentious oath to please his master and to have his leave to do whatever pleases him, otherwise, God, who is the faithful witness between them shall avenge the quarrel of the covenant or oath between him and Abraham: whosoever break the oath shall not escape the judgment of the sword. Ezekiel 17:18-19.
Jacob’s uncle Laban was a cruel and wicked man who evil-treated his son in law for many years until God finally instructed Jacob to go away from his wicked uncle and father in law: to go back to Bethel. Jacob left with his wives and children without the knowledge or consent of his father in law, but after Laban had knowledge of his secret departure, he pursued after Jacob and got to him on the seventh day.
The God of Jacob appeared to Laban in bis dream before he had any talk with Jacob, though he was very angry for the secret departure of Jacob like a thief, but he has no saying or option than to let him go, be been warned of God to leave Jacob alone or else he will face divine wrath: and God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said unto him, take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad (Genesis 31:24) which was the point of break, warning and restriction against Laban’s evil intentions towards against Jacob. Genesis 31:29.
Laban then said to Jacob, ok, you need to go back to your father’s house: fine, how can I be sure that you will treat my daughters and their children very well and take good care of them, except you swear to me by God that appeared to me not to hurt you, that you will not hurt my daughters and their children, I will not let you go.
Except Jacob is sure of the sincerity of his love for his wife and children, to swear in assurance to Laban, that he will deal kindly in honor and respect to his wives and children, he’s going nowhere with them. Laban will never allow him to move an inch after seven days of hot pursuit — except Jacob swore an oath to treat them with honor and dignity in his absence.
Laban was not a believer, but an idol worshipper (Genesis 31:30), but his encounter the previous night with God in his dream to warn him and hold him back from any violent dealing against Jacob provoked and inspired his strong and instant faith in God, to suggest an oath of the Lord between him and Jacob – and Laban answered and said unto Jacob, these daughters are my daughters, and these children are my children, and these cattle are my cattle, and all that thou seest is mine: and what can I do this day unto these my daughters, or unto their children which they have born? Now therefore come thou, let us make a covenant, I and thou; and let it be for a witness between me and thee. And Jacob took a stone, and set it up for a pillar. And Jacob said unto his brethren, gather stones; and they took stones, and made an heap: and they did eat there upon the heap. And Laban called it Jegarsahadutha: but Jacob called it Galeed. And Laban said, this heap is a witness between me and thee this day. Therefore was the name of it called Galeed; and Mizpah; for he said, the Lord watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another.If thou shalt afflict my daughters, or if thou shalt take other wives beside my daughters, no man is with us; see, God is witness betwixt me and thee. And Laban said to Jacob, behold this heap, and behold this pillar, which I have cast betwixt me and thee: this heap is witness, and this pillar is witness, that I will not pass over this heap to thee, and that thou shall not pass over this heap and this pillar unto me, for harm. The God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us. And Jacob swears by the fear of his father Isaac. Genesis 31: 44 – 55.
The friendship and affection between David and Jonathan, the son of King Saul was an unfeigned love, coming out of pure hearts. Jonathan’s father was against such an honest friendship between his son and his rival David, thus the relationship between the king’s son and David was life threatening; nonetheless, Jonathan risked everything and put his life on the line to protect David because he loved David as he loved his own soul. 1 Samuel 18:1-3.
In his eulogy for Jonathan, David describes the sincerity and genuineness of the love and affection of Jonathan for him as wonderful, passing the love of women: I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been to me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women. 2 Samuel 1: 26.
Jonathan made David to swear an oath or a covenant of the Lord of generation kindness to another and to their children after them, a covenant of truthfulness and transparency, loyalty, protection and brotherly love till the end of ages in exchange for David’s safety from the hunt of king Saul FOR THOU HAST BROUGHT THEY SERVANT INTO A COVENANT OF THE LORD WITH THEE: And thou shall not only while yet I live show me the kindness of the Lord, that I die not: but also thou shall not cut off your kindness from my house for ever: no, not when the Lord hath cut off the enemies of David everyone from the face of the earth. SO JONATHAN MADE A COVENANT WITH THE HOUSE OF DAVID, SAYING, LET THE LORD EVEN REQUIRE IT AT THE HAND OF DAVID’S ENEMIES. AND JONATHAN CAUSED DAVID TO SWEAR AGAIN, BECAUSE HE LOVED HIM: FOR HE LOVED HIM AS HE LOVED HIS OWN SOUL. 1 Samuel 18: 1 – 3. 1 Samuel 20: 1 – 17.
The covenant between David and Jonathan will not be binding if David refused to swear present and future fidelity and transparency in answer to the love shown by Jonathan to him, and for the benefits of the information for his safety to fulfill his destiny which can only be provided by Jonathan at that time. God will protect David if Jonathan should betray him, but we see that he was faithful to the oath by declaring his loyalty to David before his envious and wicked father – Saul. Jonathan was faithful to his vow, upright in his heart with David. David likewise, when he was established as King, though Jonathan died, David remembered the oath of the Lord between the both of them, and he enquired, is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness for Jonathan’s sake? And the king says, is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan has yet a son, which is lame on his feet….and David said unto him, fear not: for I will surely show thee kindness for Jonathan thy father’s sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shall eat bread at my table continually. 2 Samuel 9: 1 – 7.
The oath of the Lord is your hearty promise of yes, in a verbal or written form in the matter (s) you agreed upon within the context of the written word of God, and not outside the framework of the scriptures, to abide in the light of the Word and will of God, reassuring your faithfulness, loyalty and commitment to your engagements -THEY CLEAVE TO THEIR BRETHREN, THEIR NOBLES, AND ENTERED INTO A CURSE, AND INTO AN OATH, TO WALK IN GOD’S LAW, WHICH WAS GIVEN BY MOSES THE SERVANT OF GOD, AND TO OBSERVE AND DO ALL THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD OUR LORD, AND HIS JUDGMENTS AND HIS STATUES. Nehemiah 10:29.
This is nothing but the oath of the Lord – also I said, it is not good that ye do: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies? I likewise, and my brethren, and my servants, might exact them money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury. Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their olive yards, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the corn, the wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them. Then said they, we will restore them, and will require nothing of them; so will we do as thou says. Then I called the priests, AND TOOK AN OATH OF THEM, THAT THEY SHOULD DO ACCORDING TO THIS PROMISE. Nehemiah 5:9-12.
By faith Rahab harlot perished not with those who believed not, but great was the faith that saved her and the entire household that they might not perished in the destruction of Jericho. Her willingness, openness and interest in the business of God as a trusted partner with the spies sent by Joshua was not without an oath of faith which proved to be the vital evidence of her faithfulness and submission to the will of God for the safe return of the spies sent by Joshua to gather information of the land.
She’s been so helpful, kind, truthful and protective of the spies. She needed to be reasonably sure that they shall do according to her request once the conquest of Jericho is accomplished, that she, and the entire members of her family that shall be with her on the day of the battle for Jericho conquest shall be spared and saved to enjoy the land with the people of God, so she brought them under the oath of the Lord for the affirmation of their promise to spare her and her entire household when the land of Jericho shall be conquered. NOW THEREFORE, I PRAY YOU, SWEAR TO ME BY THE LORD, SINCE I HAVE SHOWED YOU KINDNESS THAT YOU WILL ALSO SHEW KINDNESS UNTO MY FATHER’S HOUSE, AND GIVE ME A TRUE TOKEN: AND THAT YE WILL SAVE ALIVE MY FATHER, AND MY MOTHER, AND MY BRETHREN, AND MY SISTERS, AND ALL THAT THEY HAVE, AND DELIVER OUR LIVES FROM DEATH. And the men answered her, our life for yours, if ye utter not this our business. And it shall be, when the Lord hath given us the land that we will deal kindly and truly with thee. Then she let them down by a cord through the window: for her house was upon the town wall, and she dwelt upon the wall. And she said unto them, Get you to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you; and hide yourselves there three days, until the pursuers be returned: and afterward may ye go your way.
And the men said unto her, we will be blameless of this thine oath which thou hast made us swear. Behold, when we come into the land, thou shall bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou shall bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father’s household, home unto thee. And it shall be, that whosoever shall go out of the doors of thy house into the street, his blood shall be upon his head, and we will be guiltless: and whosoever shall be with thee in the house, his blood shall be on our head, if any hand be upon him. And if thou utter this business, then we will be quit of thine oath which thou hast made us to swear. And she said, according unto your words, so be it. And she sent them away, and they departed: and she bound the scarlet line in the window. Joshua 2: 12-21.
When I was ordained into the ministry, I made an oath to uphold the integrity of the truth, not to add nor to remove anything from the scriptures, but to speak and live as one that shall be judged by the law of liberty. To be faithful and submissive to the governing and authority body of the church according to the doctrines of Christ which is after godliness and contentment, never sell the truth for whatever reason. There are many such things taught and learnt during the period of ministerial formation which must be applied to make the calling sure, lest you break them and betray the vocation call.
There is a military oath spoken and signed into paper to obey the commander in chief. There is an oath made and signed by the commander in chief to uphold the constitution of his country. There is marriage oath spoken and signed into document to care, respect and be faithful to one another, if broken, could lead to the dissolution of the marriage. There is a company or business oath written and signed into document to manage the enterprise with loyalty and care, and will nor advance any personal interests at the expense of the enterprise or society; to understand and uphold, in letter and spirit, the laws and contracts governing your conduct and that of the enterprise.
To illustrate this again, a young woman, who is desperately looking for a husband, enters into a courtship with a man who has been in the ministry as a pastor and church planter. At the initial stage of their friendship, everything was so great, but after some few months, the mask begins to pull away as he notices certain unbecoming and unchristian attitudes which are not worthy of a pastor’s wife.
She, being a disputatious and insubordinate woman, arrogant, incorrigible, he asked for her pledge to learn in submission and obedience as the bible demands to facilitate their relationship in preparation for their future home and ministry before they enter into official marriage. 1Timothy 2:11-14.
If a man cannot rule his house, he cannot rule the house of God, the priority must be set right, but you can have both if you put your house into order. By the led of the spirit of God, an oath of the Lord in a written form was made by the soon to be husband, for both to reassure their commitments and sincerity of hearts before God towards one another, but in a moment of time, an incident which required correction to improve their relationship occurred, which finally unmasked the bride’s true nature of the wife to be because she will not be corrected, but love dominance and control, thus she called off the relationship by herself.
You cannot sign the written oath of marriage or any other oath to live and walk contrary. The oath of the Lord brings you into constant sober reflection in your thoughtful and careful engagements of your lifestyle, conversations and duties as you strive lawfully to please God who has chosen you to be a soldier. David says, I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments. 2 Timothy 2: 5. Psalms 119:106.
If we enter into the oath of the Lord, we are entering into a binding covenant with God who is a third party and witness. It is a declaration of total commitment and not otherwise. As long as our desire is to serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear, there is no better deal or opportunity than to come under the oath of the Lord with anyone in the Lord. It is a good token as we wholeheartedly embrace, accept and walk into the oath to abide therein — as the proof and manifestation of divine love. (2) It is the bold and unreserved confirmation of your professed love as you have nothing to fear and worry about in the testimony of your good conscience. (3) It brings you into another level of a deep relationship with God which locks the enemy out of your life as long as you keep yourself within or in the context of the oath. (4) It shows the expectations of what the heavens and he that sits on the throne expects of you – he that swears to his own hurt and changes not, he shall receive blessing from the Lord and salvation from the God of Jacob. (5) It is another height and level of spiritual relationship with the covenant keeping God just as Ruth the Moabites silenced Naomi from persuading her to stay behind as she moved forward to Bethlehem Judah with an oath: suffer me not to leave you, where you die, I shall die, where you go I will go; your people shall be my people; and your God shall be my God.
To be absolutely sure that we are dealing with the right person or people, we can demand for the oath of the Lord as Rehab the harlot asked and brought the two spies under the oath of the Lord, and as Jonathan made David swear by the Lord as well – this will make us to sit tight, think right and circumspect do the right thing. Shall he or she escape that break the covenant – No! Malachi 2:14.
Ruth sworn to Naomi and she kept to her words, despite challenges to the end. She says where you go, I will go, and your people shall be my people and your God my God. If we carefully, wholeheartedly and faithfully execute the oath of the Lord, and will not walk away rebelliously from it, great shall be the glory, fruitfulness and testimonies of the Lord. W shall be blessed indeed, even as the blessing of Christ to the world came through the lineage of Ruth.
The bible says that your yes should be yes, and your no should be no: you should not bind yourself with any other oath; you should not swear by heaven, for it is the throne of God: neither should you swear by the earth, it is his footstool, nor swear by your hair, for you cannot make a black or white hair, Any other oath outside the word of God is evil.
Some people will say ‘yes I will’ with their mouths, while it is ‘no I will not’ in their hearts, just to waste your time and deceive you for what they wanted. There are many deceitful and false brethren in the church today. If there is any serious business with them, we should bring them under the oath of the Lord when we are not sure and certain of their integrity, sincerity, faithfulness and steadfastness in our relationship and engagements with them, if they failed us, the Lord shall hold them responsible and judge them accordingly for any breach of contract in the oath of the Lord.
This is the oath of the Lord which must be done in truth and in spirit, as is is written that the David shall rejoice in God; every one that swears by him shall glory: but the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped. Psalms 63:11.
The Lord hates false oaths and shall avenge the covenant breakers and whosoever that swears to his/her own hurt but rebelliously changes. Zachariah 8:17. Psalms 15: 4b.