When God makes a vow, He swears by Himself and it will be done. Always.
Today’s reading: Jeremiah 51-52; Hebrews 6
14 The Lord of hosts has sworn by himself: Surely I will fill you with men, as many as locusts, and they shall raise the shout of victory over you.
15 “It is he who made the earth by his power, who established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding stretched out the heavens. Jeremiah 51:14-15
13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, 14 saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiply you.” 15 And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise. Hebrews 6:19-20
Just when it seemed like all was forever lost, Jeremiah delivered a message from God to the exiles from Judah in Babylon. Babylon, by God’s command, had desecrated and destroyed the temple in Jerusalem. All that was precious to Judah was in ruins. The kingdom was humiliated.
But God called them to turn their thoughts back to Him and back to Jerusalem. Babylon would pay for her devastation. Babylon was about to go into ruins. God had sworn by Himself to bring about this prophecy. This God is the One “who made the earth by his power…and by his understanding stretched out the heavens.” Nothing can stop Him. He does all that He decrees. He swears by Himself for there is nothing and no one greater.
The Hebrews also needed to be reminded of God’s faithfulness and trustworthiness as exemplified in His keeping of His covenant promises to Abraham which He swore by Himself. God’s covenant with Abraham was made unilaterally as a smoking pot and flaming torch passed between the severed carcasses of a heifer, a female goat, and a ram. [See Genesis 15]. Like the displaced Jews of the Babylonian captivity and the aging childless Abraham, the readers of the epistle were faced with tremendous pressure to discouragement and even to renounce their faith. They needed to remember that God proved true then, and He would prove true again.
If there is anything we can learn from the history of God’s dealings with His people, it is that He always fulfills His vows. He swears by Himself and He cannot fail. Do you wonder if God will complete His promises in your life? Do not doubt. You do not know how or when, but all that He vows to do, He will do. Trust Him.
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