Jehovah Hears and Remembers

If you had to grade sins, what would be worse – murder and adultery or breaking a vow? Most of us would say that murder and adultery are worse sins than breaking a vow. Scripture, however, requires us to view a broken vow as a severe sin in God’s eyes.

In 2 Samuel 21, God sent a three-year famine upon Israel. He punished Israel for King Saul’s sin when he “put the Gibeonites to death” (2 Samuel 21:1). To understand why God was angry with Israel and why he waited until after Saul’s death to punish them for Saul’s sin, we must go back in time. We have to go back to the days of Joshua.

In Joshua 9, the Israelites had crossed the Jordan River and conquered Jericho and the city of Ai. They encountered people intentionally wearing worn-out clothing so the Israelites would think they’d traveled from a far country. Through deception, they convinced the Israelites to promise to spare their lives. After the Israelites made this promise, the Gibeonite people revealed they were inhabitants of Canaan. God forbade Israel to make covenants with inhabitants of Canaan, but they foolishly did so.

Do you think God would hold Israel accountable for a covenant the Gibeonites tricked them into making? Well, fast-forward a few decades to Saul’s reign. At some point, Saul killed some Gibeonite men, breaking the covenant Joshua and Israel made before. Then, during David’s reign, God determined to hold Israel accountable for breaking this vow. He did so with a three-year famine.

This incident teaches that God takes our oaths and vows very seriously. Recently, we considered the seriousness of wedding vows, but every other vow we take is equally as solemn in God’s eyes. In our denomination, the Presbyterian Church in America, members join the church by making vows before God and the congregation. To join the military, men and women swear an oath. Public servants of all types, from mayors to judges to police, all swear an oath, usually doing so in the name of God. Does he hear? Will he remember?

We began by comparing oath-breaking to murder and adultery. All three are violations of the Ten Commandments, but only one has a special punishment. Of all the commandments, God singled out oath-breaking by attaching a special punishment to it, saying, “for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain” (Exodus 20:7). Therefore, you must be cautious anytime you make a vow or swear an oath in God’s name. When you call him to witness, he hears and remembers every word.

One last note, as you consider how seriously God takes promises, remember to apply this to God’s promise. Our salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, and sealed by the Holy Spirit is based on God’s promise. And, because nothing is greater, he swore upon himself!