04/10/12

The Lord swears by His Life

Ezekiel 17:16 - As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely in the place where the king dwelleth that made him king, whose oath he despised, and whose covenant he brake, even with him in the midst of Babylon he shall die.


No other book in the Bible gives a picture of the Heavens or the Beings of the spirit world (including that of Satan and the Beast) like the book of Ezekiel. This book is among my favourite books for it was through it I really understood the Spirit Kingdom of God.

In this book alone we find listed 16 of the 21 times the Lord has sworn by Himself in the whole Bible.

When we make a contract or any legal document which has great value, it is made on a stamp paper which carries a stamp of the government. In the legal agreement or contract the government is made a witness and since the government is not a person but a conceptual body we have an authorized representative of the government who signs or notarizes the agreement or contract.

In these cases where the Lord swears by Himself we find the Lord giving a very serious declaration between Him and the party concern to which His existence is a witness and the Prophet is the authorised notary. There is nothing above the fact that the Lord is God and He is from the beginning and it is by that He swears.

In today's message we see the seriousness that the Lord gives to the incident where the King representing His people breaks a solemn commitment made with the King of Babylon. The Lord swears by Himself that the Israelite King will die and when the Lord says that it does not mean just physical death.

The Lord is telling us today we call ourselves as His people and He being a keeper of His Word He expects us too, to also keep our word. He gets very angry when He sees His people breaking promises like they do not mean anything. This is not only with the people but especially those who represent the Lord and are called to lead His people. When they behave like the people of the world who do not mean what they say, then the Lord is telling them that they will also die like the people of this world.

We should remember the Lord values His Name very much and gets very angry when anyone tries to spoil or defame His Name, He will not spare such a person. All creation knows when the Lord has said it, it is done and that is what He expects from us. Let our YES be a YES and our NO be a NO. If we can not commit let us not promise anyone.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord, You are a keeper of your Word and You expect your children who represent You also be keepers of their word, especially the leaders You have set over them. Lord, help us to be honest in what we do and not to be man pleasers. Even if the Truth hurts let our yes be a yes and our no be a no. Give us the wisdom and discernment to deal with every situation and a heart that is true...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scriptures ]
Matthew 5:37 - But let your communication be, Yes, yes; No, no: for whatever is more than these comes of evil.

2 Corinthians 1:17-20
17 When I therefore was thus minded, did I use lightness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be yes yes, and no no?
18 But as God is true, our word toward you was not yes and no.
19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yes and no, but in him was yes.
20 For all the promises of God in him are yes, and in him Amen, to the glory of God by us.

James 5:12 - But above all things, my brothers, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yes be yes; and your no, no; lest you fall into condemnation.

Ezekiel 17:12-21
12 Say now to the rebellious house, Know ye not what these things mean? tell them, Behold, the king of Babylon is come to Jerusalem, and hath taken the king thereof, and the princes thereof, and led them with him to Babylon;
13 And hath taken of the king's seed, and made a covenant with him, and hath taken an oath of him: he hath also taken the mighty of the land:
14 That the kingdom might be base, that it might not lift itself up, but that by keeping of his covenant it might stand.
15 But he rebelled against him in sending his ambassadors into Egypt, that they might give him horses and much people. Shall he prosper? shall he escape that doeth such things? or shall he break the covenant, and be delivered?
16 As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely in the place where the king dwelleth that made him king, whose oath he despised, and whose covenant he brake, even with him in the midst of Babylon he shall die.
17 Neither shall Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company make for him in the war, by casting up mounts, and building forts, to cut off many persons:
18 Seeing he despised the oath by breaking the covenant, when, lo, he had given his hand, and hath done all these things, he shall not escape.
19 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; As I live, surely mine oath that he hath despised, and my covenant that he hath broken, even it will I recompense upon his own head.
20 And I will spread my net upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare, and I will bring him to Babylon, and will plead with him there for his trespass that he hath trespassed against me.
21 And all his fugitives with all his bands shall fall by the sword, and they that remain shall be scattered toward all winds: and ye shall know that I the LORD have spoken it.

The Word of God was given free to us, therefore we should also share it freely with others. (All rights are with God)