The Prayer of Faith, James 5:13-16

 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. ¹⁴ Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. ¹⁵ And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.  

 Is anyone among you suffering?
Let him pray.

Suffering: Greek kakopatheó.

Kakopatheó is used only two other times. Both, by Paul writing to Timothy about enduring suffering for the Gospel’s sake, even imprisonment. 2 Timothy 2:9, 4:5.

The Founding Fathers of the Church were no strangers to suffering, and they did not run from it. They faced it, embraced it.

James opened this book saying, “Count it all joy when you fall into various trials...” James 1:2.

Jesus said, “In this world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33.

Acts 14:22 tells us “through much tribulation we enter the Kingdom of God.”

1 Peter 4:12, says “think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you.”

So, please do not tell anyone: “Just receive Jesus and all your troubles will fade away.”  

Instead say, “BUCKLE UP. If you do this right, you’re going to suffer, you’ll have sleepless nights, folks will hate you, friends will forsake you... and you will experience the greatest joy, and deepest peace, and most overwhelming love, above and beyond anything you could ever ask or think. It’ll be the ride of your life, and it will last forever.”   

Is anyone among you suffering?

Kakopatheó: the definition is to suffer hardship, to endure affliction.

The word literally refers to any type of trouble other than sickness.

We all have troubles.

Family troubles. Financial troubles. Friendship troubles.

We’re troubled over our loved ones not knowing Jesus.

We’re troubled over the condition of our nation.

The roof leaks, the a/c breaks down, and the car blows up.

The month lasts longer than the money.

We face all these troubles and think we need to fix them.

I need to tell them about Jesus.

I need to write my congressman.

I need to run for congress.

I need to find a mechanic.

I need to get a job or a loan, or...

Maybe. Eventually.

But first we need to do what our text says: Let him pray.

No matter the trouble, the first step is always the same: pray.

Do we?

Be honest.

Or do we do everything else, then say, “Well there’s nothing left to do but pray.”

Psalm 50:15
Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.

In the day of trouble... not the day after.

Jesus tells us in this world we will have trouble, it’s unavoidable.

But that does NOT mean we just sit back and let it happen.

Ephesians 5:15-20

15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,

16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; (that’s a picture of my wife, Roxy)

20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

We walk circumspectly, preprayered, avoiding many snares and troubles.

Preprayered = preventative maintenance prayers.

If preprayered, you often see signs of trouble before it arrives, and you head it off at the pass before it manifests.

My old cowboy friend from Oklahoma used to call preventative maintenance:

"Fixin' yer fence fir th' cows git out"

Philippians 4:6-7
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

At the first sign of trouble, the moment anything goes sideways. Don’t panic. Pray.

Before talking to anybody, talk to Jesus.

And then, listen.

Prayer is communication.

Communication goes both ways.

No matter what the trouble is, Jesus has the answer.

Talk.

Listen.

Obey. (NOTE: In the heat of trouble there are multiple conflicting voices. Be sure to hear and heed only The Voice of the Lord. *More on how to do that, in a moment.)

Proverbs 19:2-3, Message Bible:
Ignorant zeal is worthless; haste makes waste. People ruin their lives by their own stupidity, so why does God always get blamed?

Dougism 101: Take your time, you’ll get there faster.

Is anyone cheerful?

Let him sing psalms.

When suffering we pray.

When cheerful we praise.

In whatever situation we are in, we talk with the Lord.

It’s a covenant relationship.

For better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, we walk with the Lord is an ongoing, ever growing, life giving, conversation, till death do us unite.

 ¹⁴ Is anyone among you sick?

Let him call for the elders of the Church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.

Is anyone suffering? Pray.

Is anyone cheerful? Praise.

Is anyone sick? Phone a friend.

Our relationship with the Lord is personal and powerful, but not private.

We need each other.

So, God puts us in family.

Hebrews 10:25, forsake not meeting together.

Acts 2:46, 5:42, the early Church met daily, breaking bread, with gladness of heart, in one accord, sharing the Love of Jesus.

That is the prototype of the Church.

We are not meant to be alone.

God looked at Adam and said, “It’s not good for man to be alone.”

So, He created family.

Now, when we are born again, He puts us in family.

Church family.

The Word the Lord uses for Church is Ekklésia. A group of people called out to live out the Word of God. To lovingly understand and explain, and where appropriate, enforce, the Word of God. It’s all about the people, not the steeple.

According to Jesus, our family, is not flesh and blood relation, but spiritual, those who do His will. Matthew 12:50-51.

Is anyone sick? Call the elders of your family, Church, Ekklésia.

Elder, literally means, Floridian, just kidding. It means, elder, older.

However, in context it means a seasoned leader in your Church.

1 Timothy 3:6 teaches that a leader must be, seasoned. In other words, not a novice, not a newbie, in faith, lest he become proud and fall into the same sin as the devil.

So, if sick, call the weathered warriors of your family (Ekklésia).

They do nothing new, but the same powerful thing.

PRAY.

Are we picking up a pattern here?

If suffering pray.

Cheerful, praise.

Sick, call the elders and... pray.

Why is this different? Why call somebody? Why not just pray like when we face any other kind of suffering (Kakopatheó)?

Great question.

You are a spirit, you have a soul, and you live in a body.

Your spirit is who you are, created in the image of God.

Your soul is your mind, will, and emotions.

Your body is your earth suit to walk through this earth.

Your earth suit is under the curse of the earth. It grows old, gets damaged and sick, which affects, and infects, your soul.

So when you, are wounded in body and soul, the Lord says it’s not good for you to be alone, phone a friend.

There are no lone ranger, Christians.

You were not born with bootstraps to pull yourself up.

You were born (again) into family (Ekklésia), to help you, hold you, nurture you, nurse you, and carry you, if need be, until you are healthy and strong and doing the same for others. 2 Timothy 2:2, Ephesians 4:11-16, Romans 12:6-8.

So, dear Saint, when you’re sick, call the elders and they will pray, anointing with oil in the name of the Lord.

The oil represents the Presence and Power of the Holy Spirit.

So, we remember, it is not the people, not the steeple, not even, the oil; but by My Spirit says the Lord. Zechariah 4:6.

Like the waters of Baptism. It is not the water, not the baptizer. It’s the Spirit of God in the heart of the baptized.

Like marriage. It’s not the gown, tux, rings, ceremony, or cake. It’s the Love in the hearts of the bride and groom.   

 ¹⁵ And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

We do our part.

Suffering – pray.

Cheerful – praise.

Sick – ask for prayer.

The elders pray, the prayer of faith.

God does His part, save, raise, and forgive.

But that does not mean this beautiful, powerful verse is a cookie cutter formula.

You will not find “The Prayer of Faith” written anywhere in Scripture. The Lord left it out on purpose. Just like “The Sinner’s Prayer” is nowhere in Scripture. These are prayers of faith from the heart, not memorized words recited from the head.

Notice: prayer of faith. Not prayer of emotion, passion, eloquence, length... it may be those things, but if it is not of faith, it is just, hot air.

The prayer of faith springs from hearing Jesus. Romans 10:17. Faith comes by hearing and hearing the Word of Christ.

Faith comes by hearing, but not just hearing anything, but specifically faith comes by hearing the Word (rhema, spoken Word) of Christ.

* This is the part we previously said we would get to in a moment.

The best way to hear the Word is to know the Word.

Jesus says, “My sheep know My voice, and a stranger’s voice they will not follow.” John 10:1-5, 8,14,16,27.

So, as we’re walking with the Lord in our ongoing, ever growing, life giving, conversation, we’re also feasting upon His Word (Mt. 4:4), studying to show ourselves approved, rightly dividing His Word of Truth (2 Tim. 2:15), able to hear and discern His Voice (Hebrews 4:12).

So, when you, the elder, receive a call at 3 a.m. from someone saying, “I’m sick, please pray.” You do not need to say, call back next week after I build my faith muscles. No. You simply, immediately, call Jesus. Then, open your mouth, by faith, and let the abundance of your heart speak (Luke 6:45). Much to your sleepy surprise, you will hear, the prayer of faith, laced with words of Jesus, and the will of Jesus, custom made to save the wounded, sick and weary, soul.

Next, notice the Holy Spirit through James says, save the sick. He does not specifically say, “heal” the sick.

The word for save, is sózó. It’s used 108 times. It means: to save, to rescue, to deliver, to heal, to preserve.

Interestingly, the word sózó comes from the word, sōs? Like, SOS, save our ship.

The first time sózó is used is when the angel is talking to Joseph about Mary and Baby Jesus and says: “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save (sózó) His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21.

The next time is when the disciples are in a boat, in a storm, Jesus is sleeping, they are freaking, screaming, waking Jesus saying: “Lord, save us!...” Matthew 8:24-25.

But then in the next chapter, Matthew 9:21, sózó is used again, only this time it refers to physically healing the woman with the issue of blood. She said, “If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well. (sózó).” As you know, she touched, and was oh so sózó (healed), in that instant.

That’s how it goes, customized sózó, whether body, soul or spirit, the Son of Man came to seek and to save (sózó) that which was lost. Which is what He said regarding the salvation of Zacchaeus, in Luke 19:10.

It’s no accident that the word for “sick” in this verse is not the same as the one in verse 14. This one, kamnó, doesn’t mean sick, as in having the flu, but sick as in being weary to the point of sick from exhaustion.

It’s only used one other time.

Hebrews 12:2-3. Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary (kamnó) and discouraged in your souls.

The Lord is showing us the prayer of faith, isn’t just for healing bodies, but ultimately, primarily, for saving sick souls.

In summary:

The sick call, the Church prays, the Lord saves and raises and it all points to His grand plan and purpose, the forgiveness of sin.

Which is how our text ends:

And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

It is all fueled by, led by, fulfilled by... PRAYER.

Let’s pray.

Lord Jesus, thank You for showing us You love us, by offering us the privilege of prayer. Not just to talk, but to hear. Knowing You’re listening makes every suffering easier. When we hear, help us obey. As we obey, help us reflect Your Goodness, which leads to repentance, so of all those You’ve given us, none are lost.

Thank You.

We love You, forever.

Amen.

Prayer Requests:

Call or text: 612-554-2522

Email: pray4measap@aol.com

Facebook: Church at WPV

Books: amazon.com/author/dougspurling

Watch online:

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This was feed for you to read. Now it’s Seed for you to sow.

Thank you for sharing. 

 

Dad's Are a Big Deal

What kind of car did dad pick out to drive the family to Church?

Honda, because he read in Acts 2:1, they were all in one accord.

Why did grandpa keep his eyes open when he prayed.

Because the Bible says, “Watch and pray” Mt. 26:41.

Where do you keep all your dad jokes?

In the dadabase of course.

Okay, enough of the obligatory Father’s Day dad jokes.

If you want to find a good parking spot and the best seat in the House of God, Father’s Day is the best day to go to Church.

Statistics say, Father’s Day, is the least attended Church service all year.

Mother’s Day, on the other hand, is one of the most attended services all year, only behind Christmas and Easter.

Which is interesting because statistics show:

If a father attends Church regularly, regardless of what the mother does, between 66-75% of their children attend Church as adults.

If a father does not go to Church, even if his wife does, only 2% (1 child in 50) will become a regular worshiper as adults.

Another study, focused on Sunday School, found similar results on the impact of fathers:

• When both parents attend Bible study in addition to the Sunday service, 72% of their children attend Sunday school when grown.
• When only the father attends Sunday school, 55% of the children attend when grown.
• When only the mother attends Sunday school, 15% of the children attend when grown.
• When neither parent attends Sunday school, only 6% of the children attend when grown.

Proverbs 22:6

Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.

Charles Spurgeon said it like this: Train up a child in the way he should go—but be sure you go that way yourself.

Another survey found that if a child is the first person in a household to become a Christian, there is a 3.5% probability everyone else in the household will follow. If the mother is the first to become a Christian, there is a 17% probability everyone else in the household will follow. However, when the father is first, there is a 93% probability everyone else in the household will follow. 

90% of homeless, and run away children, come from fatherless homes.

85% of behavioral disorders in children are from fatherless homes.

63% of youth suicides are from fatherless homes.

71% of teen pregnancies are from fatherless homes.

85% of youth in prison are from fatherless homes.

Children from fatherless homes are:

Four times more likely to live in poverty.

Ten times more likely to use drugs.

14 times more likely to commit rape.

32 times more likely to run away.

Dad’s, don’t get a big head, but you’re a big deal.

You make a big difference, for better or worse, as evidenced by statistics.

You’re made in the image of God, like everybody, but becoming a father, is the biggest promotion of your life.

God created family. He set it up with the father as the head. (1 Corinthians 11:3, Ephesians 5:23, 6:4, 1 Timothy 3:4-5).

The job of a father is to reflect The Father.

For God so loved the world that He gave... John 3:16.

Ephesians 5:25. Husbands love your wives as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself...

Characteristics of a father: loving, giving, selfless. A giver, not a taker. A fountain, not a drain. John 4:14, 7:38.

Being a father bears the responsibility of allowing The Father to flow through you as, provider, protector, leader, teacher, helper, encourager, and friend. (Psalm 127, Proverbs 13:22, 1 Tim. 3:4-5, 5:8, Eph. 6:4).

A large part of being a father, is showing up.

It’s a big job.

But you can handle it because God can.

Philippians 2:13
For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Galatians 2:20
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless, I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life I live in the flesh I live by faith of the Son of God, who loves me, and gave Himself for me.

The roles change quickly as we grow older.

Don’t blink, they grow fast.

Grandpas, you are a lighthouse.

You’re not retired from fatherhood you’re promoted to a father of fathers.  

The kids and grandkids are living life, out there having fun in the sun, dancing high from wave to wave.

You’re boring like a tree, rooted, grounded, planted. Just steadfast, stable, standing, on the shore. Not going anywhere. Easy to ignore.

They’re out having fun, chasing dreams, living large and laughing loud, sailing carefree from shore to shore. (Just like you used to do).

But night falls, storms rise, waves they once danced with, threaten to sink them. They have no idea what to do or which way to turn.

It’s then, like the light of a lighthouse, through the wind and the rain and the waves, your prayers pierce the darkness, your words finally hit home, and they lift their eyes, and see the Light, and find their way Home.

STAND Grandpa.

SHINE on Papa.

Let your light so shine that they see and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16.

Don’t you dare think you’re out of the fight.

If you’re still breathing, God’s got a reason.

Grab grandma’s hand if you can and pray.

Even if you’ve never done it, it’s not too late. Start today.

You have a calling. You have a position.

Your family, your neighborhood, your Church, your nation, need you.  

Rise! Shine!

Be that shining beacon God’s called you to be.

Don’t worry about your weakness. Give the Father your past, mistakes, regrets, failures, wasted years.

Give it all to Him and watch how it turns it into wisdom from above.

It’s not too late for you to finish strong and finish well.

Yeah Doug, easier said than done. I’ve burned too many bridges with my kids. Those relationships are too far gone.

Doesn’t matter. Don’t try to figure it out. That’s your Father’s job.

If you’re hearing this message God is offering you a mission.

Everybody needs a father.

Be one.

Trust Him for Divine Direction and Connection.

Knowing nothing is impossible with God.

He is a Father to the fatherless, a defender of widows and sets the lonely in families. Psalm 68:5-6b.

Speaking of Divine Direction and Connection.

Deland McCullough was adopted as a baby, into a two-parent home, but his adoptive father left when he was only two.

So, Deland was raised by a single mom, in Youngstown Ohio.

After a knee injury ended Sherman Smith’s NFL playing career, he wound up coaching at Miami University (Oxford Ohio).

He recruited 17-year-old Deland McCullough from high school to join Miami U as a running back.

Coach Sherman took Deland under his wing and became more than a coach; he became a mentor, a father figure, a friend.   

That’s why it was so sad when Coach Sherman moved away for another coaching position, nevertheless, they kept in touch.

Deland stayed the course and had a successful football career at Miami University, then went on to the pros, until, like Sherman, a knee injury ended his playing career. He also went into coaching. Currently he’s running back coach for Oklahoma Sooners.  

In 2017, when Deland was 44, he connected with his birth mother. He found out she was only 16 years old when she had him and gave him up for adoption so he could have a better life.

When he asked about his dad, she said he was someone she dated a little while in high school, but he never found out she was pregnant. His name was Sherman Smith.

The very same Coach Sherman Smith that had been more than a coach to Deland, he was a mentor, father figure and friend.

WOW!

He is a Father to the fatherless, a defender of widows and sets the lonely in families. Psalm 68:5-6b

Deland and Sherman, knew that God orchestrated their Divine connection, but they had a DNA test done, just for documentation. It was a 99.9% match.

Over the years Deland had gone to Coach Sherman’s multiple times, but then he went for the first time, to Dad Sherman’s.

When Deland’s dad, opened the door, he simply smiled, invited him in, and said the two words Deland longed his whole life to hear from his dad...

“My son.”

1 John 3:1
Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!

Dear Fathers, we all have the same top line on our family tree.

Adam was the son of God. Luke 3:38.

You have a Good Good Father.

Your Source is Him.

Thus, you lack nothing.

In Him, you have everything you need for life and Godliness. (2 Peter 1:3).

You have a calling, a position, a mission.

Seek Him with all you’ve got.

Stay the course, do not quit, and you will not fail. (Galatians 6:9).

Fathers, rise. Allow the Father and Fountain of Living Waters flow through you. (John 4:14, 7:38).

Father of fathers, shine. Let the Father of Lights shine through you. (Matthew 5:16).

Fathers, stand united, under the one banner of our Father, encourage, and pray and hold each other accountable.

Let’s pray.  

Heavenly Father, thank You for the honor of being Your children. We love and honor You. Please flow through us, and shine through us, so all those You’ve given us, will be drawn to You and hear You say, “My child, well done.”

Thank You.

We love You, forever.

Amen.

Prayer Requests:

Call or text: 612-554-2522

Email: pray4measap@aol.com

Facebook: Church at WPV

Books: amazon.com/author/dougspurling

Watch online:

Facebook: Dad’s Are a Big Deal

You Tube: Dad’s Are a Big Deal

This was feed for you to read. Now it’s Seed for you to sow.

Thank you for sharing. 

 

Let Your Yes Be Yes, James 5:12

James 5:12
But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your “Yes” be “Yes,” and your “No,” “No,” lest you fall into judgment.

But above all...

Think about who is saying this.

James opens his epistle by revealing his heart. He considers it the greatest honor to just be known as a bondservant to his older Brother.

James was half-brother of Jesus (same mom, different Father).

He grew up with Jesus. He heard Him talk about normal stuff, like carpentry, and chores, whose turn it was to fetch the water.

James watched the Omniscient, ask questions, learn stuff. Heb. 5:8.

At first James (and his family) couldn’t believe that Jesus was the Messiah.

They watched Him grow up, without ever sinning. Never disrespected mom and dad. Never coveted greedily or selfishly. Never lied. Never stole. Never said a sinful word.

He was tempted but never yielded.

Always honored His Father.

Even still, the family didn’t believe Jesus was the Messiah, the Anointed One, the One the prophets pointed to, the One they prayed for, longed for, believed for...

The sin of familiarity is strong.

John 7:5, even His own brothers didn’t believe.

Mark 3:20-21, they thought He was out of His mind.

However, after He died, sinlessly and rose victoriously, then, everything changed. Then they believed.

So don’t give up, don’t get discouraged, keep on believing, and praying and Seed planting. The Seeds you plant will keep growing, blooming, even after you’re gone.

1 Corinthians 15:7, after His resurrection, He appeared to James. And to all of them for 40 days providing many undeniable proofs.

Acts 1:14, His mother and brothers were among those in one accord in the Upper Room who were all filled with His Holy Spirit.

James became leader of the Church. Gal. 2:9, Acts 12:17, 15:19.

James and his brother Jude both wrote a book of the New Testament.

This James, who wrote this book, who was nicknamed, Ol’ Camel Knees, because his powerful prayer life could be seen in his calloused knees.

This James, wrapping up his epistle, says:

But above all...

Above all what?

Everything the Holy Spirit through James said up to this point.

James 1

2-3 Count it all joy when you fall into various trials..

Let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing

⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, ⁶ ...in faith 

⁹ Let the lowly glory, ¹⁰ and the rich be humble

12-15 Blessed is he who endures temptation...

Temptation never comes from God, but by one’s own lusts from within.

16-18 Every good and perfect gift comes from the Father of Lights

19-20 Be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.

21 Lay aside filthiness, receive with meekness the implanted Word.

22-25, Be doers of the Word not hearers only

26, The religion of anyone who does not bridle their tongue is useless. 

James 2

1-9 If you show partiality, you commit sin.

10-12 He who keeps all the law, but one, is guilty of all.

13, Mercy triumphs over judgement.

14-26, As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead.

James 3

2 Anyone, who does not stumble in word is able to bridle the whole body.

3-6, As bits for horses and rudders for ships, the tongue turns great things.

 Like a spark, the tongue can ignite, a world of iniquity.

7-12, No man can tame the tongue, it’s unruly, full of poison, spewing blessing and cursing. These things ought not so to be.

13 Who is wise and understanding? Show it by good conduct in the meekness of wisdom.

18 The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

James 4

2...You have not because you ask not. ³ You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may consume it upon your lusts.

4...Whoever wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

6...“God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

7 Submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee.

8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.

10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

11 Do not speak evil of one another.

13-16, Do not say, “We shall go here or there and do this or that” all such boasting is evil. Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”

17 Him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

James 5

7 Be patient like a farmer.

8 ...Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

9 Do not grumble against one another, lest you be condemned.

There. That's the highlights of James. And, after saying all that, James says, “But above all...

The Holy Spirit through James repeatedly addressed the power of the tongue.

He will conclude this chapter and book in verses 13-20 by repeating seven times the most powerful use of the tongue and its glorious Eternal Outcome.

But first, before that, above all, He must establish one final guardrail:

But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your “Yes” be “Yes,” and your “No,” “No,” lest you fall into judgment.

James heard this from his Lord, his Savior, his half-brother:

Jesus,

Matthew 5:33-37

³³ “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ ³⁴ But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; ³⁵ nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. ³⁶ Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. ³⁷ But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.

There’s many Old Testament Scriptures referring to what Jesus is talking about, but here’s a couple:

Numbers 30:2. If a man makes a vow to the Lord, or swears an oath to bind himself by some agreement, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.

Deuteronomy 23:23. That which has gone from your lips you shall keep and perform, for you voluntarily vowed to the Lord your God what you have promised with your mouth.

But now, Jesus, and James, say don’t swear at all, don’t make oaths, just be true to your word. Let your let your “Yes” be “Yes,” and your “No,” “No,”.

Lest you fall into judgment.

For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.

Swearing an oath is a powerful and dangerous thing. Jesus, and James, command we avoid it altogether.

Now, let’s look at three examples to confirm the wisdom of their words:

Zedekiah’s broken oath

Joshua’s mistaken oath

Jephthah’s foolish oath

This past Sunday we looked at an example of this in Ezekiel 17.

Zedekiah’s broken oath

Ezekiel 17

Because of Judah’s ongoing idolatry, God allowed Babylon to conquer them.

King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon made a covenant with Zedekiah and set him as king of Judah.

Zedekiah swore an oath by God to abide by the terms of the covenant. But he broke the covenant and tried to get Egypt to help him break the yoke of Babylon.

(Side note: We don’t have time to go into detail now, but this is an eerie foreshadowing of the oaths being sworn with Iran).

So, God said about Zedekiah:

Will he prosper? Will he who does such things escape? Can he break a covenant and still be delivered?  Ezekiel 17:15.

The questions were rhetorical.

The answers were obvious.

The Lord takes oaths seriously, and personal, saying: Since Zedekiah despised My oath, and My covenant and committed treason against Me, his men will be killed, and he will die in captivity in Babylon. Ezekiel 17:16-21.

Zedekiah and his men tried to escape during the final siege in 586 BC, but they were caught and his men were killed. Zedekiah’s sons were slain before his eyes, then his eyes were taken and he was led in chains to Babylon where he remained captive until the day he died. Just as the Lord had said.  

2 Chronicles 36:12-13. But Zedekiah did what was evil in the sight of the LORD his God, and he refused to humble himself when the prophet Jeremiah spoke to him directly from the LORD. He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, even though he had taken an oath of loyalty in God’s name. Zedekiah was a hard and stubborn man, refusing to turn to the LORD, the God of Israel.

Zedekiah’s broken oath caused him to fall into judgement

If we say we’ll pray, but don’t, are we breaking an oath? Are we a no show for the appointment we said we’d have with God?  

Joshua’s mistaken oath

Joshua 9:10-27

2 Samual 21

Go back about 800 years from Zedekiah to around 1,400 BC and meet the Gibeonites.

Joshua was leading Israel victoriously through the promise land. They had conquered Jericho and Ai, and the next target was likely Gibeon.

So, Gibeon dressed up in old clothes and took old moldy bread and wineskins and went to Joshua looking worn and weary and humble.

They said they were from a land far, far, away, and when they heard of how God was with Israel, they traveled all this way just to say they wanted to be their servants, their allies.

So, without asking counsel of the Lord, they believed them and made a covenant with them and the rulers of Israel swore an oath to the Gibeonites.

Then, three days later they discovered that the Gibeonites deceived them.

They couldn’t destroy them because of the oath. So, they made them their servants. The Gibeonites honored the arrangement.

But when five kings in the area heard about Gibeon joining Joshua, they joined forces against them.  

Gibeon sent word to Joshua. Hurry come and save your servants!

So, Joshua and his men, true to their oath, went to fight for, those they would be fighting against, had it not been for being tricked.

But God honored their integrity and told Joshua, not to be afraid, for He would fight for them.

After having marched all night, they routed the enemy, chased them and killed them with a great slaughter. As the five kings armies fled, the Lord cast large hailstones from heaven and more died by the hailstones than the sword.

Then Joshua said,

“Sun, stand still over Gibeon;
And Moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.”
¹³ So the sun stood still,
And the moon stopped,
Till the people had revenge
Upon their enemies.

Is this not written in the Book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day. ¹⁴ And there has been no day like that, before it or after it, that the Lord heeded the voice of a man; for the Lord fought for Israel.

Joshua 10:12-14..

God dropped hail bombs and stopped the sun, to honor those who honored their word.

Even though Israel didn’t seek the Lord and mistakenly entered covenant with the Gibeonites, they were still bound by their oath.

Even several generations later, God remembered and considered this covenant still valid.

2 Samuel 21:

When David was king there was severe famine in the land.

The Lord said it was because when King Saul was alive, he broke the Gibeonite covenant by slaughtering many of them.

To end the famine, King David asked the Gibeonites what he could do for them.

They asked for the execution of seven of Saul's male descendants.

Their request was granted.

The famine ended.

The covenant was restored and the Gibeonites, eventually helped King Solomon build the temple and aided Nehemiah in rebuilding Jerusalem's walls after the Babylonian exile.

Then, finally, there’s Jephthah.

Jephthah’s foolish oath

Judges 11:30-40

Jephtha was the son of a prostitute. His brothers disowned him because of it.

But God looks on the heart and calls him a mighty man of valor. Judges 11:1.

While on his way to battle Israel’s enemies, the Ammonites, he made a vow to the Lord, and said: If You will deliver the people of Ammon into my hands, then whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace, shall be the Lord’s, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering. Judges 11:30-31.

Jephtha defeated the Ammonites with a very great slaughter. Judges 11:32-33.

When Jephtha returned home, his daughter, his only child, ran out to meet him with singing and dancing.

Jephthah was broken. He told her his vow and said, I have given my word to the Lord, and I cannot go back on it.  Judges 11:34-35.

His amazing daughter said: My father, if you have given your word to the Lord, do to me according to what has gone out of your mouth...” Then, she asked for two months to wander the mountains with her friends and bewail her virginity. Judges 11:36-37.

So, she went and bewailed her virginity and returned after two months, and he carried out his vow. She knew no man. Judges 11:38-39.

Wait! Did Jephthah offer his own daughter as a sacrifice to God?

That question is highly debated, but wouldn’t be, if we follow some basic rules of Biblical interpretation.

1.    Big picture. The best commentary on the Bible is the Bible.

2.    Context.

3.    Original text. It was Divinely inspired, not our multiple English translations.

4.    Character of God.

Scripture says Jephthah’s daughter bewailed her virginity, not her death, not her shortened life. When she returned Jephthah carried out his vow and she never knew a man. She never got married, she never got pregnant, she never had children to carry her father’s legacy. Judges 11:39.

The Bible calls Jephthah a man of valor in Judges 11:1, and then, he is honored in the New Testament Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11:32, alongside Sampson, David and Samuel.  

If Jephthah killed his own daughter, he should’ve been stoned to death, not honored, according to the Law of Moses which explicitly forbids offering human sacrifices. Leviticus 18:21, 20:2, Deuteronomy 12;31.

The Character of God takes no pleasure in sacrifices or burnt offerings (Psalm 51:6) or in death, not even the wicked. Ezekiel 33:11.

The original text brings clarity that the English translations do not give.

Judges 11:31 ...whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the people of Ammon, shall surely be the Lord’s, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering.

“and I will offer it up” begins with the Hebrew letter, Vav.

וְהַעֲלִיתִ֖הוּ

(wə·ha·‘ă·lî·ṯi·hū)

and I will offer it up

Vav

Vav at the beginning of a word is a conjunction like “and” however it can also mean, “or”, depending on context.

Context is king in Biblical interpretation and considering the whole context of the Word of God, Jephthah vowed that whatever or whomever (the original word could mean either) came out of his house first would be the Lord’s or offered up as a burnt offering.

Hope that answers your question.

Now, let’s wrap up our Bible Study.

Zedekiah broke the oath that was within God’s will.

However, Joshua, honored the oath that was made by mistake, and Jephthah fulfilled his oath, even though it was made foolishly.

The Lord condemned double minded Zedekiah, but honored Joshua and Jephthah who swore to their own hurt and did not change. Psalm 15:1-4.

Jesus tells us out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

If Jesus is abundantly in our heart, there’s no need to overcompensate with oaths.

Let’s pray.

Lord Jesus, thank You for these examples showing why making oaths is not a great idea. Please help us to be people of Your Word, speaking Truth in Love, letting our yes be yes and our no, no. Use us to be soul winners and disciple makers.

Thank You.

We love You, forever.

Amen.

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