A Solemn Oath

One Year Bible: November 9

Ezekiel 20:1-49

A Solemn Oath

“I swear by Almighty God that the evidence I shall give will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. I solemnly declare and affirm that the evidence I shall give will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.” (Legal Oath in a Court of Law)

Isn’t it interesting that before you can testify in a court of law in our judicial system you need to swear by Almighty God that you will speak the complete whole truth? Yet many people today do not believe in God, the counsel of His Word, or follow His teaching.

Today’s passage is about God’s Solemn Oath and Man’s Sin Progression.

Does anyone think that a person who lies, swindles others, steals, sells themself for their addictions, and murders will actually tell the whole truth because they swear to do so?

God’s people are asking today for counsel with God, but they don’t keep their word or obey anything He has asked them to do. So, the court has denied that right as God is the good and faithful judge. Therefore, that is His call.

By the way, who does God swear on? “As surely as I live, says the Sovereign LORD, I will tell you nothing!” (Ezekiel 20:3) Yes, the answer to that question would be, Himself.

You see, it doesn’t work for sinful man to come to God demanding answers to get his way without obeying the covenant and will of God. You can lay your hand on the cover of the Bible all you want, but the power comes from reading and obeying what is WITHIN.

Next, our passage goes through Sin’s Progression. It starts with rebellion. The people refused to listen, and would not get rid of their vile images. They defiled themselves because they were obsessed with their idols and would not forsake them. (20:8)

Now, we get an inside look at the reasons for God’s judgment and the many times that he delayed judgment to try and make a way. All of these ways were not accepted or implemented by His people. They snubbed their noses at the Sovereign God, but He still provided for them in the midst of their rebellion.

“Then I threatened to pour out my fury on them to satisfy my anger while they were still in Egypt. But I didn’t do it, for I acted to protect the honor of my name. I would not allow shame to be brought on my name among the surrounding nations who saw me reveal myself by bringing the Israelites out of Egypt. So I brought them out of Egypt and led them into the wilderness. There I gave them my decrees and regulations so they could find life by keeping them. And I gave them my Sabbath days of rest as a sign between them and me. It was to remind them that I am the Lord, who had set them apart to be holy.” (Ezekiel 20: 8-12)

God’s prescription for the progression of sin was fellowship with HIM.

How many times throughout the Old Testament have we seen God dealing with His children who have fallen into extreme sin?

Even David, a man after God’s own heart, betrayed God through adultery and murder. God disciplined him, forgave him, and restored him.

But, these rebellious, stiff-necked people have no repentance in them. Even after prophet after prophet brought them warnings, parables, and living signs.

Is it that they mentally can not understand the ways of God?

If so, then ‘Ignorance is bliss’ and they are living in a temporary state of that. They have certainly missed reading and living out God’s words. But, their problem seems far more connected to their hearts than just their heads.

How is God’s covenant different for us today than it was for the people trapped in this progression of sin in Old Testament times?

Hebrews 10 is a powerful chapter to explain this to us. It says, “THE OLD SYSTEM under the law of Moses was only a SHADOW, a DIM preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves. The sacrifices under that system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship. If they could have provided perfect cleansing, the sacrifices would have stopped, for the worshipers would have been purified once for all time, and their feelings of guilt would have disappeared.” (Hebrews 10:1-2)

This passage goes on to say that animal sacrifices would NEVER BE ENOUGH to take away the sins of God’s people. Under this covenant, the priests would stand and minister day in and day out offering sin offerings and burnt offerings. But then Jesus, the High Priest offered himself to God as the SINGLE SACRIFICE FOR SINS, all sins, for all time!

The one question I would want to ask God is, “Why was this sacrifice so long coming?”

Yet, scripture tells us that it came in “the fulness of time” through the Davidic lineage as planned. God is never late, but sometimes it may seem that way to us…

The result of this ONCE FOR ALL SACRIFICE, is that by God’s Sovereign Oath He will remember our sins no more when we are in Christ Jesus.

“I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” (Heb. 10:16)