Nehemiah 10:28-29 - Oaths and Vows in Worship

Nehemiah 10:28-29 - Now the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the temple servants and all those who had separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the law of God, their wives, their sons and their daughters, all those who had knowledge and understanding, are joining with their kinsmen, their nobles, and are taking on themselves a curse and an oath to walk in God’s law, which was given through Moses, God’s servant, and to keep and to observe all the commandments of God our Lord, and His ordinances and His statutes;

Message: Oaths and Vows in Worship

Time: Nehemiah is the author and written from a first-person perspective. We meet him as an adult serving in the Persian royal court as the personal cupbearer to King Artaxerxes. It opens in the Persian city of Susa in the year 444 BC and concludes around 430 BC. Most of the book centers on events in Jerusalem. He was a layman not a priest and his life is a study on leadership. He gave God the credit for his successes.

What the Lord is Saying: What are oaths and vows and what place do they hold today in worship? This is a subject I have not ever considered. The Westminster Confession of Faith 21:5 mentions oaths and vows being a part of special occasions. The proof texts are:

Deuteronomy 6:13 Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.

Nehemiah 10:29 They clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God’s law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord our Lord, and his judgments and his statutes;

Isaiah 19:21 And the Lord shall be known to Egypt,

And the Egyptians shall know the Lord in that day,

And shall do sacrifice and oblation;

Yea, they shall vow a vow unto the Lord, and perform it.

Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 4 When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. 5 Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.

And then one more scripture from Jesus:

Matthew 5:33-37 “Again, you have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not make false vows, but shall fulfill your vows to the Lord.’ 34 But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’; anything beyond these is of evil.

James 5:12 But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you may not fall under judgment.

As I look at these verses above, Deuteronomy 6:13 says to "swear by his name." Nehemiah 10:29 says "they entered in an oath." Isaiah 19:21 says "they shall vow a vow unto the Lord." Ecclesiastes 5:4 mentions "when you vow a vow unto God." But in Jesus' words he says to not make an oath at all. And James agrees maybe by saying do not swear no make an oath. 

Swear

I think to swear by his name it simply means to proclaim God as the only true God; believing in Him is the only way. Paul quotes in Romans 14:11 "that every tongue shall confess" from Isaiah 45:23 -- "Unto me every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall swear." Thus, to swear is to confess. This type of vow seems proper and of good practice. 

Oaths

In these verses in Nehemiah 10:28-29 is the simple admonition that all the people that have chosen to live by the Law of God or who have separated themselves from the way of the world, it is these individuals that make an oath to walk in His law - to keep it and observe all that is written - but if one does not then they take on all the curses that are mentioned in this book of the law. Thus, on one hand is a promise to keep the law and conversely a curse if one breaks it. 

The only oath that I think is prevalent in society is the oath one takes when testifying in a court. In that context, it is a statement of fact or promise that the words one speaks will be true. At that time, it is interesting that one will place their hand on the Bible. It is not clear to me why the Bible is used. It seems to mean that if words are not true, then I have no defense. By placing a hand on the Bible I am stating that the Bible is true. 

Yet, Jesus says in Matthew 5:34 to make no oath at all. Is Jesus talking about all oaths here? He seems to be upping the ante as he often has been doing in these verses in Matthew 5, by looking at a principle from the law and then taking it to a new level. And yet in reading the passage, his statement does not end with "make no oath at all" but he clarifies that no oath should occur in the name of heaven or earth. 

There seems to be two views about what Jesus is saying here. Tabletalk and maybe other reformed thinkers don't think Jesus is outlawing all oaths. They think that Jesus is speaking to a specific issue among Jews that oaths that are sworn by anything other than the name of God do not have to be fulfilled. Jesus was therefore challenging the notion that one could get of keeping an oath if it was voiced by swearing upon something other than God. And so he is saying that as long as the oath is lawful it should be followed. And he ties this all up by saying, let your yes be yes and your no be no. By Jesus saying do not make an oath he is saying do not make light oaths that have no intention really of being kept. Thus, the ante that he is upping here is that all oaths, whether in God's name or not should be valid promises. The other view on this verse is that Jesus was in fact stating to never make an oath. But from the standpoint of what is mentioned elsewhere regarding the way he upped the ante on keeping commandments like adultery and murder it seems that this is also what he is doing here instead of repealing Moses' law.  

This line of thinking would be correct for Paul in Acts states that he was keeping a vow. Acts 18:18 -- Paul, having remained many days longer, took leave of the brethren and put out to sea for Syria, and with him were Priscilla and Aquila. In Cenchrea he had his hair cut, for he was keeping a vow.

I suppose in this lesson I am stuck on these words -- oaths, vows and swearing. Perhaps I am not looking at the principle which seems to be that we need to be people of our word, but also we need to be making promises to God or commitments. Maybe this is what is kind of missing in our lives. I think a few songs by DeGarmo and Key on this idea. One song was called Man of His Word -- the lyrics go:

Never a syllable wasted
Each and every promise was true
Every commandment He spoke of
He proceeded to do

He was a Man of His word

Blessed is the man who swears to his own hurt
Do what you say be a man of your word

Interesting words there that Jesus kept his promises and are we keeping our promise. Am I making promises to act or be a certain way? Another song was the Pledge. 

It's a world of choices, patterned to confuse
Distracting little voices whisper what to do
Searching for the pieces, one step from the edge
Turn your heart to Jesus, make this solemn pledge

He died for me, I'll live for Him
He died for me, I'll live for Him

Above all lords and regents, He is King of Kings
I'm pledging my allegiance through these words I sing
Take this oath of service, write it on your wall
It's our only purpose for living life at all

Wow. Look. It is right there. "Take this oath of service." "Make this solemn pledge." Tabletalk also gives the idea that this is what we do often in our church services each Sunday as we gather and choose to sing - proclaiming truths and listening to the Word of God, agreeing with what is said and not simply stimulation understanding but wanting to follow God. 

I was just about to give up on this lesson, thinking that I don't know how it applies, but it does apply. It is rich. And It makes me wonder about my words and my commitments. Am I really making many commitments in my life? I think I do. Each morning I have been walking to pray and also to pray the words of the fruit of the spirit, committing to love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. 

So that is my pledge, but what are my other pledges or oaths. I do want to live differently. Pamela and I made a pledge to not kiss till our wedding day, but we only made it to a few weeks after being engaged, succumbing to the pressure of others, like my dad. Maybe we made it a big deal when we should have kept quiet about it. 

Summary - In regards to oaths and vows in Worship, these are promises or pledges we make each Sunday as we gather, as we sing songs, about God but also about who we are in Christ. If we speak these words, may they be so in our lives. 

Promise: Our worship itself can be seen as a vow to serve God. That is one of the reasons why it should be taken seriously. Worship is a holy occasion on which we meet with our holy God to swear allegiance to Him. It is not a time for frivolity. 

Prayer: O God, you are Lord of All. I am stating this and swearing by this. Lord, help me in my words to be true to them and to be a man of my word and to be careful maybe about what I promise, but also to make sure that I am following through on what I am saying. I do often say things that people want to hear but then I don't back up those words with action. I need to be a man of my word at work, but also towards You. I pledge my allegiance to you. You died for me, I will live for You. I will live for You. I want to do this in my life. 

Mark 6:21-29 - Herod's Unlawful Oath

Mark 6:21-29

²¹ A strategic day came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his lords and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee; ²² and when the daughter of Herodias herself came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests; and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you want and I will give it to you.” ²³ And he swore to her, “Whatever you ask of me, I will give it to you; up to half of my kingdom.” ²⁴ And she went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.” ²⁵ Immediately she came in a hurry to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” ²⁶ And although the king was very sorry, yet because of his oaths and because of his dinner guests, he was unwilling to refuse her. ²⁷ Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded him to bring back his head. And he went and had him beheaded in the prison, ²⁸ and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother. ²⁹ When his disciples heard about this, they came and took away his body and laid it in a tomb.

Message: Herod's Unlawful Oath

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface - Jesus arrives in Nazareth, about a 3 day journey from Capernaum. He has made it to his hometown and he speaks in the synagogue. Many of his people did not accept him; he continued to heal, but maybe not to the extent that he could because of their unbelief. The message still goes out. Jesus commissions his disciples with the message of repentance. Many hear of Jesus and his message, wondering where he came from and who He really is: prophet, priest, king. Included in this wondering is Herod Antipas, who killed John the Baptist. John called out the sins of Herod Antipas and his wife and they responded with violence against John the Baptist. Yet, Herod Antipas was conflicted in his feelings about John the Baptist, feeling obligated to please his wife and yet also having fascination for the message that John brought to him.

The story of John the Baptist and Herod Antipas, the Roman ruler, continues in this passage. Herod had imprisoned John at Macherus, a fortified palace located east of the Jordan River. A celebration of some sort is given in Herod's honor, perhaps his birthday. At this celebration,  the daughter of Herodias herself came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests. The words express that this dance was perhaps sensual which emphasizes still more the depravity of these people's lives whereby the daughter of Herodias, Salome, gave a dance that made everyone happy and pleased. In response to this performance the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you want and I will give it to you.” And he swore to her, “Whatever you ask of me, I will give it to you; up to half of my kingdom.” Here Herod makes a vow that he will have to uphold. Whatever is asked he will feel obligated to do as he will want to save his face before the dinner guests. Salome consults with her mother and it is stated I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter. As has been discussed, Herod is trying to save the life of John the Baptist, but although the king was very sorry, yet because of his oaths and because of his dinner guests, he was unwilling to refuse her.
Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded him to bring back his head. And he went and had him beheaded in the prison, and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother. The deed had been done. John had been executed. 

Herod was infatuated with John. He liked his preaching, but not to the extent that the preacher's words had an effect on him to change his works. People are moved by good preaching all of the time, but do the actions of our lives show any change. How now shall we live. I wonder about this often because I hear so many messages and I wonder how my life is being lived differently. I generally conclude that I am a slow person. Do I really believe that God is the one that changes hearts? I need to pray for this more.

Summary - After Herod Antipas tried to keep John alive, in prison, he gets caught in his own words and saving his own face by pledging to do whatever someone requests and the request that is made is to kill John. Because Herod simply had his ears tickled and never made a change of heart, he goes along with that which is in his own best interest: and John is killed. 

Promise: The Gospel Message is truth, but people receive it differently. Some are ready for it and some just take it as interesting fodder. John lost his life but he still had a great impact. 

Prayer: Lord, I pray that the message of the Gospel would continue to change lives. Lord, I pray that you would always be glorified. It hurts when people do not have a desire to follow you and glorify you, but we can still trust in You. Thank you for choosing John and that he is now safe in your care. Help us to stay eternity minded. Lord, I want to be a person of change, who is affected by the Godly messages I hear each day.

Ezekiel 17

Message: Another beautiful picture here ultimately of God at work among His people. He is the author of life and rescues people and establishes them no matter their appearance. He makes the short tall.

Time: A word from the Lord. This time a riddle.

What the Lord is Saying:

Two eagles are presented.

First one comes to Lebanon. It is large and colorful. When to the top of the tree and plucked off its highest branch. The eagle carried the branch to a city filled with merchants (sellers) and planted it there. He took a seed, planting it beside a river where it would grow. It took root and grew into low spreading vine. It produced strong branches and put out shoots (which help the tree regrow). Thus, a strong vine. But low. 

The eagle appears to be the Lord, establishing his people, making them strong and multiply.

Second eagle. Similar in appearance to first.  The vine and branches went toward the eagle. It was planted well. It flourished and grew into a splendid vine, producing rich and luscious fruit.

But the Lord speaks and asks if the vine will grow. No. He will put it up, it won't transplant well, despite it being in good soil.

Riddle explained by the Lord.

The king of Babylon came to Jerusalem. He took the leaders, the princes away (into exile) establishing a treaty, making these leaders loyal to him. Their survival centered then on the king. The treaty was made by the leaders. One man revolted, getting Egypt involved. Problem: A treaty cannot be broken.

The Lord wants people to keep their oaths that they make in His name.

The Lord reminds the people that He is in control. He plants. He produces growth. He produces safety for those near His branch. Don't look at the size of the tree, for it is the short tree that flourishes. He gives the dead tree new life.

Promise: God is in control.