By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo
Isaiah 48:1 "Listen to this, O house of Jacob, you who are called by the name of Israel and come from the line of Judah, you who take oaths in the name of the LORD and invoke the God of Israel-- but not in truth or righteousness--" - NIV
Whenever people are inaugurated into certain positions of responsibility and leadership, or become witnesses, they are made to swear or take oaths. The symbol of their swearing is their object of faith or worship according to their religion. Christians use the Bible and invoke God’s name. Such swearing is a commitment to undertake their duties seriously, to tell only the truth and to execute only what is just and right under God’s watchful eye.
Unfortunately, many swear and invoke God’s name, but are not committed to doing what is right and pleases God. The people who vow to protect and defend truth, justice and righteousness are the very ones who use their positions of power and authority to commit injustice, steal, kill, oppress, divert public resources for themselves, abuse their offices, betray the people they are leading and commit all sorts of evil they vowed before God not to do. It shows they didn’t mean what they vowed or took their oaths lightly!
That’s how Israel was. They took their vows in God’s name as routine, but were not actually committed to truth and righteousness. Many, called by God’s name today, are unashamedly part of the evils of society yet they made a pledge to bring glory to God! That’s how we lose our saltiness and light to the world. When you make any commitment in God’s name, fulfill it in truth, justice and righteousness. Otherwise, you take His name in vain, bring it to shame, and become liar!
Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 "When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it."
Shalom children of God.