The Lord’s Regard for an Oath of Fealty.
By CALVIN GREEN
In the 9th chapter of Joshua we read how by craft the Gibeonites obtained the favor of the Israelites, and gained their protection and favor. Although this covenant was made against the express command of God (See Deut. vii, 2), yet when the nations combined against Gibeon to destroy it for making peace with Israel, the Lord fought for them. Josh. x, 10, 11. And when the zeal of Saul for Israel and Judah in slaying the Gibeonites was followed by a famine of three years (2 Sam. xxi, 1), the Lord’s anger was appeased for such treachery when seven descendants of Saul were slain for his crime of violating a sacred oath. Here we have the faithfulness of God to a doomed people who saved themselves by craft by an oath given in his name. How much more faithful will he be to those who strive to do his will, when he has given so many promises to that effect. How good it would be for us when trouble, trials and temptation come, to trust in these promises, and rely on Him who notices the fall of a sparrow—a bird of no real value—and remain faithful to our post under the kind watchcare of Him who considers us poor, frail creatures of so much worth to him as to number even the hairs of our head. Oh! for that regard for our word and promises to the Lord that he has for his toward us. Let us try, brethren, to fulfill our promises to him by seeking him with all the heart, for it is better to not promise than to promise and not fulfill.