The Oaths of God

Yesterday, after much Sunday morning anticipation, we reached Hebrews 7 and the discussion of the King-Priest Melchizedek. Fascinating chapter.

Some writers seem to suggest that the author of Hebrews grabbed an obscure verse from the Bible (Psalm 110:4) in order to teach a somewhat novel theology. And, in some ways, the verse is obscure – Melchizedek is mentioned only twice in the Old Testament – in Genesis 14 (the historical description), and then a thousand years later in Psalm 110.

Another 1000 years later, the author of Hebrews blows the dust of the story and gives it another go.

Hebrews has been making a big deal of the oaths that God made, so I did a quick study of God’s oaths in the OT – places where God specifically swears about the truth of something, or He swears that He will keep a promise.

In short, here’s what I discovered – but you might like to do a more in-depth study. There are two main streams of oaths that God makes.

First, an Oath of Judgement. He swears to punish Israel when she is unfaithful. He also swears to punish the nations who are against Israel – actually a fulfillment of God’s promise to Abram – “I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonours you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:3). Those are the two main types of judgement oaths.

Second, an Oath of Blessing. First, and probably most commonly mentioned in the Bible, His oath to Abraham. To make Abraham a great nation, and to give his descendants the Promised Land. Take for example the classic from Genesis 22:

By myself I have sworn, declares the Lord … I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies…

From Genesis 22:15-18

Of course, the greatest blessing comes not from Abraham’s descendants, but from his Descendant, Jesus (Galatians 3:16).

The second main oath of blessing is for David. The classic passage is actually 2 Samuel 7, but the actual reference to God swearing an oath comes up in other passages – such as Psalm 89:

Once for all I have sworn by my holiness;
I will not lie to David.
His offspring shall endure forever,
his throne as long as the sun before me.

Psalm 89:35-36

Psalm 110 falls directly into this second important stream. It’s a promise to the royal Descendant of David Himself, King Jesus.

The LORD says to my Lord:
“Sit at my right hand,
until I make your enemies your footstool.”

Psalm 110:1

So all of a sudden this verse about Melchizedek isn’t as obscure as I thought, but part of the second great stream of oaths of blessing. But, of course, it still appears out of nowhere in some ways. The most surprising thing is that the Messiah-King would not just be a king like David, He would also be a king-priest, like Melchizedek:

The LORD has sworn
and will not change his mind,
“You are a priest forever
after the order of Melchizedek.”

Psalm 110:4

There are hints of this in other places in the Old Testament, but this verse really does explain how it would be possible for a king to be a priest, something forbidden under the Mosaic Law. Jesus’ role would come from an earlier tradition, something outside of, and greater than, the laws about Levites and descendants of Aaron.

And so, prophetically, David pulls together various hints in the Scriptures in Psalm 110 (read more about this Psalm in Promises of a Messiah).

One other interesting note – at least three of the main types of oaths are directly mentioned in the Psalms, a book that the author of Hebrews quotes from frequently, including a lengthy discussion of God’s judgement on the unbelieving Israelites (Psalm 95:7-11). Psalm 110 also mentions judgement of the nations (Psalm 110:6). And of course the promises to Abraham and David are very important in various Psalms.

The author of Hebrews – ultimately the Holy Spirit – knew what he was doing when he pointed us to the oaths of God – kind, precious confirmations that He would do as He promised – bring us salvation and finally bring peace to the earth under His Son.