The sermon 'Lawful Oaths and Vows (Part 3)' by Eric Bechler explores the scriptural basis and seriousness of taking oaths. Drawing from the Second London Baptist Confession of 1689, it emphasizes that oaths should only be taken when warranted by God's Word. There are two types of oaths: to confirm the truth and to promise to do something. Oaths should only be made in the name of the Lord and must be truthful, avoiding rash, false, or vain declarations. The sermon references various biblical examples, such as Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Saul, and David, to illustrate the appropriateness of oaths in specific situations. It also discusses New Testament affirmations of this practice, citing Apostle Paul's expressions and Jesus' teachings. The sermon warns against the misuse of God's name and highlights the consequences of making rash or false oaths, referencing Solomon's advice in Ecclesiastes and Jesus' teaching in Matthew. The key takeaway is to ensure the necessity and truthfulness of oaths, considering their solemn nature and the divine judgment that accompanies them.

Our reading today from the Second London Baptist Confession of 1689 comes from Chapter 23 of Lawful Oaths and Vows, paragraph 3. By the word of God, ought duly to consider the weightiness of so solemn an act, and therein to avouch nothing but what he knoweth to be truth, for that by rash, false, and vain oaths the Lord is provoked, and for them this land mourns." We continue in our chapter on oaths and vows and let's touch first on what we've covered so far. Scripture does not forbid the taking of oaths in all cases. There are two types of oaths, to confirm the truth and a promise to do something. We can only swear in the name of the Lord our God.

Otherwise, we are stealing honor that belongs only to him. And finally we should take an oath only when absolutely necessary. It should not be treated lightly, rationally, or irreverently. Our focus today is on the consideration of the weightiness of so solemn an act as the taking of an oath. We have four points here in our paragraph.

We must only take oaths as warranted by God's word. Two, when taking an oath, we must consider the weightiness of our circumstances and remember its solemnity. Three, when we swear an oath, we must only swear what we know to be truth. And the Lord is provoked by rash, false, and vain oaths. As our confession states, whosoever taketh an oath warranted by the word of God ought duly to consider the weightiness of so solemn an act.

We'll take a few minutes to revisit this first point. The scripture tell us to take oaths. Are they warranted? Are they warranted by the Word of God? Some groups such as the Anabaptists and Quakers would say no and they base this in Scripture in the New Testament especially Matthew 5 verses 33 through 37, where we find Jesus' teaching that we not take an oath at all.

As I mentioned a couple weeks ago from Ligonier Ministries, Jesus was teaching here that it's better not to swear an oath at all if you are looking for a way out of keeping it. Not all oaths here are forbidden. Most other groups would say yes, lawful oaths are warranted in certain occasions. Scripture tells us that we are called to fear and serve the Lord along with the command to take oaths in his name. And the implication here is that you would not take an oath in anyone else's name or in the name of anything else.

You shall fear the Lord your God and serve him and shall take oaths in his name, Deuteronomy 6 13. And he who swears in the truth shall swear by the God of truth, Isaiah 65 16. And let's look at some examples to confirm this practice. Abraham made a covenant with Abimelech to not deal falsely with him in Genesis 21, 23 through 24. Another Abimelech later wanted Isaac to swear an oath that he will do him no harm.

Genesis 26-31. Jacob made Joseph swear an oath to take him out of Egypt and bury him in their family burial place after his death. Genesis 47-29-31. We see Saul asking David to swear an oath that he would not cut off his descendants nor destroy his name from his father's house, 1st Samuel 24, 21 through 22. Robert Shaw states, the taking of an oath, being no part of the judicial or ceremonial law, must be equally warrantable under the present dispensation unless expressly prohibited in the New Testament.

And there is much in the New Testament to confirm the practice. The Apostle Paul frequently appeals to God in these and similar expressions. God is my witness, Romans 1, 9. I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, Romans 9, 1. And I call God for a record upon my soul, 2 Corinthians 1, 23.

Christ himself answered the question of the high priest when he adjured him by the living God, which was the common form of administering an oath among the Jews. The writer to the Hebrews speaks of the oath which God swore to Abraham, who because he could swear by no greater, swore by himself, Hebrews 6.13. He adds, an oath for confirmation is an end of all strife Hebrews 6 16 plainly showing that he sanctioned the practice So we can conclude that yes lawful oaths are warranted in certain occasions. Last week we discussed four categories wherein lawful oaths would be warranted. Matters of weight and moment, confirmation of truth, ending of strife, and imposed by lawful authorities.

As we read previously in the first paragraph of this chapter, a lawful oath is part of religious worship. It is a solemn act and as our paragraph states today, whosoever takes an oath ought duly to consider the weightiness of so solemn an act. He is swearing in truth, righteousness, and judgment and calls upon God to witness and judge him accordingly. We get the sense of the seriousness of how God looks, of how we use His name as we read the third commandment. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.

Exodus 20 verse 7. There are consequences that will come to us if we misuse his name, if we use it falsely, if we use it irreverently, if we use it dishonorably, If we find ourselves swearing in normal everyday conversations, if we're appealing to God as our witness and judge in trivial or unnecessary matters, this is taking the Lord's name in vain and should not be done. Continuing on, recall our third point today. When we swear an oath, we must only swear what we know to be the truth. In Leviticus 19, God lists out moral and ceremonial laws.

And the Lord spoke to Moses saying, Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel and say to them, You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy. Leviticus 19 1 & 2. In verse 12 he commands them, you shall not swear by my name falsely, nor shall you profane the name of your God. I am the Lord. If we are swearing falsely, we are profaning the name of God.

And just to be clear, Noah Webster defines to profane as to violate anything sacred, to treat with abuse, irreverence, or contempt, to pollute or defile. This is what we're doing to God's name when we swear falsely. What we are swearing to must be the truth. We must not break our word. This is repeated in Numbers 30 verse 2.

If a man makes a vow to the Lord or swears an oath to bind himself by some agreement, he shall not break his word, and he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth. The last phrase of our paragraph states, for that by rash, false, and vain oaths, the Lord is provoked. And for them this land mourns. We can find several examples of rationally made oaths in scripture. Remember Saul placing his army under oath not to eat any food until evening.

A fasting army doesn't function nearly as well as one who's been rested and fed. We read in 1st Samuel 14 24, and the men of Israel were distressed that day for Saul had placed the people under oath saying cursed it is the man who eats any food until evening before I have taken vengeance on my enemies So none of the people tasted food. Then in verses 29 and 30, but Jonathan said, My father has troubled the land. Look now how my countenance has brightened, because I tasted a little of this honey. How much better if the people had eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies which they found?

For now would there not have been a much greater slaughter among the Philistines? And the results of this rash oath, not only more of the enemy escaped slaughter, but Saul was intent on killing even Jonathan, his son for violating the oath. In verse 39, for as the Lord lives, who saves Israel? Though it be in Jonathan my son he shall surely die But not a man among all the people answered him What a tragedy that would have been if he had actually went through with it But in the end the people thankfully saved Jonathan and intervened from such an end and left Saul as one who is found to be not a man of his word. Another example comes from the Gospel of Matthew regarding John the Baptist and Herod's birthday celebration in Matthew 14 6 through 11.

But when Herod's birthday was celebrated the daughter of Herodias danced before them and and pleased Herod. Therefore he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. So she, having been prompted by her mother, said, give me John the Baptist's head here on a platter. And the king was sorry. Nevertheless, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he commanded it to be given to her.

So he sent and had John beheaded in prison. And his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl. And she brought it to her mother. In Herod's defense, I'm sure he had absolutely no idea that this would be the result of his promise. But it's a lesson for us to be careful what oaths you make and what promises you make.

A rash oath can lead to awkward and unfortunate situations. What about false oaths? Hosea speaks about Israel's sin and punishment in chapter 10. We read in verse 4, they have spoken words, swearing falsely in making a covenant. Thus judgment springs up like hemlock or poison in the furrows of the field.

Their empty words, their false oaths have led to divine vengeance. Calamities from a righteous God spring up and abound like weeds in a turned and prepared soil. Solomon gives us wise words to live by, do not be rash with your mouth and let not your heart utter anything hastily before God for God is in heaven and you on earth. Therefore let your words be few for a dream comes through much activity and a fool's voice is known by his many words. When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it, for he has no pleasure in fools.

Pay what you have vowed, and better not to vow than to vow and not pay. Ecclesiastes 5, 2-5. As Jesus teaches and James restates, let your yes be yes and your no be no. For whatever is more than these is from the evil one in Matthew 5 37. And so that you may not fall under judgment in James 512.

If you must swear an oath, make certain of its necessity. Consider the weightiness of such a solemn act. Remember that in these cases, remember who you're calling upon. You're calling upon God Almighty, the creator of the universe, to witness the truth of your oath and to judge any falsity. Do not provoke the Lord your God to anger and be wise with your words.

Amen.