September 15 - LD 37, Day 6: The Infinitely Glorious God

Isaiah 45:22-23: “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.”

The oath reminds us that we are but creatures, finite and of dust. Men boast in their accomplishments, but the oath declares that not even the wisest man is able to penetrate the deepest recesses of man's heart. Who of men knows what a man is made of? Which judge can know precisely if the witness speaks the truth? Who knows whether those taking office will be faithful to that office? God alone knows! And that is why finite man, and particularly the magistrate, must invoke the assistance of the infinitely glorious God Who alone knows all things. That is why men are put under oath, to invoke the presence of the great God, Who will punish him who swears falsely, Who will eventually reveal justice and cause the truth to triumph. It is the name of God that is extolled and magnified by the oath.

But the necessity of the oath also reminds us that we are sinners. The God before Whom we stand and from Whose perfect righteousness we cannot escape is the One Who says, “Look unto me, and by ye saved.” From Him alone comes salvation. From His mouth comes the Word in righteousness. To Him alone belongs all glory and honour. Especially was His righteousness and truth revealed in His only begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. As those redeemed by Christ, we desire to express our love for God and for our neighbor, also in the proper use of the oath.

Part of our expression of glorifying God is seeking the welfare of the neighbor. Seeking the neighbor's good or safety is an extension of our glorifying our Redeemer. When truth and fidelity are maintained by the proper oath, not only is God glorified thereby, but the welfare of our neighbor and all of society is promoted.