August 18

Ezekiel 17
When I was a Boy Scout, we started every meeting reciting, among other things, the Scout Oath:
On my honor, I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight.
Every four years in the United States we all usually take a little time out to watch a very important event during the inauguration of the president. We all huddle around our televisions to watch the president swear an oath to defend, protect and uphold the constitution of the United States of America. A little closer to home, on occasion we attend a wedding ceremony where we watch friends or family swear oaths of fidelity to each other. Sometimes when churches receive new members the ceremony will include pledges of fidelity to one another as members of that local body of Christ.
Nebuchadnezzar replaced Jehoiachin as king of Judah with Zedekiah. In the process Zedekiah had to publicly swear an oath of loyalty and obedience to Babylon. God takes all oaths very seriously for they are a reflection of what He is like. He never breaks an oath. Zedekiah broke the oath which he had made to Babylon. He sought the help of the Pharaoh of Egypt in order to throw off the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar. So, The Lord promised Zedekiah that he would die in Babylon. The Lord points out that the breaking of the covenant was really against Him, not Nebuchadnezzar, a very serious offense.
What strikes me even more about this passage is that after pointing out the extreme infidelity of nation and the severe punishment that is pronounced, then the Lord announces that He will keep His oath with the nation. He will take a small remnant and replant it and make a great nation. He is serious about keeping His oath. It is part of His glory that He always keeps His oaths, and He expects us to keep ours.
Makes me think! Have I kept my Scout Oath? Do Christians keep their marriage vows? Many people do not bother to marry anymore because they know that they cannot keep the vow anyway, so why make it? Do we keep our promises to each other to be faithful to each other in the body of Christ? Do you suppose that one of the reasons people do not commit be a member of a local church is because they know they cannot be faithful to that body? Yet in the midst of all of our infidelity, He remains faithful! Now that is glory! Indeed, we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john