As Surely As The Lord Lives

1 Samuel 14:34-39 – Then he said, “Go out among the men and tell them, ‘Each of you bring me your cattle and sheep, and slaughter them here and eat them. Do not sin against the Lord by eating meat with blood still in it.’” So everyone brought his ox that night and slaughtered it there. Then Saul built an altar to the Lord; it was the first time he had done this. Saul said, “Let us go down and pursue the Philistines by night and plunder them till dawn, and let us not leave one of them alive.” “Do whatever seems best to you,” they replied. But the priest said, “Let us inquire of God here.” So Saul asked God, “Shall I go down and pursue the Philistines? Will you give them into Israel’s hand?” But God did not answer him that day. Saul therefore said, “Come here, all you who are leaders of the army, and let us find out what sin has been committed today. As surely as the Lord who rescues Israel lives, even if the guilt lies with my son Jonathan, he must die.” But not one of them said a word.

Job 19:25 – I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth.

Psalm 18:46 – The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God my Savior!

Joshua 7:15 – Whoever is caught with the devoted things shall be destroyed by fire, along with all that belongs to him. He has violated the covenant of the Lord and has done an outrageous thing in Israel!’”

Hosea 4:15 – “Though you, Israel, commit adultery, do not let Judah become guilty. “Do not go to Gilgal; do not go up to Beth Aven. And do not swear, ‘As surely as the Lord lives!’

Application:

• ·         Job expresses confidence that ultimately God will vindicate His faithful servants in the face of all false accusations.
• ·         God’s interventions and blessings in David’s behalf have shown Him to be the living God.
• ·         “Outrageous thing in Israel” was an act that within Israel, as the covenant people of the Lord, is an outrage of utter folly.
• ·         “As surely as the Lord lives” was a form of solemn oath. Though proper in itself—since it invoked the true God—it was here forbidden because it was being used deceitfully, as though the Israelites were truly honoring the Lord.

All Scripture verses taken from NIV