A Promised Oath

Swearing by something greater than yourself

"So help me God" (the courtroom and oath-of-office ending)

"As God is my witness"

"I swear on a stack of Bibles"

"I swear on my mother's grave"

"I swear on my life" / "on everything I love"

"Cross my heart and hope to die"

"Scout's honor"

"Blood oath," "blood brothers"

Staking your name or character on it

"You have my word"

"My word is my bond"

"A man is only as good as his word"

"Word of honor"

"I'd stake my reputation on it"

"Honor bound"

"Good as his word"

Sealing it with an act

"Let's shake on it" / "a handshake deal"

"Sign on the dotted line"

"Put it in writing"

"Put your money where your mouth is"

"Take the pledge"

"Pinky swear"

Certainty language

"You can take that to the bank"

"You can bank on it"

"Set in stone" / "written in stone" (versus "written in sand")

"Ironclad"

"Come hell or high water"

"Mark my words"

The cynical side, where human promises fail

"Talk is cheap"

"Promises are made to be broken"

"Campaign promise"

"Don't make promises you can't keep"

"Going back on your word" / "welching on a deal"

"Actions speak louder than words"

Vows people actually take

Marriage: "for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, till death do us part," and simply "I do"

Medical: the Hippocratic oath, "first, do no harm"

Civic: the Pledge of Allegiance, the oath of office, jury and witness oaths

One angle worth considering: every phrase in that first group reaches outside the speaker for a witness, because we know our bare word isn't enough. Hebrews 6:13 says God had nowhere higher to reach, so He swore by Himself. And the second group, "a man is only as good as his word," is exactly where the contrast lands. God is as good as His word because He is good. Lawful Oath’s and Vow’s

1. A lawful oath is a part of religious worship, wherein the person swearing in truth, righteousness, and judgement, solemnly calleth God to witness what he sweareth, and to judge him according to the truth or falseness thereof. ( Exodus 20:7; Deuteronomy 10:20; Jeremiah 4:2; 2 Chronicles 6:22, 23 )

2. The name of God only is that by which men ought to swear; and therein it is to be used, with all holy fear and reverence; therefore to swear vainly or rashly by that glorious and dreadful name, or to swear at all by any other thing, is sinful, and to be abhorred; yet as in matter of weight and moment, for confirmation of truth, and ending all strife, an oath is warranted by the word of God; so a lawful oath being imposed by lawful authority in such matters, ought to be taken. ( Matthew 5:34, 37; James 5:12; Hebrews 6:16; 2 Corinthians 1:23; Nehemiah 13:25 )

3. Whosoever taketh an oath warranted 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. ( Leviticus 19:12; Jeremiah 23:10 )

4. An oath is to be taken in the plain and common sense of the words, without equivocation or mental reservation. ( Psalms 24:4 ) (Ps. 24:4)

5. A vow, which is not to be made to any creature, but to God alone, is to be made and performed with all religious care and faithfulness; but popish monastical vows of perpetual single life, professed poverty, and regular obedience, are so far from being degrees of higher perfection, that they are superstitious and sinful snares, in which no Christian may entangle himself. ( Psalms 76:11; Genesis 28:20-22; 1 Corinthians 7:2, 9; Ephesians 4:28; Matthew 19:11 )

Family, be encouraged that the God who does not change keeps His promises. 1. God’s Oaths Are Bound by His Eternal Covenant. Genesis 22:16–17 “16 and said, “By myself I have sworn,” this is the Lord’s declaration: “Because you have done this thing and have not withheld your only son, 17 I will indeed bless you and make your offspring as numerous as the stars of the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your offspring will possess the city gates of their enemies.” Job 23:13–14 “13 But he is unchangeable; who can oppose him? He does what he desires. 14 He will certainly accomplish what he has decreed for me, and he has many more things like these in mind.” 2. As Heirs of the Promise, We Can Patiently Wait on God. We are the members of that promise. Genesis 22:18 “18 And all the nations of the earth will be blessed by your offspring because you have obeyed my command.””