But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.”

• Ruth 1:16-17

David had just said, “It’s been useless—all my watching over this fellow’s property in the wilderness so that nothing of his was missing. He has paid me back evil for good. May God deal with David, be it ever so severely, if by morning I leave alive one male of all who belong to him!”

• 1 Samuel 25:21-22

Then Ben-Hadad sent another message to Ahab: “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if enough dust remains in Samaria to give each of my men a handful.”

• 1 Kings 20:10

“Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

• Matthew 5:33-37

Sorry about the title.  I had just heard something on television, Jimmy Johnson yelling, “How ‘bout them Cowboys!”  I have not been a Cowboys fan since the late 60s.  Really since Super Bowl V when the Cowboys defense injured Johnny Unitas and the Baltimore Colts backup had to hold onto the victory.  Fandom does not have to be logical.

But as for the resolutions, this post comes out on January 16, 2024.  Have all your resolutions been busted far beyond recognition?  No?  If no, are you a hermit far from civilization and you made easy resolutions to keep?

Our honor and our word seem to mean nothing these days.  But I do the best I can when I make a promise or oath.

The phrase “May the Lord deal with me (or someone’s name), be it ever so severely, if …” is in the NIV 12 times.  This type of oath was taken seriously.  The first time it is mentioned in the Bible is when Ruth swears her loyalty to Naomi.  Ben Hadad swears the same oath in dealing with Ahab.  Neither of these people were Israelites.  Thus, it was not even a Israelite or Hebrew concept to swear before God and mean it.

In the 1 Samuel 25 Scripture, Nabal has refused to provide sustenance for David’s army, although David’s army had protected Judah, including Nabal.  Nabal’s wife was more honorable, and as David swears this oath, Abigail shows up with provisions to take care of David’s army.  Nabal then dies and David takes Abigail as one of his wives.

And thinking of marriage, saying “I do” or whatever you change it to, is an oath before God.  These days the percentage of marriages ending in divorce is holding near 50%.  The oath taken is averaging the same as a coin flip.  My wife passed away nine months ago.  I recently had to fill out some paperwork and I did not fill out the paperwork properly.  They did not tell me what I did wrong.  I called and the representative that answered the phone said to turn to page seven and check the box at the top of the page.  The words next to the box were “I am not married.”  Checking that box was gut-wrenching for me.  My eyes are getting wet even thinking about it.

I take my oaths seriously.

But Jesus said to not make an oath.  If you do, you have to keep it.  So, don’t swear by anything.  Just let your “yes” be “yes” and your “no” be “no.”

I have joked for years that my only resolution on New Year’s Eve is to not have any resolutions.  I know me.  If the resolution is anywhere close to meaningful, I will screw it up.  But then, having a resolution to not have any resolutions is indeed having a resolution.  Maybe I should state that I will have no other resolution than to not have resolutions.  Now, that sounds a bit better.

But, the key here is that God loves us.  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us.

But this resolution business is silly.  It sets us up for failure.  We do a good enough job at not being good all on our own.

Happy rest of the New Year.

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.