And if these nations truly learn the ways of my people, and if they learn to swear by my name, saying, ‘As surely as the LORD lives’ (just as they taught my people to swear by the name of Baal), then they will be given a place among my people. But any nation who refuses to obey me will be uprooted and destroyed. I, the LORD, have spoken!” [Jeremiah 12.16-17]
What does it mean to swear by the name of the LORD?
Our clue is found in the statement in parenthesis in Jeremiah 12.16-17 above. Swearing by the name of the LORD is the antithesis of swearing by the name of Baal, an idol. This would apply to any idol. With this in mind then, and because we know from the Word of God that swearing by the name of Baal means to trust in Baal instead of God, we can be sure that to swear by the name of the LORD means to trust in God ALONE.
Swearing however denotes a deeper meaning of the word "trust" than most people today comprehend. Swearing by the name of the LORD is a declaration of everything God is and wills over any given circumstance. It carries the distinguishing idea that God ALONE will be trusted irrespective of the circumstances of the one doing the trusting.
To swear by the name of the LORD is to give unreserved and undiluted allegiance to the first three of the Ten Commandments (in particular):
“I am the LORD your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery. “You must not have any other god but me. “You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands. “You must not misuse the name of the LORD your God. The LORD will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name. [Exodus 20.2-7]
To swear by the name of Baal, in contrast, is to disregard everything the first three Commandments say about God. For this reason, trusting a little in God and a little in Baal is simply not possible. In this very regard, Jesus' words herald crystal clear principle on the topic of singular trust:
“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money. [Matthew 6.24]
Swearing by the name of the LORD carries with it a commitment beyond convenience - even a commitment unto death. Nowhere is this more profoundly declared than in Jesus' words to His would-be followers:
If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]
In today's One Year Chronological Bible reading we find a damning description of those who claim to be committed to God, but are not:
Your name is on their lips, but you are far from their hearts. [Jeremiah 12.2b]
This is indeed the condition of idol-laden "believers" today.
To swear by the name of the LORD is an all-in commitment to God and God ALONE. This level of commitment allows not even the chance of misunderstanding one's true devotion... And, this is where modern "believers" who claim that God uses man's industries of finance, insurance, medicine and technology get smacked right in the face! To be sure, modern "believers" simply cannot defend or justify their idolatry when looking at all the Scriptures noted heretofore together. God's Word clearly calls His people to undivided trust in Him ALONE - anything else is idolatry (remember, God is a jealous God).
Father, as Your Word reveals, the subject of "our trust" is a serious matter to You. Help us to stop justifying our idolatry and instead start methodically rejecting it. May we be found giving up our own way, taking up our cross, and following Jesus. So be it.
