Nougat 12

Was the phrase, a promise is a comfort to a fool popular in your day? It certainly was in my primary (elementary level) school days. Of course, hearing it often – even though it was in jest – reinforced a level of caution toward any promises made to us. That served well in several adult spaces. However, we may find that it is problematic as we navigate our relationship with God. Solomon trusted God’s promises and now challenges our mindset in his prayer at the dedication of the temple. We get to reflect on the truth of his assertion as we consider Today’s Holy Nougat

1 Kings 8:56 CEVDCI

[56] Praise the Lord! He has kept his promise and given us peace. Every good thing he promised to his servant Moses has happened.

Comfort in God’s Promises?

A promise is a declaration to another of one’s intent to fulfil a task. It may have a defined timeline, which increases trust and accountability. Promises can be straightforward, with SMART objectives, or they can have conditions that complicate matters. (Promises that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound have SMART objectives.) Sometimes, even with the best of intentions, we do not get to honour/fulfil our promises. If that happens frequently enough … then the promises we make are only comforting to those foolish enough to believe in our word.

Self-Check

How dependable are we in regard to our promises?

Deeper Dive

Unfortunately, when we have been disappointed by the broken promises of someone close to us, we tend to be suspicious of others’ promises. The ‘others’ might even include God. Solomon’s prayer suggests that God is a keeper of promises. According to 1 Kings 6:1, 480 years had passed between the Exodus and the building of the Temple began. That would have been at least 440 years after God’s promise to Moses was fulfilled. As Solomon oversaw the Temple’s construction, YHWH sent word to Solomon reaffirming the Davidic covenant (that’s also a promise) to

maintain David’s lineage as kings forever,

live among the Israelites, and

never abandon Israel.

But it was a two-way promise … YHWH expected Solomon to remain faithful.

When Solomon dedicated the Temple seven years later, he recounted YHWH’s promises to release the Children of Israel from bondage (that was close to 400 years) and to settle them in the Land of Promise. Both promises, though fulfilled long after the death of the patriarchs, could be seen as SMART. God kept God’s word to Jacob (see Genesis 28:14 and 46:3-4) and to Moses (see 1 Kings 6:1).

In looking at God’s reputation for promise fulfilment, we realise that although Solomon didn’t fulfil his part of the covenant, Y’shua is the fulfilment of YHWH’s promise to David. [Some would say that YHWH’s seeming preference toward Israel in these times fulfils the other parts of the promise. That’s a contentious issue, so, I’m leaving it for each of us to work it out with God.]

Through Y’shua’s crucifixion, we also find that others of us who believe and seek to keep God’s commands become heirs to God’s promise. God will never leave us nor forsake us. God’s Spirit is our surety that God is serious about keeping that promise to be with us always (see Matthew 28:20 and John 14:16).

But we don’t have to rely on God’s promises to Moses, David and Solomon only. We can also examine the paths of our own lives to see whether God’s promises to us were fulfilled. If so, then we aren’t fools as God is dependable. We also need to check ourselves to see whether we kept promises we’ve made to God.

If however, we cannot see proof of God’s promises to us being fulfilled, let’s drop all else and have an honest conversation with God about it. For we’re told in Psalm 138:2 that God honours God’s promises above God’s name. That’s how seriously God holds God’s promises. The Third Commandment is ‘Do not take the Lord’s name in vain’ (see Exodus 20:7 and Deuteronomy 5:11), and God values the promises God has made to us above the holiness of God’s name. We can ask God about any unfulfilled promise, believing that God will help us understand. That’s what Habakkuk did, and God answered.

Point to Ponder

God has faithfully kept God’s Word to us over time, do we trust God to be dependable?

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May all we seek be found in Christ