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Instances of God Giving Promises Through Verbal Declarations

God's communication with humanity frequently involves verbal declarations of promises, which are foundational to biblical theology. These divine promises are often presented as sure and immutable, providing a basis for faith and expectation [3, 1]. The concept of a divine promise is deeply intertwined with God's character and his covenantal relationship with his people.

The Bible records numerous instances where God verbally declares promises. These declarations are not merely predictions but are often accompanied by divine assurances, sometimes even an oath, to underscore their certainty [1, 6]. For example, God's promises to Abraham regarding his descendants and the land are central to the Old Testament narrative [3]. These promises were not vague but specific, outlining a future for Abraham's lineage and their inheritance [3]. Similarly, promises were made to Isaac, Jacob, and David, establishing a continuous thread of divine commitment through generations [3]. The Israelites as a whole were also recipients of God's promises [3].

The nature of God's promises is described as good and holy [3]. They are contained within the Scriptures, serving as a written record of God's intentions and commitments [3]. These promises are understood to be "made in Christ" and "to Christ," indicating their ultimate fulfillment and grounding in the person and work of Jesus [3]. The New Testament emphasizes that God's promises are for "all who are called of God" and for "those who love him" [3].

God's verbal declarations of promises are often reinforced by an oath, a solemn appeal to God himself [6]. The author of Hebrews highlights this, stating that God, "being determined to show more abundantly to the heirs of the promise the immutability of his counsel, interposed with an oath" [1]. This act of swearing by himself or his holiness is seen as a condescension to human weakness, removing doubt and hesitation regarding his eternal love and covenant [12]. John Gill, commenting on Hebrews 6:16, explains that God used an oath in accommodation to human custom, where an oath confirms what might otherwise be doubted [10]. This makes the divine promise "doubly sure," even though God's word alone would be sufficient [9]. The "two immutable things" mentioned in Hebrews 6:18 refer to God's word and his oath, both guaranteeing the certainty of his counsel [9].

The concept of prophecy is closely related to God's verbal promises, as prophecy often involves the foretelling of future events by divine declaration [2]. God is identified as the author of prophecy, giving it through Christ and the Holy Spirit [2]. Prophecy is not from human will but is a "sure word" given from the beginning [2]. Those who utter prophecies are raised up, ordained, and sent by God, filled and moved by the Holy Spirit [2]. This underscores the divine origin and reliability of prophetic declarations, which frequently contain promises.

God's promises are not only about future events but also about his responsiveness to his people. For instance, God promises to hear and bless public prayer [4]. This promise is exemplified in various biblical figures like Joshua, David, Solomon, and Jehoshaphat, whose public prayers were met with divine attention [4]. Christ himself sanctifies public prayer with his presence and promises answers to it [4].

The immutability of God's counsel, confirmed by his oath, is a significant theological point [1, 10]. This counsel refers to God's decree concerning the salvation of his people through Jesus Christ [10]. The steadfastness of God's promises is a recurring theme, with passages affirming that God is faithful to his promises and remembers them [3]. The Old Testament frequently portrays God speaking "in his holiness" or "by his holiness," which commentators interpret as pledging his divine attributes to fulfill his promises [11, 12]. This means that God's very nature guarantees the performance of his word [12].

The contrast between human vows and divine promises is also instructive. Human vows are voluntary promises made to God, which, once made, are to be kept if the vowed thing is right [5, 7]. These vows are made under various circumstances and were regulated by the law [5, 7]. However, divine promises originate solely from God's will and character, not as a response to a human vow, but as an expression of his sovereign plan and grace.

The revelation of God's will, including his promises, has occurred "at sundry times and in divers manners" throughout history [13]. This divine revelation, whether under the Old or New Testament, is consistently understood as originating from God himself [13]. The "word of God" (H0565A in Hebrew) encompasses both his commands and his promises, indicating the comprehensive nature of his verbal declarations [8].

Sources

  1. Hebrews “In this way God, being determined to show more abundantly to the heirs of the promise the immutability of his counsel, interposed with an oath; -- Hebrews 6:17”
  2. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Prophecy — Is the foretelling of future events -- Ge 49:1; Nu 24:14. God is the author of -- Isa 44:7; 45:21. God gives, through Christ -- Re 1:1. A gift of Christ -- Eph 4:11; Re 11:3. A gift of the Holy Spirit -- 1Co 12:10. Came not by the will of man -- 2Pe 1:21. Given from the beginning -- Lu 1:70. Is a sure word -- 2Pe 1:19. They who uttered Raised up by God. -- Am 2:11. Ordained by God. -- 1Sa 3:20; Jer 1:5. Sent by God. -- 2Ch 36:15; Jer 7:25. Sent by Christ. -- Mt 23:34. Filled with the Holy Spirit. -- Lu 1:67. Moved by the Holy Spirit. -- 2Pe 1:21. Spoke by ”
  3. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Promises of God, The — Contained in the Scriptures -- Ro 1:2. Made in Christ -- Eph 3:6; 2Ti 1:1. Made to Christ. -- Ga 3:16,19. Abraham. -- Ge 12:3,7; Ga 3:16. Isaac. -- Ge 26:3,4. Jacob. -- Ge 28:14. David. -- 2Sa 7:12; Ps 89:3,4,35,36. The Israelites. -- Ro 9:4. The Fathers. -- Ac 13:32; 26:6,7. All who are called of God. -- Ac 2:39. Those who love him. -- Jas 1:12; 2:5. Confirmed by an oath -- Ps 89:3,4; Heb 8:6. Covenant established upon -- Heb 8:6. God is faithful to -- Tit 1:2; Heb 10:23. God remembers -- Ps 105:42; Lu 1:54,55. Are Good. -- 1Ki 8:56. Holy. -- ”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Prayer, Public — Acceptable to God -- Isa 56:7. God promises to hear -- 2Ch 7:14,16. God promises to bless in -- Ex 20:24. Christ Sanctifies by his presence. -- Mt 18:20. Attended. -- Mt 12:9; Lu 4:16. Promises answers to. -- Mt 18:19. Instituted form of -- Lu 11:2. Should not be made in an unknown language -- 1Co 14:14-16. Saints delight in -- Ps 42:4; 122:1. Exhortation to -- Heb 10:25. Urge others to join in -- Ps 95:6; Zec 8:21. Exemplified Joshua. -- Jos 7:6-9. David. -- 1Ch 29:10-19. Solomon. -- 2Ch 6:1-42. Jehoshaphat. -- 2Ch 20:5-13. Jeshua. -- Ne 9:1-38. Jew”
  5. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Vows — Voluntary promises which, when once made, were to be kept if the thing vowed was right. They were made under a great variety of circumstances (Gen. 28: 18-22; Lev. 7:16; Num. 30:2-13; Deut. 23:18; Judg. 11:30, 39; 1 Sam. 1:11; Jonah 1:16; Acts 18:18; 21:23).”
  6. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Oath — A solemn appeal to God, permitted on fitting occasions (Deut. 6:13; Jer. 4:2), in various forms (Gen. 16:5; 2 Sam. 12:5; Ruth 1:17; Hos. 4:15; Rom. 1:9), and taken in different ways (Gen. 14:22; 24:2; 2 Chr. 6:22). God is represented as taking an oath (Heb. 6:16-18), so also Christ (Matt. 26:64), and Paul (Rom. 9:1; Gal. 1:20; Phil. 1:8). The precept, "Swear not at all," refers probably to ordinary conversation between man and man (Matt. 5:34, 37). But if the words are taken as referring to oaths, then their intention may have been to show "that the proper sta”
  7. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Vows — A vow is a solemn promise made to God to perform or to abstain from performing a certain thing. The earliest mention of a vow is that of Jacob. (Genesis 28:18-22; 31:13) Vows in general are also mentioned in the book of Job, (Job 22:27) The law therefore did not introduce, but regulated the practice of, vows. Three sorts are mentioned: 1, Vows of devotion; 2, Vows of abstinence; 3, Vows of destruction. + As to vows of devotion, the following rules are laid down: A man might devote to sacred uses possessions or persons, but not the first-born of either man or be”
  8. STEPBible TBESG “[H0565a] H0565A = (H0565A) — 1) utterance, speech, word<br>1a) word of God (command and promise)”
  9. Hebrews (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Hebrews 6:17: Wherein--that is, Which being the case among men, God, in accommodation to their manner of confirming covenants, superadded to His sure word His oath: the "TWO immutable things" (Heb 6:18). willing . . . counsel--Greek, "willing . . . will"; words akin. Expressing the utmost benignity [BENGEL]. more abundantly--than had He not sworn. His word would have been amply enough; but, to make assurance doubly sure, He "interposed with an oath" (so the Greek). Literally, He acted as Mediator, coming between Himself and us; as if He were less, while He swea”
  10. Hebrews (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Hebrews 6:16: Wherein God, willing,.... Or "wherefore", as the Syriac and Ethiopic versions render it; that is, whereas an oath is used among men to confirm anything that might be doubted; therefore God, in condescension to the weakness of men, made use of one; being very desirous and determined, more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel; by which is meant, not the Gospel nor the ordinances of it, though these are sometimes called the counsel of God; but the decree of God, concerning the salvation of his people by Jesus Christ, which is im”
  11. Psalms (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Psalms 60:6: God hath spoken in--or, "by." his holiness-- (Psa 89:35; Amo 4:2), on the pledge of His attributes (Psa 22:3; Psa 30:4). Taking courage from God's promise to give them possession (Exo 23:31; Deu 11:24) (and perhaps renewed to him by special revelation), with triumphant joy he describes the conquest as already made. Shechem, and . . . Succoth--as widely separated points, and--”
  12. Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 89:34: Once have I sworn by my holiness,.... Swearing is ascribed to God after the manner of men, and is done in condescension to the weakness of his people, and to remove doubts and hesitations from them, relating to things spiritual and eternal; as to his everlasting love to them, his covenant with them in Christ, and their perseverance in his grace; and it is made by himself, or one or other of his perfections, as here by his "holiness"; see Amo 4:2, and indeed his holiness being his nature, is no other than he himself, the holy God; and because he could swear by no grea”
  13. Hebrews (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Hebrews 1:1: God, who at sundry times and in divers manners,.... The apostle begins the epistle with an account of the revelation God has made of his mind and will in former times: the author of this revelation is God, not essentially, but personally considered, even God the Father, as distinguished from his Son in the next verse; for the revelation under the Old Testament is divine, as well as that under the New; in this they both agree, in whatsoever else they differ: and this revelation was made at several times, at different seasons, and to different persons; and consisted of ”
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