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Obedience to God's Promises in Times of Adversity

Obedience to God's promises during adversity is a recurring theme in biblical literature, emphasizing faithfulness and endurance in difficult circumstances. The concept of obedience itself encompasses various aspects, including heeding God's voice, keeping His law and commandments, obeying Christ, and responding to the Gospel [1]. Ecclesiastes 12:13 summarizes this duty: "Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man" [6].

The Bible frequently links obedience with the reception of divine promises. Hebrews 10:36 states, "For you need endurance so that, having done the will of God, you may receive the promise" [2]. This suggests that perseverance in obedience is a prerequisite for experiencing God's promised blessings. Similarly, Psalm 103:18 speaks of God's covenant loyalty "to those who keep his covenant, to those who remember to obey his precepts" [3]. The people of God are encouraged to set their hope in God and not forget His works, but to keep His commandments [5].

Adversity often tests this obedience. The Israelites, for instance, faced immense challenges, such as being encompassed by mountains, the sea, and enemies, yet Moses encouraged them with promises of deliverance despite their incredulity [11]. In such times, God's people are called to heed His commands and promises [4]. The prophet Haggai, when the people showed a disposition to obey, even before fully acting, received a message from God: "I am with you" [13]. This indicates God's immediate response to a willing heart, even in the midst of hardship.

God's promises are described as good, holy, and confirmed by an oath, with God Himself being faithful to them [9]. This faithfulness provides a foundation for hope, especially in times of trial [10]. Even when His people are unfaithful, God's faithful love endures, and His covenant of blessing assures His presence, leading to wholeness, blessing, and protection [14]. The prophet Isaiah, addressing the exiles, assured them that their patience in affliction would not be in vain, inviting them to inquire about the future outcome of their troubles through God's word [16].

The Old Testament frequently illustrates this dynamic. God promised blessings to Israel if they remained obedient to Him as their heavenly King, pledging His perfections for their well-being and deliverance from evil [12]. Jeremiah 32:40 highlights God's consistency: "For thus saith the Lord, like as I have brought all this great evil upon this people, so will I bring upon them all the good that I have promised them" [17]. This passage underscores that God is as faithful in bringing about His promised good as He is in allowing adversity.

In the New Testament, Christ serves as the ultimate example of obedience, even to the point of death (Philippians 2:5-8) [1]. Afflicted saints are assured that God is with them, serving as a refuge and strength, and providing comfort and preservation [7]. They are encouraged to hold fast to their faith without wavering, knowing that God, who made the promises, is faithful [15]. This steadfastness in obedience, even when facing tribulation, is seen as a characteristic of saints (1 Peter 1:14) [1]. The call to "Make vows to the LORD your God and fulfill them" (Psalm 76:11 NASB) further emphasizes the commitment required in response to God's promises [8].

Sources

  1. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Obedience to God — Commanded -- De 13:4. Without faith, is impossible -- Heb 11:6. Includes Obeying his voice. -- Ex 19:5; Jer 7:23. Obeying his law. -- De 11:27; Isa 42:24. Obeying Christ. -- Ex 23:21; 2Co 10:5. Obeying the gospel. -- Ro 1:5; 6:17; 10:16,17. Keeping his commandments. -- Ec 12:13. Submission to higher powers. -- Ro 13:1. Better than sacrifice -- 1Sa 15:22. Justification obtained by that of Christ -- Ro 5:19. Christ, an example of -- Mt 3:15; Joh 15:20; Php 2:5-8; Heb 5:8. Angles engaged in -- Ps 103:20. A characteristic of saints -- 1Pe 1:14. Saints ”
  2. Hebrews “For you need endurance so that, having done the will of God, you may receive the promise. -- Hebrews 10:36”
  3. Psalms “to those who keep his covenant, to those who remember to obey his precepts. -- Psalms 103:18”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Heedfulness — Commanded -- Ex 23:13; Pr 4:25-27. Necessary In the care of the soul. -- De 4:9. In the house and worship of God. -- Ec 5:1. In what we hear. -- Mr 4:24. In how we hear. -- Lu 8:18. In keeping God's commandments. -- Jos 22:5. In conduct. -- Eph 5:15. In speech. -- Pr 13:3; Jas 1:19. In worldly company. -- Ps 39:1; Col 4:5. In giving judgment. -- 1Ch 19:6,7. Against sin. -- Heb 12:15,16. Against unbelief. -- Heb 3:12. Against idolatry. -- De 4:15,16. Against false Christs, and false prophets. -- Mt 24:4,5,23,24. Against false teachers. -- Phm 3:2; Col 2:”
  5. Psalms “that they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments, -- Psalms 78:7”
  6. King James Version “[KJV] Ecclesiastes 12:13 — Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”
  7. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Afflicted Saints — God is with -- Ps 46:5,7; Isa 43:2. God is a refuge and strength to -- Ps 27:5,6; Isa 25:4; Jer 16:19; Na 1:7. God comforts -- Isa 49:13; Jer 31:13; Mt 5:4; 2Co 1:4,5; 7:6. God preserves -- Ps 34:20. God delivers -- Ps 34:4,19; Pr 12:13; Jer 39:17,18. Christ is with -- Joh 14:18. Christ supports -- 2Ti 4:17; Heb 2:18. Christ comforts -- Isa 61:2; Mt 11:28-30; Lu 7:13; Joh 14:1; 16:33. Christ preserves -- Isa 63:9; Lu 21:18. Christ delivers -- Re 3:10. Should praise God -- Ps 13:5,6; 56:8-10; 57:6,7; 71:20-23. Should imitate Christ -- Heb 12:1-3; 1P”
  8. Psalms “Psalms 76:11 (NASB) — Make vows to the LORD your God and fulfill them; Let all who are around Him bring gifts to Him who is to be feared.”
  9. 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. -- ”
  10. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Hope — In God -- Ps 39:7; 1Pe 1:21. In Christ -- 1Co 15:19; 1Ti 1:1. In God's promises -- Ac 26:6,7; Tit 1:2. In the mercy of God -- Ps 33:18. Is the work of the Holy Spirit -- Ro 15:13; Ga 5:5. Obtained through Grace. -- 2Th 2:16. The word. -- Ps 119:81. Patience and comfort of the Scriptures. -- Ro 15:4. The gospel. -- Col 1:5,23. Faith. -- Ro 5:1,2; Ga 5:5. The result of experience -- Ro 5:4. A better hope brought in by Christ -- Heb 7:19. Described as Good. -- 2Th 2:16. Lively. -- 1Pe 1:3. Sure and steadfast. -- Heb 6:19. Gladdening. -- Pr 10:28. Blessed. -- Tit ”
  11. Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 15, section 3: of their freedom; and this so far, that their incredulity prompted them to throw stones at the prophet, while he encouraged them and promised them deliverance; and they resolved that they would deliver themselves up to the Egyptians. So there was sorrow and lamentation among the women and children, who had nothing but destruction before their eyes, while they were encompassed with mountains, the sea, and their enemies, and discerned no way of flying from them. 5. But Moses, though the multitude looked fiercely at him, did not, h”
  12. Deuteronomy (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Deuteronomy 7:11: Thou shalt therefore keep the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which I command thee this day--In the covenant into which God entered with Israel, He promised to bestow upon them a variety of blessings so long as they continued obedient to Him as their heavenly King. He pledged His veracity that His infinite perfections would be exerted for this purpose, as well as for delivering them from every evil to which, as a people, they would be exposed. That people accordingly were truly happy as a nation, and found every promise which th”
  13. Haggai (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Haggai 1:13: the Lord's messenger--so the priests (Mal 2:7) are called (compare Gal 4:14; Pe2 1:21). in the Lord's message--by the Lord's authority and commission: on the Lord's embassage. I am with you-- (Mat 28:20). On the people showing the mere disposition to obey, even before they actually set to work, God passes at once from the reproving tone to that of tenderness. He hastens as it were to forget their former unfaithfulness, and to assure them, when obedient, that He both is and will be with them: Hebrew, "I with you!" God's presence is the best of bless”
  14. Isaiah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Isaiah 54:10: 54:10 God’s faithful love for his people endures despite their unfaithfulness. • God’s covenant of blessing was the assurance of his presence, resulting in wholeness, blessing, and protection. It replaces the shame and disgrace of the Exile (see Ezek 34:25; 37:26).”
  15. Hebrews (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Hebrews 10:21: Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering,.... Either in the grace or doctrine of faith, or in the profession of both; See Gill on Heb 4:14. For he is faithful that promised; that is God; and it is true of Father, Son, and Spirit; but God the Father may be more especially designed: he is a promising God, and is known to be so by his people; he is eminently and emphatically the Promiser; and all other promisers, and the promises made by them, signify little; but the promises of God are exceeding great and precious, very ancient, free, and uncond”
  16. Isaiah (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Isaiah 45:11: The people of God in captivity, who reconciled themselves to the will of God in their affliction and were content to wait his time for their deliverance, are here assured that they should not wait in vain. I. They are invited to enquire concerning the issue of their troubles, Isa 45:11. The Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, though he does not allow them to strive with him, yet encourages them, 1. To consult his word: "Ask of me things to come; have recourse to the prophets and their prophecies, and see what they say concerning these things. Ask the watchmen, Wha”
  17. Jeremiah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Jeremiah 32:40: For thus saith the Lord, like as I have brought all this great evil upon this people,.... The Chaldean army now besieging them, the famine and pestilence among them, as well as their captivity, which was just at hand and certain: so will I bring upon them all the good that I have promised them; in the preceding verses; as being their God, and they his people; giving them one heart, and one way; putting his fear into them; causing them to persevere to the end: rejoicing over them to do them good; and planting them in the land. God is as faithful to his promises as”
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