Issue 10, Jul 2008
For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the Amen is spoken by us to the glory of God. 2 Cor. 1:20
I have conducted retreats based upon God’s promises. You may find this Bible study useful for your personal or group study.
Defining the Word Promise
A Promise is a pledge that gives a person to whom it is made a right to expect or to claim the performance or forbearance of a specified act.
50 years ago TIME carried an article about Canadian schoolteacher Everett R. Storms. He made a special study of the promises of the Bible. According to his reckoning there are 7,487 promises by God to man, two by God the Father to the Son, 991 by one man to another, 290 by man to God, twenty-one by angels, one by a man to an angel and two by an evil spirit to the Lord. The devil made nine promises to Jesus if he would worship him. That equals 8,810 of all sorts in the Bible.
Old Testament promise words
Dabar - I Kings 8:56-not one word failed of all his promises
(noun) Nehemiah 5:12,13 - do according to the promise
Dabar - Ex.12:25 - as he has promised
(verb) Jer. 32:42 - all the good I have promised them
Deut.10:9 - as the Lord told (promised) them
Omer - Ps. 77:8 - do his promises fail
Ps.68:11 - Lord announced the word (promise)
Ps.105:42 - he remembered his holy promise
New Testament promise words
Epangelia- Acts 23:21 - looking for a promise from you
Gal. 3:14 - the promise of the Spirit
Gal. 3:16 - promises to Abraham (e.g. Gen.17:1-14;
Gen. 22:15-18)
Eph.1:13 -the promise of the Spirit=the promised Holy Spirit
Eph. 2:12 - covenants of promise
Hebr. 7:6 - blessed him that had the promises
Hebr.11:33- through faith ...obtained promises
Epangelma - 2 Peter 3:13 - according to His promise
Epangello (verb) - Rom. 4:21 - God promised
Proepangello (vb) - Rom.1:2 - which he had promised beforehand
Homologeo (vb) - Matt.14:7-Herod promised with an oath
Exhomologeo (vb) -Luke 22:6 - Judas consented (promised)
Men swear by someone greater than themselves and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. Hebrews 6:17
Provisions of the Promises
1. A promise with more than one application: Prov.22:4, riches, honor
2. Direct promises and particular blessings to all men in general:
Ps.84:11- grace, glory, good things. Ps. 34:9,10 - no lack or want.
3. Promises to definite persons, but applicable to all believers:
Josh.1:5 - not forsake you. Deut.31:6; Hebr.13:5 - never
4. Promises to Jews, but claimed by Christians:
Isa. 27:3 - Israel guarded. Zech. 2:5 - a wall of fire (See Phil.4:19)
5. Promises to particular persons, but useful for our encouragement:
2 Chron.1:11,12 - prayer for wisdom. Jas.1:5,6 - ask God for wisdom. John 14:16,26 - Spirit as teacher.
6. Each promise must be understood in its context:
2 Cor. 12:7-9 - strength perfected in weakness. Ps.71:20 - up again. Mark 16:18 - snake handling?
7. Promises are the means to an end, not an end in themselves:
2 Cor.6:16-7:1 - cleansed from the pollution of the flesh.
1 John 3:1-3 - to purify ourselves. 2 Pet.1:4 - escape corruption.
8. No promise is binding if its performance is unlawful
Judges 11:30 - Jephthah's vow.
9. No promise is binding if it has been extorted from the promising one by violence or fear: Matt.26:14-16 - Judas promises to deliver Jesus.
Promises About Afflictions
The word "afflict" and its cognates appear some 150 times in the Bible. 11 Hebrew words in the O.T. and 3 Greek words in the N.T. represent "affliction," both in the active and the passive sense. Actively the term covers those causes responsible for physical pain and mental distress. Passively the word describes those who are in a state of being in pain or trouble.
1. The Lord afflicts His people:
Psa.119:75 – Your laws are righteous
Isa.45:7 – I bring prosperity and create disaster
2. To test them:
Gal.6:7 – a man reaps what he sows
Job 23:10-12 – when He has tested me
Psa. 66:10 – from Your bounty you provided
Jer.28:13 – seek Me with your whole heart
3. To purify them:
Ps.94:12 – blessed the man You discipline
Isa.1:25 – I will thoroughly purge
James 1:3 –testing develops perseverance
4. To complete Christ's sufferings:
Col.1:24 – I rejoice in what was suffered for you
Phil.3:10 – the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings
I Peter 4:12-16 – do not be surprised
5. To feed them with the Bread of affliction:
Deut.16:3 – unleavened bread of affliction
Ex.1:12 – oppressed, they multiplied
I Thess.3:3,4 – we were destined for trials
6. To work patience and hope:
Ps. 30:5 – His anger lasts but a moment
Rom.5:3 – rejoice in our sufferings
Rom. 8:18 – not worthy of comparing with the glory to come
2 Cor.4:17 – light and momentary, achieving eternal glory
James 5:7,8 – patient until the Lord’s coming
7. Amidst it all He promises peace and security:
Psa.50:15 – I will deliver you
Psa.103:9 – He will not harbor anger forever
Isa.26:3,4 – a refuge for the poor and needy
John 14 – Jesus comforts and promises the Holy Spirit
Phil.4:7 – the transcending peace of God
2 Cor.1:3,4 – He comforts us in all our troubles
Promises about Physical Life
Archibald Rutledge tells of seeing a bird build its nest. Patiently and hard it worked all day. That night a storm came and the next morning the little bird's home lay on the ground in pathetic ruin. But the bird was there, too. It was not mourning over the destruction, instead it was busily rebuilding.
1. Promises about birth
Psa. 127:3 - children are a heritage of the LORD
Psa. 113:9 - He makes the barren woman a joyful mother
Acts 2:39 - the promises is to you and your children
2 Timothy 3:15 - from a child...Scriptures...able
2. Promises about youth
Proverbs 1:8 - hear the instruction of your father
1 Timothy 4:11-16 - let no one despise your youth
Proverbs 8:17 - those who seek me early shall find me
Lamentations 3:27 - good for a man to bear the yoke in his youth
Acts 2:17 - young men shall see visions
3. Promises about middle age
Joshua 14:10 - the LORD has kept me alive...45 years
Habakkuk 3:2 - LORD, revive your work in the midst of years
4. Promises about old age
Deut.5:33,6:2 - walk in God's ways, prolong your days
Job 5:26 - to your grave in full age, like a shock of corn in his season
Isaiah 46:4 – to your old age and grey hairs I will carry you
Isaiah 40:29-31 – strength to the weary, power to the weak
Psa. 92:14 - bring forth fruit in old age
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"Young men and maidens,
old men and children...
Let them praise the name of the LORD,
for his name alone is exalted;
his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.” Ps.148:12,13
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Watch for more about God’s promises next month . . .