For men indeed swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation is for them an end of all dispute. Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. (Hebrews 06:16-18, NKJV).
God knows what we need. He calls Himself Jehovah Jireh, the LORD WHO PROVIDES, as Abraham discovered on Mount Moriah when God provided a ram for sacrifice in place of Isaac.
That phrase strong consolation is derived from a pair of Greek words, ischuros (is-khoo-ros') and paraklesis (par-ak'-lay-sis), together meaning impervious comfort. It paints the picture of a mighty one who comes alongside a weak, hurting, and beloved creature to provide indomitable protection, shelter… and rest.
It also gives the connotation of the Lord of Comfort, and in that sense brings to mind the Parakletos (par-ak'-lay-tos), the Divine Comforter, a designation of the Holy Spirit, who indwells believers at the time of their coming to faith, and who will never leave nor forsake us.
The Lord knows what we need. And what we need in all circumstances, beyond anything or anyone, is Him. So he swears on Himself to be that for us… always.
Read the verses above again and let them immerse you in His incomprehensible grace and love.
In His mercy toward us frail and easily broken creatures, He has determined to show more abundantly the immutability of His counsel, His unchanging and unchangeable promise to be all that which we need forever, especially comfort and refuge in this life; refuge that we flee to, knowing that the gates of His protection will be flung open to receive us NO MATTER WHAT.
Do you see how He longs for us to trust this very thing about Him? He wants us to know beyond all doubt that HE IS THERE… FOR US.
If this does not make your heart soar with unspeakable gratitude and joy, you are not paying attention; you are trampling on His magnificent Son who made such refuge possible.
God, who cannot lie, made us heirs of promise - the promise of eternal life with Him, and protection, shelter, and comfort in this life.
This does not mean that life in this dark and fallen world will be painless. In fact, it means the opposite: we will need strong consolation and refuge. Guaranteed.
“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33, NKJV).
The Lord confirms His oath in such an incontrovertible manner for an end of all dispute. Look, in times of inconsolable grief and heartache, in periods of unrelenting physical or emotional agony, in those endless hopeless hours of unrelieved fear, we will be tempted to seek refuge elsewhere. We will war and dispute with ourselves… and Him.
Acting in our own strength rather than waiting on Him. Losing that hope set before us rather than holding on for all we (and He) is worth. Desperately seeking relief and comfort from the empty and shallow things of this world, rather than going to the only Person who can, and will, provide exactly what we need.
He knows.
He cares more deeply than we can adequately comprehend.
He cries out from Heaven with the love of a Father to come to Him; to trust Him; to receive the only comfort that satisfies.
The extremes that He took to prove His love, sending our Savior to the Cross; the depth and strength of His commitment to us, these things He desires us to know above all other things. So much so that He confirms His oath according to all that is embodied in His name and Person. He puts Himself on the line.
The Lord God of All, whose mere word creates galaxies and stars and life out of nothing, graciously, humbly, and lovingly swears to us, His lowly and fallen creatures, that He IS our protection, shelter, and comfort.
There can be no stronger consolation.
