Chapter 37—Oath Taking
I saw that some of God’s children have made a mistake in regard
to oath taking, and Satan has taken advantage of this to oppress them,
and take from them their Lord’s money. I saw that the words of our
Lord, “Swear not at all,” do not touch the judicial oath. “Let your
communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than
these cometh of evil.” This refers to common conversation. Some
exaggerate in their language. Some swear by their own life; others
swear by their head—as sure as they live; as sure as they have a head.
Some take heaven and earth to witness that such things are so. Some
hope that God will strike them out of existence if what they are saying
is not true. It is this kind of common swearing against which Jesus
warns His disciples.
We have men placed over us for rulers, and laws to govern the
people. Were it not for these laws, the condition of the world would
be worse than it is now. Some of these laws are good, others are
bad. The bad have been increasing, and we are yet to be brought
into strait places. But God will sustain His people in being firm and
living up to the principles of His word. When the laws of men conflict
with the word and law of God, we are to obey the latter, whatever
the consequences may be. The law of our land requiring us to deliver
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a slave to his master, we are not to obey; and we must abide the
consequences of violating this law. The slave is not the property of any
man. God is his rightful master, and man has no right to take God’s
workmanship into his hands, and claim him as his own.
I saw that the Lord still has something to do with the laws of the
land. While Jesus is in the sanctuary, God’s restraining Spirit is felt by
rulers and people. But Satan controls to a great extent the mass of the
world, and were it not for the laws of the land, we should experience
much suffering. I was shown that when it is actually necessary, and
they are called upon to testify in a lawful manner, it is no violation
of God’s word for His children to solemnly take God to witness that
what they say is the truth, and nothing but the truth.
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