Day: August 13, 2024

As the LORD Liveth? #5

Tuesday, August 13, 2024

“And he said, They were my brethren, even the sons of my mother: as the LORD liveth, if ye had saved them alive, I would not slay you” (Judges 8:19 KJV).

What is the implication of this expression, “As the LORD liveth?”

“As the LORD liveth” appears 27 times in the King James Bible (and only in the Old Testament Scriptures). Moreover, there are four variants: “as the LORD God of Israel liveth” (two times), “as the LORD of hosts liveth” (two times), “as God liveth” (two times), and “as the LORD thy God liveth” (two times). Look at the latter two references. “And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die” (1 Kings 17:12). “As the LORD thy God liveth, there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord hath not sent to seek thee: and when they said, He is not there; he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that they found thee not” (1 Kings 18:10).

Additionally, another similar expression that the Old Testament features is “as thy soul liveth.” These are 10 references in total, such as the following. “And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD” (1 Samuel 1:26). “And when Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, he said unto Abner, the captain of the host, Abner, whose son is this youth? And Abner said, As thy soul liveth, O king, I cannot tell” (1 Samuel 17:55). “And David sware moreover, and said, Thy father certainly knoweth that I have found grace in thine eyes; and he saith, Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved: but truly as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, there is but a step between me and death” (1 Samuel 20:3). The remaining verses are 1 Samuel 25:26, 2 Samuel 11:11, 2 Samuel 14:19, 2 Kings 2:2, 2 Kings 2:4, 2 Kings 2:6, and 2 Kings 4:30.

Let us summarize and conclude this devotionals arc….