Summary

When Bathsheba presented herself to David, he reaffirmed the oath he had previously made. The word translated swore comes from the same Hebrew root word as the numeral seven. Literally it is to seven oneself, meaning to bind oneself by seven things. The verb is also in the form that denotes either passive or reflexive (something done to or for yourself) action. Therefore, the binding quality of the oath is emphasized here.

We might say that in these two verses there is an oath within an oath. First, the king affirmed the truth of the fact that he had previously swore an oath to Bathsheba, and then he repeated the oath that he had sworn. These oaths were both solemnized by reference to the Lord. In this verse we see that David swore as the Lord lives. This was saying that the life of God himself was the guarantee of the fulfillment of what was promised. Since God has life in himself, it is an eternal truth that he lives eternally. It is impossible that he could not be alive. God is more real than anything else in creation. Creation exists depending upon the act of God. The Lord lives depending upon nothing outside of himself. Thus, the oath that David makes here, as the Lord lives, takes us to the meaning of the name by which he swears: the Lord which is a translation of the covenant name Yahweh. The meaning of this name is represented in English as I am.

The king did not limit the basis of his oath upon the life of God, but he mentioned the Lord’s actions on behalf of David saying, …who has redeemed my soul out of every adversity. David’s experience, however, is not unique. Everyone who remains alive today has been preserved by the providence of our God. Yet, there is a special aspect to the Lord’s preservation of David. He was the chosen one, who Saul tried to eliminate on several occasions. He was the warrior king of Israel, who survived many a battle. He was guilty of a capital offense and was preserved only because of God’s grace. Through that same grace he survived the rebellion of his son Absalom.

We come then to David’s mention of the previous oath in these words, as I swore to you by the Lord, the God of Israel, saying, Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne in my place. This, first of all, goes a long way in proving that the oath was not a fabrication of Nathan suited to the occasion. David quoted the very words that he had spoken to Bathsheba on that occasion. Secondly, the previous oath was also sworn in the name of the Lord, but thirdly, there is an ascription to the Lord as the God of Israel.

Such an ascription reminds us that the oath determined who would be Israel’s king. As such it becomes an authenticating mark to the choice of Solomon as David’s successor. David’s choice was to be ratified by the One who rules Israel in the ultimate sense.

There is a final matter to be mentioned regarding this verse, namely David’s assurance that the oath would be fulfilled that day. David recognized the vital necessity of haste. A delay would mean disaster; either David might have died or, more likely, Adonijah’s plot would be too far along to stop.