For I lift up my hand to heaven, and say, I live for ever.
The verse belongs to the song of chapter 32, verses 1-43, which Moses was commanded to frame from God's dealings with ancient Israel to recount His past acts with His people, commanded by Christ as Israel's invisible Leader. The song was given to preserve those events in remembrance, keeping God's providential care and deliverance and His marked goodness and mercy in mind through waymarks and memorials gathered, laid up in sight, and carefully preserved, so that Israel could teach them to their children and repeat the whole story when children inquired. Its purpose was that the history of the past would not be forgotten.
The verse declares that God lives forever, affirming His eternal life and authority; He existed before the world was created and is from everlasting to everlasting. By lifting up His hand to heaven the verse portrays God taking an oath. The following verse connects His everlasting life with His taking hold of judgment to repay His enemies, taking vengeance on them and on those who hate Him, while defending His people and showing them mercy.
Christ's resurrection proclamation that He lives forever applies this everlasting life to Himself and affirms His victory over death. As part of that song the verse stands in a context that prophetically foreshadows future events, including the final victory of the faithful when Christ comes again in power and glory. The same recounting of God's goodness and wonderful works with praise and thanksgiving for them is needed now for young and old.
The verse belongs to the song of chapter 32, verses 1-43, which Moses was commanded to frame from God's dealings with ancient Israel to recount His past acts with His people, commanded by Christ as Israel's invisible Leader. The song was given to preserve those events in remembrance, keeping God's providential care and deliverance and His marked goodness and mercy in mind through waymarks and memorials gathered, laid up in sight, and carefully preserved, so that Israel could teach them to their children and repeat the whole story when children inquired. Its purpose was that the history of the past would not be forgotten.
The verse declares that God lives forever, affirming His eternal life and authority; He existed before the world was created and is from everlasting to everlasting. By lifting up His hand to heaven the verse portrays God taking an oath. The following verse connects His everlasting life with His taking hold of judgment to repay His enemies, taking vengeance on them and on those who hate Him, while defending His people and showing them mercy.
Christ's resurrection proclamation that He lives forever applies this everlasting life to Himself and affirms His victory over death. As part of that song the verse stands in a context that prophetically foreshadows future events, including the final victory of the faithful when Christ comes again in power and glory. The same recounting of God's goodness and wonderful works with praise and thanksgiving for them is needed now for young and old.