WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL
MAY 04, 2026
TOPIC: KEEP YOUR PROMISES
BY T. O. BANSO
“So the men of Israel said, ‘Have you seen this man who has come up? Surely he has come up to defy Israel; and it shall be that the man who kills him the king will enrich with great riches, will give him his daughter, and give his father’s house exemption from taxes in Israel’” (1 Samuel 17:25 New King James Version).
David came to the battlefield where Goliath, the Philistine champion, had been intimidating the Israelites for forty days, challenging them to choose one of their own to face him in battle to decide the winner between the two forces. Not a single Israelite, not even their king, Saul, could accept his challenge and step forward.
Saul had made a promise to reward anyone who could kill Goliath. “So the men of Israel said, ‘Have you seen this man who has come up? Surely he has come up to defy Israel; and it shall be that the man who kills him the king will enrich with great riches, will give him his daughter, and give his father’s house exemption from taxes in Israel’” (1 Samuel 17:25 New King James Version). David asked the men nearby about the reward for killing Goliath, and he was told the same thing (verse 27). So, it was unlikely that they misquoted Saul.
It is common knowledge that David eventually killed Goliath in this epic battle. However, there is no record that Saul fulfilled the promise he made to reward anyone who killed Goliath. The Bible only says Saul took David that day and would not let him go to his father’s house anymore (1 Samuel 18:2). There is no mention of rewarding him with great riches, giving him his daughter, and giving his father’s house exemption from taxes in Israel, as Saul was reported to have promised.
As David returned from the general war with the Philistines following his victory over Goliath, the women sang in celebration that Saul had killed “his thousands and David his ten thousands.” Saul became angry and jealous of David and looked for ways to kill him (verses 6-9). Thus, it was unlikely that Saul kept his promise to reward David for killing Goliath.
Even if we give Saul the benefit of the doubt that he might have fulfilled the promise he made, the Bible makes it clear that he didn’t fulfil the aspect of the promise to give his daughter as wife to whoever killed Goliath. Although David later married Michal, Saul’s younger daughter, it was based on a new, dangerous condition Saul set, hoping the Philistines would kill David while he was trying to fulfil it. Fortunately for David, he was not killed. So, he married Michal, whom Saul hoped to use as a snare to kill him, but the plan failed (1 Samuel 18:20-29). If David had married Michal only after fulfilling a different condition, and not as a reward for killing Goliath, as Saul had promised, it is correct to conclude that Saul didn’t fulfil the original terms of his promise. Even before David eventually married Michal, Saul had reneged on another promise to give Merab, his older daughter, in marriage to David, on the condition that he would serve him bravely and fight the LORD’s battle, which was part of his trap to kill him. Although David satisfied Saul’s condition to marry Merab, Saul refused to give her to David, instead giving her to another man. 1 Samuel 18:19 says, “But it happened at the time when Merab, Saul’s daughter, should have been given to David, that she was given to Adriel the Meholathite as a wife” (New King James Version).
Do you keep your promises? Does your word mean anything to you? Do you talk but don’t walk the talk? If you have a reputation in your family, office, business, or organisation for breaking promises as soon as you make them, it shows you lack character. And it doesn’t matter how highly placed or rich you are.
If you have a reputation for habitually breaking your promises, you don’t have a good reputation. Proverbs 22:1 says, “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, loving favor rather than silver and gold” (New King James Version). A good name means a good reputation. Ecclesiastes 7:1a also presents this truth in another way: “A good name is better than precious ointment” (New King James Version).
Be careful about making promises you don’t intend to keep. I am limiting this to promises made to human beings; I am not extending it to vows or promises made to God, although the same principle applies. If new developments make it impossible to fulfil a promise, communicate with the person promptly. Don’t gloss over it or take the person for granted; that shows irresponsibility and a lack of regard for others.
In your transactions, don’t make empty promises merely to gain an advantage, win a contract, or secure employment. This dishonesty may result in the loss of that very advantage. Many people overpromise and underdeliver, which erodes trust. Think through your commitments before making them so that you won’t need excuses. In Joshua 9, the Israelites made a mistake by not consulting God when the Gibeonites deceived them into making a peace treaty with them. Yet, even when they discovered the deception, they respected the treaty they had made. They kept their word and only cursed them with servitude.
However, later in 2 Samuel 21:1, the Bible says, “Now there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year; and David inquired of the Lord. And the Lord answered, ‘It is because of Saul and his bloodthirsty house, because he killed the Gibeonites’” (New King James Version). That was wrong of Saul, and his family suffered for breaking the promise the Israelites had made to the Gibeonites (verses 2-9).
Think carefully before you make a promise; process the information. Don’t be hasty. Make only promises you’ll keep; don’t make a promise to impress people or compete with others. Always remember your promises. That you forgot a promise is not a tenable excuse. Some promises must be written down and well-documented to avoid any disagreement or confusion about the details. Keep your promises.
The world will be a better place if we all keep our promises. We need politicians, artisans, professionals, Christians, citizens, etc., who will keep their promises. In your interactions with people, keep your promises. Also, mark those who promise heaven and earth, believe promises are made to be broken, or make promises lightly, only to forget them. Don’t let their sweet words make you a victim.
Unlike Saul, whose jealousy and dishonesty resulted in his failure to honour the promises of reward he made regarding Goliath, we find another king, David, who fulfilled his promise. He had sworn to Bathsheba that Solomon, her son, would succeed him (1 Kings 1:13, 17). Although Adonijah, the elder brother, proclaimed himself king, David acted swiftly when Bathsheba and the prophet Nathan brought this to his attention, fulfilling his promise to make Solomon king while David was still alive (1 Kings 1:29-40).
Keep your promises. “I forgot” is not a valid excuse. Don’t become a liar. Colossians 3:9 says believers should not lie to one another, since they have put off the old man with his deeds. You should also not lie to non-believers. Lying is a sin regardless of the target. The devil is the father of lies (John 8:44). Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, but those who deal truthfully are His delight (Proverbs 12:22). All liars and other sinners will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulphur, which is the second death (Revelation 21:8). Christians must speak the truth (Ephesians 4:25). Make the promises you will keep and keep the promises you make.
TAKE ACTION!
If you are not born again, you must give your heart to Jesus now. Please take the following steps: *Admit that you are a sinner and you cannot save yourself, and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your heart. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching, and Bible-practising church. There, they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.
Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner, and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me, and God raised Him on the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I invite Jesus into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.
I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You must join a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching, and Bible-practising church where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like a palm tree and grow like a cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.
PRAYER POINTS: Father, forgive me for all the promises I have made but didn’t keep. I promise to keep my promises from now on. Holy Spirit, help me to think carefully before making promises, rather than being hasty. I shall be quick to hear and slow to speak in Jesus’ name. I pray that those who make false promises will repent, especially those who break others’ hearts with unfulfilled promises.
(For over 900 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).
T. O. Banso is the President of Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
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