This article is part of the Key Bible Verses series.
All commentary notes adapted from the ESV Study Bible.
1. Malachi 3:6
For I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. Read More
I the LORD do not change implies that God’s character and eternal purposes do not change, which gives a solid foundation for his people’s faith and hope. However, unchangeableness in character does not mean that the Lord is unchanging in his actions, for the very next verse, “Return to me and I will return to you” (Mal. 3:7), shows that God acts differently in response to different situations. Therefore implies that God’s purpose to bring blessing to the world through Abraham’s descendants and through a Davidic Messiah will not be defeated, and thus the children of Jacob are not consumed: their existence as the restored community is evidence of God’s faithfulness.
2. James 1:17
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Read More
James moves from evil temptations (which God never gives) to the observation that every good gift and every perfect gift comes from God (cf. Matt. 7:11). As in James 1:5, James reminds the readers of God’s goodness. In their trials, God is not tempting them to sin, but the difficulties in life are intended to strengthen and perfect them and make them more like God. God’s intentions for them are always for good (cf. Rom. 8:28). There is nothing in this world that is truly good that has any other origin than from above, namely heaven, descending from the Father of lights, which refers to God as creator of the heavenly “lights” (Ps. 74:16; 136:7–9)—a prime example of his good gifts. God is unchanging in his character and therefore in his giving of good, unlike the variation of the night changing to day or the shifting shadow caused by the sun or moon.
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3. Psalm 102:25–27
Of old you laid the foundation of the earth,
and the heavens are the work of your hands.
They will perish, but you will remain;
they will all wear out like a garment.
You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away,
but you are the same, and your years have no end. Read More
The Lord Is Eternal, and His Faithfulness Outlasts the World. The psalm finishes with words addressed to God, meditating on God’s everlasting being and purpose. The average person experiences the physical world as a long-established operation (cf. the English saying, “as old as the hills”); and yet God is older still. Of old God laid the foundation of the earth; he was there before the world was created (cf. Ps. 90:1–2). And though the earth and heavens will perish and will all wear out like a garment, God will remain. In fact, the years will not change him; you are the same. This means that his purposes will not change either, and, even if it takes (what seems to us) a long time to bring those purposes about, he will never grow weary or give up. Thus the psalm closes with confidence that goes well beyond the individual worshipers’ lifetime, expecting God to keep his promises to many faithful generations descended from today’s faithful (Ps.102:28).
4. Numbers 23:19
God is not man, that he should lie,
or a son of man, that he should change his mind.
Has he said, and will he not do it?
Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it? Read More
God is not man, that he should lie. Balaam, even against his selfish intentions, must speak God’s truth (cf. Num. 23:26). Here he is affirming that God’s truthfulness in general (cf. Titus 1:2; Heb. 6:18; God does not lie, and he cannot lie, for this would be contrary to his character) implies that his promises to Israel will also come to pass.
5. Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Read More
Jesus the Messiah (Christ) is eternally trustworthy in his position as high priest and as Son of God—yesterday active in creation (e.g., Heb. 1:2–4), today offering salvation (e.g., Heb. 4:7–10), and forever reigning in heaven (e.g., Heb. 10:12). This verse may be a transition from Heb. 13:7 (their leaders trusted in this Christ, and Jesus remains trustworthy) to Heb. 13:9 (strange teachings are departures from the Jesus who is always the same).
6. 1 Samuel 15:29
And also the Glory of Israel will not lie or have regret, for he is not a man, that he should have regret. Read More
The term “regret” poses a difficulty, since 1 Sam. 15:11 and 1 Sam. 15:35 say that God did regret making Saul king, while here Samuel denies that God will ever lie or have regret (cf. Num. 23:19). The term for “have regret” (Hb. nakham) can be translated “relent” or “change one’s mind” (e.g., Ex. 32:12, 14; Num. 23:19; 1 Sam. 24:16 [1 Chron. 21:15]; Ps. 106:45; Jer. 15:6; Jer. 18:8, Jer. 18:10; Jer. 26:3, Jer. 26:13, Jer. 26:19; Jer. 42:10; Ezek. 24:14; Joel 2:13–14; Amos 7:3, Amos 7:6; Jonah 3:9–10; Jonah 4:2) or “have pity or compassion” (Deut. 32:36; Judg. 2:18; Ps. 90:13; 135:14) as well as “be sorry” or “have regret” (cf. Gen. 6:6–7). Thus the term as used in 1 Sam. 15:11, 35 describes God’s own feeling of sorrow or regret that Saul had turned out as he did (and does not even address the question whether God knew of it beforehand), while in 1 Sam. 15:29 God will not regret or change his mind concerning a decision once he has made it.
7. Hebrews 6:17–20
So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. Read More
The two unchangeable things are God’s promise/purpose and his path. The character of God is holy, and he does not lie. Thus his announcement of his promise is sure, and doubly sure when combined with his oath. This encourages one to hold fast (see Heb. 4:14) to the hope (Heb. 3:6; Heb. 6:11; Heb. 7:19; Heb. 10:23) of God’s promises.
8. Psalm 90:1–2
Lord, you have been our dwelling place
in all generations.
Before the mountains were brought forth,
or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God. Read More
The Lord Is Eternal. The Lord is the dwelling place, i.e., the home and refuge, for his people in all generations because he himself is eternal. He has been God since before the creation. That God is the Creator is assumed, and that the Lord has always been God indicates that he always will be, i.e., that he will not change.
9. Isaiah 40:27–28
Why do you say, O Jacob,
and speak, O Israel,
“My way is hidden from the LORD,
and my right is disregarded by my God”?
Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
his understanding is unsearchable. Read More
Jacob . . . Israel. God is true to his covenant, despite his people’s unbelief (cf. Gen. 35:9–15). My way is hidden from the LORD. While the despondent exiles could feel abandoned by God, it is the sovereign Creator (Isa. 40:21–26) who is the source of their strength (Isa. 40:28–31). my right. The justice expected of God. God never suffers setbacks, and he helps those who do.
10. 2 Timothy 2:13
if we are faithless, he remains faithful—
for he cannot deny himself. Read More
The trustworthy statement moves from comfort to challenge and back to comfort: 2 Tim. 2:11b is a reminder of life even in the face of death; 2 Tim. 2:12 calls for perseverance; 2 Tim. 2:13 is a reminder of God’s preserving power and faithfulness. In this context, to deny him must entail a more serious offense than being faithless. Denying Christ envisions final apostasy, in contrast with a temporary lapse in trusting Christ (“if we are faithless”). Those who deny Jesus will be judged forever; but all believers sin, and God is faithful and will pardon, restore, and keep those who are truly his.