8331 reliability

The quality of consistency and dependability which is the basis for confidence and reliance. It is exemplified by God in his changelessness and is required of God’s people in their service and witness. Scripture gives warning, too, of those things which may prove unreliable.

The reliability of God

God’s character and nature are reliable Dt 32:4 See also 1Sa 2:2; Ps 18:2; Ps 62:7; Ps 78:35; Isa 26:4

God is faithful to his covenants Dt 7:9 See also Ge 9:15-16; Ps 105:8-11; Ps 111:5; Isa 54:10; Eze 16:60

God’s love is reliable Ps 89:1-2 See also Ex 20:6 pp Dt 5:10; Ex 34:6-7; Nu 14:18; Ps 103:17-18; La 3:22-24; 1Jn 4:16

God’s promises are reliable 1Ki 8:56 See also Jos 21:44-45; Jos 23:15; Jer 29:10; Heb 6:13-18

God’s presence is reliable Dt 31:6 See also Ge 28:15; Isa 41:10; Mt 28:20; Ac 18:10

God’s strength and protection are reliable Ps 46:1; 1Co 1:8-9 See also Jos 14:9; 2Ch 13:18; 2Ch 16:8; Ps 71:5-7; Php 1:6; 2Th 3:3; Jude 24

God’s words are reliable Jn 8:26 See also Ps 33:4; Eze 12:25; Mt 5:18; Lk 21:33; Ro 3:4

The reliability of times and seasons

Ge 8:22 See also Ge 1:14; Ps 104:19; Ecc 1:4-5

The reliability of God’s people

Reliability in witness Isa 8:2 See also Pr 12:17; Pr 14:5,25; Jn 19:35; Ac 4:20

Reliability in teaching Pr 22:20-21 See also Ecc 12:10; 2Ti 2:2

Reliability of character 1Ti 3:2-10; Tit 1:6-9

Examples of reliable people Ge 21:23-24 Abraham Moses: Nu 12:7; Heb 3:5 Caleb: Nu 14:24; Jos 14:9-12
2Ch 34:12 men working on the temple; Ne 7:2 Hanani; Eze 44:15 Priests; Mal 2:6 Levi; 1Co 4:17 Timothy; Col 1:7 Epaphras; Col 4:7-9 Tychicus and Onesimus; 2Ti 4:11 Luke

Warnings against unreliability

Examples of unreliable people Ps 78:57 See also 1Sa 29:6 David was trusted by Achish, but was secretly deceiving him; Jer 2:21 the people of Israel False prophets: Eze 13:9; Zec 10:2; Mt 7:15
Gal 2:4 Judaisers; Hos 10:4 Israel’s kings

Examples of things proving unreliable Jer 17:5 See also 2Ki 18:21 pp Isa 36:6 false dependence upon Egypt False dependence on military strength: Ps 33:16; Hos 10:13
Isa 30:12-13 false dependence upon human scheming False dependence upon human effort to achieve salvation: Gal 3:18; Col 2:8

See also