The act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie.
A social, legal, or moral requirement, such as a duty, contract, or promise that compels one to follow or avoid a particular course of action.
A course of action imposed by society, law, or conscience by which one is bound or restricted.
The constraining power of a promise, contract, law, or sense of duty.
Law A legal agreement stipulating a specified payment or action, especially if the agreement also specifies a penalty for failure to comply.
Law The document containing the terms of such an agreement.
Something owed as payment or in return for a special service or favor.
The service or favor for which one is indebted to another.
The state, fact, or feeling of being indebted to another for a special service or favor received.
Anytime one enters into a contract, or covenant, we also enter into an obligation to the one in which the contract, or covenant was made.
Numbers 30:2-4 When a man makes a vow to the LORD or swears an oath to put himself under an obligation, he must not break his word; he must do whatever he has promised. When a woman in her father's house during her youth makes a vow to the LORD or puts [herself] under an obligation, and her father hears about her vow or the obligation she put herself under, and he says nothing to her, all her vows and every obligation she put herself under are binding.
Also, there is the a matter of integrity, of being obligated to one’s own word and moral and ethical principles, soundness of character and honesty. This too is an obligation.
Our God is righteous and He is also obligated in His righteousness, which means that He abides by His own laws; laws that He created. And because of this, because of His righteousness and laws and the carrying out of justice in a just way, He is also obligated to carry out judgment against those of disobedience according to His laws and in order to balance the scales of justice.
Yahweh our God and judge will soon deliver the final judgment upon His creation per this obligation. Lives are in the balance of the scales of justice. Yahweh reads all minds and hearts and we are all weighed with an accurate balance.
Job 31:6 let God weigh me with an accurate balance, and He will recognize my integrity.
Psalm 62:9 Men are only a vapor; exalted men, an illusion. On a balance scale, they go up; together they [weigh] less than a vapor.
Proverbs 16:11 Honest balances and scales are the LORD's; all the weights in the bag are His concern.
Because our God is a God of righteousness, faithfulness and perfect integrity, we may also be assured that we will all be weighed accurately and that when the time for judgment comes that His wrath will also be delivered, the scales of justice will be balanced and all obligations will be met.