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Promise:
·
A solemn pledge to perform or grant a specified thing. God
did not have to promise anything to sinful man. But the fact that almost
all-biblical promises are those made by God to man indicates that His
nature is characterized chiefly by grace and faithfulness. Grace
prompted God to promise a new land to the Israelites <Ex. 12:25>. His
faithfulness urged Him to fulfill that promise, in spite of the nation's
disobedience. And as Paul pointed out <Gal. 3:15-29>, eventually
fulfilled in the work of Christ. Christians should trust completely that
God's promise of eternal life <Heb.9:15> is secure.
(Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary)
Vow:
·
A solemn promise or pledge that binds a person to perform
a specified act or to behave in a certain manner. All vows were made to
God as a promise in expectation of His favor <Gen. 28:20> or in
thanksgiving forHis blessings <Ps. 116: 12-14>.
·
Vowing might be a part of everyday devotion <Ps. 61:8> or
the annual festivals <1 Sam. 1:21>. Vows must be paid to God in the
congregation at the tabernacle or Temple <Deut. 12:6, 11; Ps. 22:25>.
·
Vowing was voluntary. But after a vow was made, it had to
be performed <Deut. 23:21-23; Eccl. 5: 4-6>. Vows, therefore, were to be
made only after careful consideration <Prov. 20:25> and in keeping with
what pleased God <Lev. 27: 9-27>. Sinful man does not know what will
please God; he needs God's direction in making vows.
·
Vowing is joyful worship in faith and love <Ps. 61:
4-5,8>, often associated with the proclamation of God's salvation <Ps.
22: 22-27; 66:13-20>. For this reason, deception in vowing is an affront
to God and brings His curse <Mal. 1:14>.
(Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary)
In this day and age, many
people use their words carelessly. Not thinking about the consequences
of their words or how it may affect another person when they do not
perform them. How many times have you heard a person make promises or
vows and not fulfill them? When a person makes a promise or vow, and do
not perform them, little do they realize that they put themselves into a
curse. I had some advice given to me early in life "Do not make promises
that you cannot fulfill". Caution! If you use your words carelessly
don't expect people to have any respect for you or for your word. Listed
below are some Biblical examples of people who had chosen to make avow
to the Lord.
·
Jacob: "Then Jacob made a vow, saying, "If God will be
with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to
eat and clothing to put on, so that I come back to my father's house in
peace, then the Lord shall be my God. And this stone which I have set as
a pillar shall be God's house, and of all that You give me I will surely
give a tenth to You."
·
Jephthah: "Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah,
and he passed through Gilead and Manasseh, and passed through Mizpah of
Gilead; and from Mizpah of Gilead he advanced toward the people of Ammon.
And Jephthah made a vow to the Lord, and said, "If You will indeed
deliver the people of Ammon into my hands, then it will be that whatever
comes out of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace
from the people of Ammon, shall surely be the Lord's, and I will offer
it up as a burnt offering." So Jephthah advanced toward the people of
Ammon to fight against them, and the Lord delivered them into his hands.
And he defeated them from Aroer as far as Minnith--twenty cities--and to
Abel Keramim, with a very great slaughter. Thus the people of Ammon were
subdued before the children of Israel. When Jephthah came to his house
at Mizpah, there was his daughter, coming out to meet him with timbrels
and dancing; and she was his only child. Besides her he had neither son
nor daughter. And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he tore his
clothes, and said, "Alas, my daughter! You have brought me very low! You
are among those who trouble me! For I have given my word to the Lord,
and I cannot go back on it." So she said to him, "My father, if you have
given your word to the Lord, do to me according to what has gone out of
your mouth, because the Lord has avenged you of your enemies, the people
of Ammon." Then she said to her father, "Let this thing be done for me:
let me alone for two months, that I may go and wander on the mountains
and bewail my virginity, my friends and I." So he said, "Go." And he
sent her away for two months; and she went with her friends, and
bewailed her virginity on the mountains.And it was so at the end of two
months that she returned to her father, and he carried out his vow with
her which he had vowed. She knew no man. And it became a custom in
Israel that the daughters of Israel went four days each year to lament
the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite. "
·
Hannah: And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to
the Lord and wept in anguish. Then she made a vow and said, "O Lord of
hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and
remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your
maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days
of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head." And it happened, as
she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli watched her mouth. Now
Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not
heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk. So Eli said to her, "How
long will you be drunk? Put your wine away from you!" And Hannah
answered and said, "No, my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. I
have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but have poured out my
soul before the Lord. Do not consider your maidservant a wicked woman,
for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief I have spoken until
now." Then Eli answered and said, "Go in peace, and the God of Israel
grant your petition which you have asked of Him." And she said, "Let
your maidservant find favor in your sight." So the woman went her way
and ate, and her face was no longer sad. 1:19 Then they rose early in
the morning and worshiped before the Lord, and returned and came to
their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord
remembered her. So it came to pass in the process of time that Hannah
conceived and bore a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, "Because I
have asked for him from the Lord."
·
Absalom: "Now it came to pass after forty years that
Absalom said to the king, "Please, let me go to Hebron and pay the vow
which I made to the Lord. For your servant took a vow while I dwelt at
Geshur in Syria, saying, 'If the Lord indeed brings me back to
Jerusalem, then I will serve the Lord.' "And the king said to him, "Go
in peace." So he arose and went to Hebron."
Let's look in the Bible and
see what God says about making promises to Him or others?
·
Num. 30:2 "If a man vow a vow unto the Lord, or swear an
oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall
do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth"
·
Ps. 76:11 " Vow, and pay unto the Lord your God: let all
that be round about him bring presents unto him that ought to be feared"
·
Deut. 23:21 "When thou shalt vow a vow unto the Lord thy
God, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for the Lord thy God will surely
require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee.
·
Eccl. 5:4 "When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to
pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast
vowed.
·
Eccl. 5:5 "Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than
that thou shouldest vow and not pay" Listed below are some more
considerations before making a promise/vow.
We should make vows that are
acceptable service to Him, and not merely performed for His favor, but
be as a deep expression of our gratitude towards Him.
We should be extremely
cautious, seek advice, and not be hasty. Many people that have
faithfully served the Lord have been so zealous, that they make rash
vows before thinking the situation through and end up having to face the
consequences of a such a vow (i.e. Jephthah's vow).
Vows that are given to the
Lord must be conscientiously performed, if it is possible and lawful.
God holds you responsible to fulfill the vow/promise you make. If you do
not perform your vow, you have sinned. Remember to think before you
speak, and to perform all that you promise to God and others! |
