MAKING A VOW TO GOD

abstract-F1 P1stLJephthah was a judge over Israel for about six years;  Jephthah led the Israelites in battle against Ammon and, before going to war, against the Ammonites, he made a vow to God and some people say it was a stupid vow.  He said in Judges 11 verse 30 And Jephthah made a vow to the Lord: “If you give the Ammonites into my hands, 31 whatever comes out of the door of my house to meet me when I return in triumph from the Ammonites will be the Lord’s, and I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering.”  32 Then Jephthah went over to fight the Ammonites, and the Lord gave them into his hands. 33 He devastated twenty towns from Aroer to the vicinity of Minnith, as far as Abel Keramim. Thus Israel subdued Ammon.  

Well, I am sure you remember the vow that Jephthah had made earlier on, in verse 30.  He comes back home and 34 When Jephthah returned to his home in Mizpah, who should come out to meet him but his daughter, dancing to the sound of timbrels!She was an only child.

Except for her he had neither son nor daughter.35 When he saw her, he tore his clothes and cried, “Oh no, my daughter! You have brought me down and I am devastated. I have made a vow to the Lord that I cannot break.”   36 “My father,” she replied, “you have given your word to the Lord. Do to me just as you promised, now that the Lord has avenged you of your enemies, the Ammonites. 37 But grant me this one request,” she said. “Give me two months to roam the hills and weep with my friends, because I will never marry.”   38 “You may go,” he said. And he let her go for two months. She and her friends went into the hills and wept because she would never marry. 39 After the two months, she returned to her father, and he did to her as he had vowed. And she was a virgin.

A sad story, a young innocent girl died as a result of the vow that her father had made; a vow not about her directly but ultimately, she was in the firing line, as a result of being the first person who came out of her father’s house, according to his vow in verse 31 above.  The vow that Jephthah made was a costly one, as his only child was the sacrifice of his vow but he fulfilled his vow.

The Bible says in Eccles 5:4 ‘When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; for He has no pleasure in fools.  Pay what you have vowed.’  

What is that thing that you are believing God for?  What is that situation that refuses to shift and you want God to bless and prosper in your life or that of your loved one? Have you thought about making a vow to God?  If you do, then redeem your vow as quickly as you can.

About Author

admin

Leave a Reply