Date: 04-01-2021

Title: Foolish Vows

(S) cripture:
    Judges 11:29-35 (NLT2) At that time the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah, and he went throughout the land of Gilead and Manasseh, including Mizpah in Gilead, and from there he led an army against the Ammonites. 30 And Jephthah made a vow to the LORD. He said, “If you give me victory over the Ammonites, 31 I will give to the LORD whatever comes out of my house to meet me when I return in triumph. I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering.” 32 So Jephthah led his army against the Ammonites, and the LORD gave him victory. 33 He crushed the Ammonites, devastating about twenty towns from Aroer to an area near Minnith and as far away as Abel-keramim. In this way Israel defeated the Ammonites. 34 When Jephthah returned home to Mizpah, his daughter came out to meet him, playing on a tambourine and dancing for joy. She was his one and only child; he had no other sons or daughters. 35 When he saw her, he tore his clothes in anguish. “Oh, my daughter!” he cried out. “You have completely destroyed me! You’ve brought disaster on me! For I have made a vow to the LORD, and I cannot take it back.”

(O) bservation:
    In asking God to give him victory over the Ammonites, Jephthah made a quick and foolish vow to the Lord. He would make a sacrifice of whatever first came out of his house when he returned from victory. On the surface it sounds like a good and proper vow to make. Trouble came when his only daughter was the first to come from his house. You can hear the anguish in his heart and yet he kept this foolish vow.

(A) pplication:
    We, too, often make quick and foolish vows or promises to God. We do so to gain his blessing or favor. We do not consult with the Lord about our plans we just move forward and promise him something if he blesses us. Our promises often have dire unforeseen consequences and then we find ourselves trying to bargain with the Lord to avoid keeping the vow or we just pass it off as nothing important and ignore it completely. Scripture tells us it is better not to vow than to vow and not keep it (Ecclesiastes 5:5). Today I will be cautious with my promises and careful to keep them when they are made.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, remind me to consult with you before I make any vow or promise to You or another. Grant me the courage and strength to keep the promises I make. Amen