27 January 2008 - Elder Goh Kee Tai
"WHEN THOU VOWEST A VOW UNTO GOD"
(ECCL 5:4 )
During the time of the Judges, every man in Israel ‘did that which was right in his own eyes’ and forsook God (Jud 21:25 ). The Lord turned the children of Israel over to the enemies to vex and oppress them. When the people repented and cried out to the Lord, He was filled with love, compassion and mercy and promised deliverance.
Jephthah, a mighty man of valour, was raised by God to deliver Israel from the eighteen-year oppression by the Ammonites (Jud 10:8 ). Negotiation for peace was attempted but it failed. The Spirit of God came upon Jephthah as he prepared for battle. On the eve of the battle, Jephthah vowed a vow unto the Lord and said, ‘If thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands, Then it shall be, that whosoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall surely be the Lord’s and I will offer it up for a burnt offering’ (Jud 11: 30-31 ).
The Lord delivered the Ammonites into Jephthah’s hands, but the joy of victory was suddenly turned to sorrow. When he returned home, his daughter, the only child, was the first person to come out of the house to greet him with timbrels and dances. Jephthah was devastated! ‘Alas, my daughter! thou hast brought me very low…for I have opened my mouth unto the LORD and I cannot go back’ (Jud 11:35 ).
There are other leaders of Israel, like Jephthah, who made rash or foolish vows that were impossible or extremely costly to keep. King Saul was so determined in defeating the Philistines that he swore a foolish vow which almost cost the life of his son, Jonathan: ‘Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening, that I may be avenged on mine enemies’ (1 Sam 14:24 ); ‘For, as the LORD liveth, which saved Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die’ ( 1 Sam 14:39 ). Without knowing his father’s vow, Jonathan took honey dripping in the wood.
A vow is a solemn promise or undertaking, especially when in the form of an oath, to God. It should be made out of faith and one must be mindful of the promise made. When it is made, it shall be taken with religious care and carried out with the same degree of faithfulness. It is not a sin to vow or not to vow. In other words, it is a voluntary act, but becomes a sin if the act is not carried out: ‘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. But if thou shalt forbear (refrain) to vow, it shall be no sin in thee. That which is gone out of thy lips thou shalt keep and perform; even a freewill offering, according as thou hast vowed unto the LORD thy God, which thou hast promised with thy mouth’ ( Deu 23: 21-23 ).
We are unconditionally bound by any vow made: ‘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’ (Num 30:2 ). Vows are usually made in desperate and extenuating circumstances. Hannah was desperate to have a son and poured out her soul to the Lord. She made a conditional vow after much fervent praying: ‘O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a male child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life’ ( 1 Sam 1:11 ). The Lord answered her prayers and she was thankful and remembered her vow by dedicating her son, Samuel, to lifelong service in the Temple. By her obedience, she was richly blessed and rewarded with another 5 children.
We should never take lightly the vows which we have made such as church membership vow, marriage vow, and other vows personal to us. No vow should be made hastily, but solemnly and with prayers, as it is sacredly binding and irrevocable once made. Moreover, making a rash vow is against the third commandment as it means taking the name of the Lord in vain.
The pledge which we make on Dedication Sunday at the beginning of each year can be considered a vow as it is made in the name of God and witnessed by God and by the whole congregation. It is a solemn written promise, understood by all taking it. It is taken voluntarily with no mental reservation and is therefore binding. By God’s grace and enabling of the Holy Spirit, it is not impossible to keep as not much sacrifice is involved.
Remember the counsel of King Solomon: ‘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. Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay. Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel that it was an error: therefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?’ ( Eccl 5:4-6 ). May the Holy Spirit search our hearts as we examine ourselves to see whether or not there be any unpaid vows. May God help us. Amen.