"You will make your prayer to him, and he will hear you, and you will pay your vows." Job 22:27
Numbers 30:1-2, “Moses said to the
heads of the tribes of Israel, 'This is what Yahweh has commanded
about vows: If a man makes a vow to Yahweh that he will do something
or swears an oath that he won't do something, he must not break his
word. He must do everything he said he would do.'”
Vow is the Hebrew word neder, Strongs
#5088.[1] It is a solemn promise, pledge or oath “that binds a
person to perform a specified act or behave in a certain manner.”[2]
A vow made by one's own words was
immensely important. It was binding like a legal contract and must
be fulfilled. [3]
Commentary notes that the
vow has two basic forms – conditional and unconditional:
“The unconditional is an
'oath' where someone binds himself without expecting anything in
return: 'I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in--the presence of all
his people' (Ps. 116:14). The obligation is binding upon the person
who has made a 'vow.'
The conditional 'vow'
generally had a preceding clause before the oath giving the
conditions which had to come to pass before the 'vow' became valid:
'And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will
[watch over me] … , so that I come again to my father’s house in
peace; then shall the Lord be my God … and of all that thou shalt
give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee” (Gen. 28:20-22).”
[4]
One commentary goes on to
note that vows made to God sometimes resulted in favor and blessing
to be upon the person as a result.[5] They were frequently made out
of a desire to give oneself to God somehow in a greater way rather
than out of obligation or duty.
Examples are a vow of
chastity, vow of poverty, vows dedicating property, vows dedicating
oneself or ones children to God's service and the Old Testament
Nazerite vow.
God takes vows seriously. They are
made from the heart. To make a vow to God and then retract it by
ones actions is a sin against God. Proverbs 20:25 says, “It is a
snare to say rashly, 'It is holy,' and to reflect only after making
vows.”
It is better not to vow than to make
one and then not fulfill it. Deuteronomy 23:21-23 says (and
Ecclesiastes 5:4-6 says something similar), “If you make a vow
to the Lord your God, you shall not delay fulfilling it, for the Lord
your God will surely require it of you, and you will be guilty of
sin. But if you refrain from vowing, you will not be guilty of sin.
You shall be careful to do what has passed your lips, for you have
voluntarily vowed to the Lord your God what you have promised with
your mouth.
Vows are to be respected and honored,
used sparingly, and not taken lightly or used to manipulate others.
James 5:16 says, “But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either
by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be
yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under
condemnation.”
In one case, a couple died for making
vows to the Lord as a means to deceive others. In Acts 5:1-2
Ananias and Sapphira vowed to give all the money from the sale of the
property to the apostles. Instead, they agreed together to hold
back some of the money they vowed to God and turned only part over to
the apostles. The result was that both of them dropped dead.
In Acts 5:3-4 Peter said, “Ananias,
why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep
back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained
unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not
at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your
heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” When Ananias heard
these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came
upon all who heard of it. …”
God, knowing people would at times make
a vow rashly with good intentions and then not fully follow through
with it, made provision in the Old Testament for repentance.
Leviticus 5:4-13 says, “Or if anyone utters with his lips a rash
oath to do evil or to do good, any sort of rash oath that people
swear, and it is hidden from him, when he comes to know it, and he
realizes his guilt in any of these; when he realizes his guilt in any
of these and confesses the sin he has committed, he shall bring to
the Lord as his compensation for the sin that he has committed, a
female from the flock, a lamb or a goat, for a sin offering. And the
priest shall make atonement for him for his sin. “But if he cannot
afford a lamb, then he shall bring to the Lord as his compensation
for the sin that he has committed two turtledoves or two pigeons, one
for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. He shall bring
them to the priest, who shall offer first the one for the sin
offering. He shall wring its head from its neck but shall not sever
it completely, ...”
Vows were very common in the Old
Testament. Commentary notes, “I will pay thee my vows. The Psalms
bear witness to the importance of this practice (cf. 22:25; 50:14;
56:12; 61:8; 65:1; 116:14–18; 132:2). As is frequently the case,
the psalmist made his vows to the Lord 'When I was in trouble.' Vows
should be hesitantly made, but once made, heartily kept.” [6]
David proclaimed in Psalm 61:5-8, “O
Elohim, you have heard my vows. You have given me the inheritance
that belongs to those who fear your name. Add days upon days to the
life of the king. May his years endure throughout every generation.
May he sit enthroned in the presence of Elohim forever. May mercy
and truth protect him. Then I will make music to praise your name
forever, as I keep my vows day after day.”
It was not unusual for one to make a
vow to God in times of trouble. Psalm 66:13-15 says, “I will come
into your temple with burnt offerings. I will keep my vows to you,
the vows made by my lips and spoken by my own mouth when I was in
trouble. I will offer you a sacrifice of fattened livestock for
burnt offerings with the smoke from rams. I will offer cattle and
goats.”
An example of a vow made wrongly in
this way was in Acts when the Jews vowed to kill Paul. Acts
23:12-15 says, “When it was day, the Jews made a plot and bound
themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they had killed
Paul. There were more than forty who made this conspiracy. They went
to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have strictly bound
ourselves by an oath to taste no food till we have killed Paul. Now
therefore you, along with the council, give notice to the tribune to
bring him down to you, as though you were going to determine his case
more exactly. And we are ready to kill him before he comes near.”
Another practice of vowing which lacked
true devotion is when Jews would vow all they own to the temple at
the expense of caring for their parents. Jesus confronts this when
He says in Mark 7:11-13, But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or
his mother, “Whatever you would have gained from me is Corban”’
(that is, given to God)— then you no longer permit him to do
anything for his father or mother, thus making void the word of God
by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you
do.”
An example of non-conditional vows made
in the Bible was a vow of David in Psalm 132:1-5, “O Yahweh,
remember David and all the hardships he endured. Remember how he
swore an oath to Yahweh and made this vow to the Mighty One of Jacob:
'I will not step inside my house, get into my bed, shut my eyes, or
close my eyelids until I find a place for Yahweh, a dwelling place
for the Mighty One of Jacob.”
Hannah's husband also had made a vow to
God. 1 Samuel 1:21 says, “To keep his vow, Elkanah and his entire
household again went to offer the annual sacrifice to Yahweh.”
An example of a conditional vow was
when Hannah made a vow to God if He would give her a boy, she would
give him back. 1 Samuel 1:11 says, “She made this vow, “Yahweh
Tsebaoth, if you will look at my misery, remember me, and give me a
boy, then I will give him to you for as long as he lives. A razor
will never be used on his head.”
Not using a razor on his head had to do
with dedicating him under a Nazirite vow. Numbers 6:1-27 says,
“Yahweh said to Moses, 'Speak to the Israelites and tell them: A
man or a woman may take a special vow to live a s a Nazirite
dedicated to Yahweh. Nazirites must never drink wine, liquor,
vinegar made from wine or liquor, or any kind of grape juice, and
they must never eat fresh grapes or raisins. As long as they are
Nazirites, they must never eat anything that comes from a grapevine,
not even grape seeds or skins. As long as they are under the
Nazirite vow, no razor may touch their heads. During the entire time
that they are dedicated to Yahweh as Nazirites, they will be holy.
They must let their hair grow long. While they are dedicated to
Yahweh as Nazirites, they must never go near a dead body. Even if
their own father, mother, brother, or sister dies, they must not make
themselves unclean by going near them. Nazirites show their vow to
Elohim with their long hair. As long as they are Nazirites, they
will be holy to Yahweh.
One commentary notes, “The vow of the
Nazirite was to express one’s special desire to draw close to God
and to separate one’s self from the comforts and pleasures of this
world....he English word Nazirite transliterates Hebrew nazir,
meaning 'set apart.' (Wenham)” [8]
This commentary notes about the three
key components of a Nazirite vow -
“a. He shall separate himself
from wine and similar drink: ...
This is a form of self-denial connect with the idea of a special
consecration to God....
b. No razor shall come upon his
head. The hair was to be allowed to grow all during the period
of the vow, and then cut at the conclusion of the vow. This was a way
of outwardly demonstrating to the world that this man or woman was
under a special vow...
c. He shall not go near a dead
body: … Separation from death - the effect of sin - was
essential during the period of the vow.” [9]
Samson was an example of someone
dedicated to God under a Nazirite vow. This was directed to Manoah,
Samson's mother before he was born (Judges 13:13-14). Under this
Nazirite vow, God blessed Samson and the Spirit began to stir in him
(Judges 13:24-25). While Samson lacked character, he had
supernatural strength as a result of his Nazirite dedication (Judges
16:15-17).
It also appears that John the Baptist
was dedicated and set apart for God under a Nazirite vow. Luke 1:15
says about him, “As far as the Lord is concerned, he will be a
great man. He will never drink wine or any other liquor. He will be
filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born.”
“What would happen if you gave your
life fully?... just imagine what what would happen, oh the joy, oh
the bliss, oh the unspeakable treasures...” sings in the
background.
As a last example, it appears that Paul
may have took a Nazirite vow for a period of time. Acts 18:18 says,
“After staying in Corinth quite a while longer, Paul left for
Ephesus. Priscilla and Aquila went with him. In the city of
Cenchrea, Aquila had his hair cut, since he had taken a vow.”
God gets pleasure
from vows that are made and fulfilled. Proverbs 12:22 says, “Lying
lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are
his delight.”
In examples of Samuel,
John and Samson, it was clear that God was blessing them as a direct
result of their being set apart through a vow.
Hezekiah also was blessed through making a vow. At the time he came into his kingship the temple had been abandoned and the people were experiencing God's anger. Hezekiah reopened the doors and said, "Now I intend to make a pledge to Yahweh Elohim of Israel so that he may turn his burning anger away from us." (2 Chronicles 29:10-11)
After repairing the temple and making it clean, Hezekiah had the Israelites brought burnt offerings, sin offerings, worshiped and praised the Lord. Hezekiah said to them, "You have dedicated your lives to Yahweh. Come, bring sacrifices and thank offerings to Yahweh's temple." (2 Chronicles 29:31)
As a result of Hezekiah making a vow and the people dedicating their lives to God, people were overjoyed because of what God had done for the people. Everything was happening so quickly. (2 Chronicles 29:36). Hezekiah invited all to passover and worship, sacrifices and offerings were continually offered and praise and thanksgiving was withing the gates of Yahweh's camp (2 Chronicles 31:2).
Hezekiah also was blessed through making a vow. At the time he came into his kingship the temple had been abandoned and the people were experiencing God's anger. Hezekiah reopened the doors and said, "Now I intend to make a pledge to Yahweh Elohim of Israel so that he may turn his burning anger away from us." (2 Chronicles 29:10-11)
After repairing the temple and making it clean, Hezekiah had the Israelites brought burnt offerings, sin offerings, worshiped and praised the Lord. Hezekiah said to them, "You have dedicated your lives to Yahweh. Come, bring sacrifices and thank offerings to Yahweh's temple." (2 Chronicles 29:31)
As a result of Hezekiah making a vow and the people dedicating their lives to God, people were overjoyed because of what God had done for the people. Everything was happening so quickly. (2 Chronicles 29:36). Hezekiah invited all to passover and worship, sacrifices and offerings were continually offered and praise and thanksgiving was withing the gates of Yahweh's camp (2 Chronicles 31:2).
Vows made from the heart
are honored by God. On December 28th, 2000 I made my
first vow to God. I had no clue what I was doing at the time but
after reading the Song of Solomon, I felt prompted to pray and make vow with
God that I would die for Him. It was a powerful moment in my life
as I felt face to face with God. Every year on December 28th
I go back to the same hermitage, read the Song of Songs and celebrate
my anniversary of this devotion.
The only other vow I
have made to God was one I did with the church I attended at the
time, back on April 27, 2002. During a women's conference we all
signed a vow to be a friend, witness and chosen vessel to God. We
agreed to honor, cherish and uphold Him in truth and sincerity. I
have my pledge to Him up on my prayer room wall. I still remember
the experience because the presence of God was so weighty and heavy
as people came up to sign the vow. After signing their vows, many
were having trouble walking and were getting in the way for others to
sign so I began to walk each person through from the signing table.
“For you have
ravished my heart, My sister, My bride, just one look from your
eyes... just one glance and I am overcome... Just imagine what it
would be like if you really gave it all” sings
Lord, I long to
give my all to You. I never realized the importance of vows or the
significance of keeping them. Show me how I can be more fully
dedicated to You. I long to be completely Yours. Let us be a people who makes vows sparingly from the depths of our hearts and keep them.
1.,3.,7. Radmacher,
Earl D. ; Allen, Ronald Barclay ; House, H. Wayne: Nelson's New
Illustrated Bible Commentary. Nashville : T. Nelson Publishers, 1999,
S. Nu 30:1-2
2.
Youngblood, Ronald F. ; Bruce, F. F. ; Harrison, R. K. ;
Thomas Nelson Publishers: Nelson's New Illustrated Bible
Dictionary. Nashville : T. Nelson, 1995
4. Vine, W. E. ; Unger, Merrill F. ; White, William: Vine's Complete
Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words. Nashville
: T. Nelson, 1996, S. 1:278-279
5. Kurian, George Thomas: Nelson's New Christian Dictionary : The
Authoritative Resource on the Christian World. Nashville, Tenn.
: Thomas Nelson Pubs., 2001
6. KJV Bible Commentary.
Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1997, c1994, S. 1060
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