Loading... A VOW CANNOT BE TAKEN LIGHTLY - Judges 21:1
Tuesday, February 28th, 2006Judges 21:1 Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpeh, saying, There shall not any of us give his daughter unto Benjamin to wife.
Just before the children of Israel attacked the tribe of Benjamin for the wickedness that was committed by the city of Gibeah, the children of Israel swore that they would not give their daughters unto Benjamin. The children of Israel had no obligation to God to make such a vow, but they made it. The children of Israel understood that once they made the vow, there was no way that they could release themselves from the vow.
The children of Israel were distraught because they had made a vow that was going to result in the utter destruction of the tribe of Israel. They realized that because they had utterly destroyed the tribe of Benjamin with the exception of 600 men, that Benjamin could not marry. The children of Israel realized that there was one community in Israel that had not come up to fight and as such did not make the vow. The children of Israel went and destroyed everyone in Jabesh-gilead with the exception of the 400 virgins for the Benjaminites to have as wives.
The children of Israel were not going to break their vow to God yet a problem existed that 200 Benjaminites still did not have a wife. The children of Israel were not going to break their vow, but they did inform the 200 Benjaminites who did not have a wife that they could kidnap a wife for themselves at one of their festivals. The children of Israel reasoned with those who had just had their daughters kidnapped that they did not break their vow before God because they did not willingly give their daughters but their daughters were taken.
The children of Israel understood something that you may have a hard time fully comprehending. If you make a vow unto God, you had better not break that vow under any circumstances. You have no obligation to make a vow, but once you make it, you are bound by your word unto God.
Be careful about the promises that you make unto God when you are in distress. Be careful that you are going to be able to make the commitments that you are making. God is God and HE holds you to your word. HE does not take kindly to you telling HIM that you are going to do something and then you refusing to fulfill your word.
The children of Israel had made a vow and now had to go to great lengths to ensure that they did not break their word yet restore the tribe of Benjamin. The children of Israel did not need to make a vow but once they did, they kept their word unto God.
Do you fully comprehend the significance of your promises to God? It takes faith to understand that God hears your every word and demands that you fulfill your promises to HIM just has HE has fulfilled HIS promises to you. HE allowed HIS only Son to die for you so that HE could fulfill HIS promises to you. HE paid the ultimate price for you to keep HIS word. You would be very hesitant to break a promise you made to your best friend. Why should God be any different? Why should God not hold you to your word with HIM just as your best friend holds you to your word? It takes faith to see God for who HE really is and to treat your promises that you made to HIM serious.