Keeping Vows

O. T. #533  "Keeping Vows"
June 8, 2015
Judges 11-Part 3
An 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...  Judges 11:30-31a

LET IT GLOW

One man's whatever became a whoever. His vow cost him more than he ever dreamed it would. Are we careful in what we promise to others and to God? I vowed "til death do us part" to my husband before the Lord at our wedding and he did the same to me. So far, we have kept that vow-42 years now. God honors our vows when we stay faithful to fulfill it. Are you keeping your vows?
Want to know what the man's vow involved? Read on friend.

As said earlier, God commissioned Jephthah to rescue His people from the 18 year oppression of the Ammonites and Philistines. (Israel went back into idolatry again, so God allowed them to be conquered in the Gilead area.) Now the Ammonites were seeking to rule the city of Gilead. Just to be sure of the victory, Jephthah made a vow unto the Lord in exchange for victory in the battle.
This guy teaches us to watch what we say, especially when we promise the Lord. I verse 31, Jephthah vowed, If You give the Ammorites into my hands, whatsoever comes out of the door of my house to meet me when I return in triumph from the Amnonites will be the LORD's, and I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering. 

So victory came. Jeph devastated 20 towns where the Ammonites ruled. Israel subdued Ammon with the Lord's help.

Perhaps it was a lack of faith or confidence, though Jeph was a mighty warrior. He was the son of Gilead, with half brothers who didn't want him around until they needed his help. Sound familiar?
I recall a song which says, "Faith is the victory that over comes the world." How big is your faith? Is it as large as the grain of a tiny mustard seed?

LET IT GROW

Well, Gilead and other cities were rescued as Jephthah and his family defeated the Ammonites. Time to go home.
And that is what he did. As Jeph came near his home in Mizpah. Who came out of his house to greet him but his only child, his precious daughter. She was excited to see her victorious Daddy! She was dancing and shaking that tambourine.

What should have been a joyous return became a heart wrenching one. Jephthah was stabbed in the heart when he remembered his vow that he made earlier to the Lord. The whatever became a whoever. 
In verse 35, Jephthah voiced that he had made a vow to the LORD that he could not break. Apparently, he explained it all to his nameless to us daughter. She made one request of her father-allow her 2 months to roam the hills and weep with her friends, because she would never marry.
He agreed to such a request. As a result of this situation, Israel began a yearly custom where their young women go out for 4 days to commemorate the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite.

Sadly, Jephthah did not understand that while vows must not be broken God did provide for the redemption of thoughtless, careless vows (Lev. 5:4-6). That person was to confess that he sinned in that thing and bring a female from the flock, a lamb or a kid of the goats as a sin offering. The priest would make atonement for him concerning his sin.

How did he keep his vow? There are several opinions on this matter:

• Jephthah offered his daughter as a burnt offering to God.
• His offering of her was that she should not marry, but serve the Lord as a virgin all her life.
• God would not be honored with such a rash vow based on such a wicked practice.

Perhaps Jephthah expected a servant or an animal to come out of his house whenever he returned home from the battlefield. How ironic!
He had just defeated the child sacrificing Ammonites and would now have to sacrifice his daughter as a result of the vow he had taken! (Falwell)

The second opinion makes more sense, since the girl asked for 2 months to mourn her not allowed to marry.  Although, we are not told what happened at the end of those 2 months.

I realize that there are many people who do not keep their wedding vows. I am so sorry when that happens. It must be very painful when one's spouse is unfaithful or doesn't want to be married any longer.
Dear one, there is One who keeps His promises-our God. We can trust Him to keep His Word. He is faithful. Are we trusting Him?

Be careful friends what we promise God. It may cost us more than we ever dreamed.

LET IT GO

Be willing to let go of whatever so I can stay faithful to God.

Seek His will, then obey it.

Do what is required so I will be faithful to God.

Watch my mouth and what I promise.