Vows
Walk prudently when you go to the house of God; and draw near to hear rather than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they do evil. Do not be rash with your mouth, And let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth; Therefore let your words be few. For a dream comes through much activity, And a fool’s voice is known by his many words. When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; For He has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you have vowed— Better not to vow than to vow and not pay.
Ecclesiastes 5:1-5 NKJV
I read this passage of God’s Word and it made me think.
How many times have I made a promise or a vow to God?
Many times.
How many times have I promised God that I would do something for Him if He did something for me?
Then I thought how many times I did not keep my end of the bargain.
When we approach the Lord we must remember that He is God.
We must still revere Him as such.
What vow have you made to God that you haven’t kept.
In times of desperation everyone will call out to the Lord. Many are making promises.
It is in our human nature to set out a list to the Lord with all of our requests.
How many times have we come to the Lord in prayer and just laid a list of just things we want Him to accomplish for us!
Yes, we all go to the Throne of God with our needs. Yes, we tell Him all of our desires. We all want to see the wrongs made right and the lost soul be found.
Then we want that new job. We want to be set from what’s tearing us apart inside. We want shelter and protection.
Yes, prayer and supplication, bring to Him!
When was the last time you came to the altar of God in true humility?
When did you just sit to hear Him, to listen to what He has to say without asking anything!
Humbly sitting and worshiping.
Part of being humble is to watch our steps. King Solomon says here,
‘Walk prudently when you go to the house of God’.
Prudently means to be deliberate, to show care for the future. Another meaning is intentional.
We have to learn how to walk with the Lord with purpose and meaning.
Be intentional!
The point of worship is not to bribe God to gain His favor. The point is to focus on Him and listen.
Let your words be few.
When we come to Him we are not coming to the Lord to make deals, we are coming to listen and obey.
That’s being prudent and deliberate in humility!
Apart from the Grace and mercy of God what can we do.
There is a story in the Book of Judges about a man that made a vow to God.
Jephthah’s father’s name was Gilead. His mother was a prostitute. Gilead was married at the time. Gilead’s wife and other children rejected Jephthah and shunned him.
War broke out in Israel. Since he was a mighty warrior he was recruited to lead the army.
Then he made this vow.
Judges 11:30-31
And Jephthah made a vow to the Lord, and said, “If You will indeed deliver the people of Ammon into my hands, then it will be that whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the people of Ammon, shall surely be the Lord’s, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering.”
Judges 11:30-31 NKJV
The Lord gave him a mighty victory!
As He and the troops went back home, he approached, it was his daughter, Mizpah, who was the first to come out of his house!
And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he tore his clothes, and said, “Alas, my daughter! You have brought me very low! You are among those who trouble me! For I have given my word to the Lord, and I cannot go back on it.”
Judges 11:35 NKJV
Sometimes we try to rationalize with the Lord. We make empty promises to Him.
Imagine making such a vow!
Yes He got the victory but at what cost?
We can’t give to the Lord what we don’t have.
We can’t promise Him to make an exchange for our circumstances.
” If You do this for me Lord, I will go to Church every Sunday and worship your name on High”.
The Lord is faithful, we unfortunately are not.
When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it.
Solomon says this and it should shake us to our core. God is not someone to try to play and manipulate. Sometimes we do that.
Jesus says this,
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28 NKJV
The only thing we have to do is come to Him in all humility. The only exchange He expects is the exchange of your sin, guilt and shame. The old for the new.
He wants our devotion not our promises. He wants us to love Him above all things, not our sacrifice, like He needs something from us.
What He wants is for us to trust fully in Him, for all things and with all things.
God does not sell us His favor, He gives it out of love and devotion to us, just as a Good Father does!
Today try approaching God with your heart.
Don’t come to Him with a mind that has already been made up.
How can He work with that?
Allow His Word to shape and mold your way of thinking.
Discipline yourself to listen.
Let your words be few. Do not be rash with your mouth, And let not your heart utter anything hastily before God.
Better not to vow than to vow and not pay.
Don’t make a promise to Him that you are not serious about keeping.
King Solomon is trying to give us good advice on Wisdom.
When we come to God, we should do it with a pure desire to listen and obey rather than seeking ways to get God to fulfill our desires. Listening takes effort, practice and patience, but it truly is the path to wisdom!
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Matthew 6:33 NKJV
We should come to God seeking guidance and counsel. Be deliberate with your worship. Seek the will of the Father and His Kingdom.
Listen for His instruction, faith comes by hearing!
Don’t try to force His Hand with a vow you can’t keep.
Rest in His promises. Trust in His Word!
Pastor Ed
