Definition of Vow:
- To promise solemnly: swear
- To bind or consecrate by a vow.
21. When you shall vow a vow to YAHWEH your Elohim, you shall not delay to perform it; for YAHWEH, your Elohim will certainly require it of you, and it shall be SIN to you.
22. But if you shall forebear to vow, it shall be no sin to you.
23. That which has gone out of your lips, you shall keep, and shall do it. According as you have vowed as a freewill offering to YAHWEH your Elohim, do even that which you have spoken with your mouth.
In this and all Food for Thoughts I recommend you read the Scripture(s) provided and the entire chapter they are from to obtain more insight.
Have you ever vowed a vow to YAHWEH, vows that you fully intended to keep but “somehow” forgot or reneged on? For instance, you may have bound yourself to a conditional vow and said, “YAHWEH, if you get me out of this situation,” or “If you give me this one thing, I will do….“. Another type of vow would be an unconditional vow in which you bind yourself without expecting anything in return. An example of an unconditional vow would be vowing an offering to YAHWEH or promising to sustain from something.
As humans, we often say things without thinking, in this case, making oaths or vows without first acknowledging the totality of the commitment. If you have ever failed to keep your vows to YAHWEH, it is vital to have an admission of guilt and repentance. The Almighty is always willing to forgive us. Still, our responsibility is to seek His forgiveness and make things right. Remember that keeping our vows and oaths to YAHWEH shows our faith and devotion, and it is crucial to follow through with, as YAHWEH called it, SIN.
When a man vows a vow to YAHWEH, or has sworn an oath to bind his soul with a bond, he shall not break his word; he shall do all that has gone out of his mouth.
In this and all Food for Thoughts I recommend you read the Scripture(s) provided and the entire chapter they are from to obtain more insight.
Biblical Accounts of Vows
- Conditional
- Jacob vowed to make YAHWEH his Elohim if YAHWEH would keep him and provide for him Genesis 28:20-22
- Jephthah vowed to offer as a burnt offering the first thing that came out of his house upon returning from battle if YAHWEH gave him success in war. Unfortanly, his daughter was the first thing out of the house. Judges 11:30-35
- Hannah vowed her son to YAHWEH if he blessed her with a child 1 Samuel 1:11, 19-20, 27-28
- Unconditional
- David publicly expressed that he would pay his vow, a sacrificial act of gratitude. Psalms 116:14
- Paul voluntarily took the Nazarite vow per Acts 18:18. The Nazarite vow is Numbers 6:1-21
Little to no Thought
In today’s time, we take very lightly making commitments to people, casually breaking them without considering the consequences. We say things like:
- I’m going to pray more.
- I’m going to start reading and studying the Bible.
- I’ll call you tomorrow.
- I promise I’ll take you next time (Parents).
- I’ll pay you back.
- I’m going to start witnessing and spreading the Good News of YAHWEH and Yahshua.
- I’m going to abstain from sexual immoralities.
- The most significant broken vow we fail to uphold is “TILL DEATH DO US PART.”
We take this same slackness and apply it to the Father. In Deuteronomy: 23:21-23 we see that when you vow something to YAHWEH, there is no question of the binding force of the vow; you are bound to fulfill your word. According to Psalm 15:4, true followers of YAHWEH possess strong character and always keep their word, even if it may cause them pain. A Bible Believing Believer (BBB) is not double-minded or forgetful but loyal to YAHWEH in every aspect of life. Yahshua’s teachings in Matthew 5 reinforce this biblical principle. Again, Vows or Oaths are binding even when those made casually or privately should be taken seriously and kept. YAHWEH does not accept any excuses or loopholes for breaking a promise.
4. When you vow a vow to Elohim, do not wait to fulfill it. For He has no pleasure in fools. Fulfill that which you have vowed.
5. It is better that you should not vow, than that you should vow and not fulfill it.
In this and all Food for Thoughts I recommend you read the Scripture(s) provided and the entire chapter they are from to obtain more insight.
Stay committed to the vows you vowed first and foremost to YAHWEH (reading your word daily, praying daily, and staying devoted to the things you promised Him). Secondly, remain committed to the vows you vowed to yourself (diets, budgets, sexual purity, and exercise). Thirdly, stay committed to the vows you vowed to others (pay back what you borrowed, be there for others like you said you would, and fulfill what you promised your children). Stop making promises you never intended to execute. You own the words out of your mouth, so be careful with them.
25. It is a snare to a man to say rashly, a holy thing, and after he vows to inquire about it.
In this and all Food for Thoughts I recommend you read the Scripture(s) provided and the entire chapter they are from to obtain more insight.
By: David Edwards