And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no rasor come upon his head.
I’ll never forget what Brother Don Green said at Faith Baptist Camp one evening. “You’re never gonna get anywhere without making some vows.” It’s been a long time since I’ve heard that. Now, everytime I come across that word vow in the Bible, I remember what he said. I see now that a vow is a very important thing in the law, I believe as prominent in the scriptures as offerings and sacrifices. However, the topic of the vow is often overlooked and neglected. I’ve been wanting to spend a little time on it, so here we go.
She vowed a vow. And just as importantly when God answered her prayer and gave her a son, she performed that vow. Hannah conceived and she bare a son. Her plan was to wait until the child was weaned and then she would go up to the house of God to perform her vow. Alas, the expected day had come. She brought the child up to Shiloh and gave him to the Lord.
For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him: Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. (1 Samuel 1:27,28)
She did it. She gave him to God and never claimed him back. One thing I do glean from the scriptures is that performing vows is a serious matter. And the law was designed in order to keep it a serious matter. Frivolous and silly vows were not to be made; as not to cheapen the value and seriousness of the matter. In the law, the priest was to put a redemption price on the vow. (Leviticus 27) In other words, if the vow was to be claimed back from the priests, it was to be redeemed (to be paid for). So in so many words, the law made it so that if you couldn’t afford it, then either perform it or don’t vow it. The law kinda forced people to put their money where their mouth was.
Consider Jephthah’s vow in Judges. He vowed that if God would give him victory on the battlefield, that he would offer up for a burnt-offering whatsoever would come forth from the doors of his house when he returned from victory. This silly reckless vow cost him his daughter; his only child. I know the book of Judges is difficult, but what I wonder in all this is: Do we take our vows to God as serious as he takes them?
God took Hannah seriously when she asked for a man child. And praise God Hannah took God seriously concerning her vow. She performed it!
When thou shalt vow a vow unto the LORD thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for the LORD thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee. (Deuteronomy 23:21)
It would be sin. Talk about causing trouble for yourself. When we pray that God lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil, did we ever think that this evil would simply be not doing what we promised we would do. Nevermind the ten commandments, our own failure to perform our vows condemns us. I’m not talking about putting a yoke upon us that we cannot bear; or adding to the law. I’m simply asking do we belong to God or not? Is His life our life and our life his? If we are fully surrendered to the Lord and walking in the Spirit, why can’t we perform our vows? Or do we even have any vows to God.
So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows. (Psalm 61:8)
I know I sound kinda negative sometimes, but I want to stress that serving God is not a drudgery. I’m not enduring this unto the end. I’m enjoying this daily walk. I will sing praise unto the LORD, and gladly, and joyously do that which I’ve promised him. As Snow White said, I’m going to whistle while I work! Glory to God. One last scripture to ponder and then hopefully… some encouragement!
When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay. (Ecclesiastes 5:4,5)
Better is it to not vow if you’re not going to keep it. I think we get that, but I want to say to you today that BEST is to keep what you vow! That is what’s BEST. This implies that it’s BEST you start with making some vows. Though there is stern warning in not keeping vows, don’t be afraid to make a vow. I like the way the Psalmist put it:
Vow, and pay… (Psalm 76:11)
Bless the Lord! This is where faith engages. This where the gears of man’s faith lock perfectly to gears of God’s promises. In the law, a price was put on vows so that the children of Israel would count the cost so to speak. But I ask what price is there that God can’t afford?
Hannah’s vow was one of miraculous expectation. Though she most definitely had her part to perform, none of it would have come to pass without God’s tender touch and unfailing faithfulness. God proved that he was able to do exceeding abundantly above all that Hannah asked or thought.
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