SCRIPTURE
"And as soon as he saw here, he tore his clothes and said, 'Alas, my daughter! You have brought me very low, and you have become the cause of great trouble for me. For I have opened my mouth to the Lord, and I cannot take back my vow.'" (Judges 11:35)
OBSERVATION
Jephthah made a vow to the Lord, to offer him the first thing that came out his door, should the Lord give him victory over the Ammonites. Israel did subdue the Ammonites, Jephthah returned home, and the first thing out of his house was his daughter, dancing with tambourines to celebrate his victory. Jephthah suddenly realized the situation he was in (probably never anticipating that his daughter may come running out). I like to think he was hoping it was the neighbor's dog or the pesky cat, but that is pure speculation. Jephthah now had a very hard decision, one that brought him "very low." He could spare the life of his daughter and renege on the vow he made to God. Or, he could keep the vow he made to God and offer his daughter. He chose the latter.
Talk can be very cheap. We can make commitments or promises, especially to God, with either no intent to fulfill them, or only keeping them if it is convenient. Jephthah kept his word, a decision that was neither easy nor convenient. He understood the seriousness of a vow that is made to God. It is not just idle words. It is a contract.
APPLICATION
God takes my commitments, promises, and vows to him very seriously. He would rather me not make a vow than to make one and not keep it. I find it is easy to make promises as a way to manipulate God. Give me this and I'll give you that. "Lord, if my car doesn't run out of gas before the next exit I promise to pray more." But there inevitably comes a time when the promise is not convenient. I don't have time to pray. Or, I don't want to pray. A time when I no longer want to fulfill the promise I made. And there will come a time when my promise is tested (thankfully, not to the degree of Jephthah's). In those moments Jephthah provides a great example of making, and keeping, a commitment to God. No matter the personal cost.
PRAYER
Lord, I want to keep my promises to you, no matter how small they may seem from my perspective. If I say I'll do it, I want to do it. Amen.
