May I inquire of Judges chapter 11? Jepthah's rash vow before God.


The Hammer:

“If you make a vow to the Lord your God, you shall not delay fulfilling it, for the Lord your God will surely require it of you, and you will be guilty of sin." -Deuteronomy 23:21


"You shall be careful to do what has passed your lips, for you have voluntarily vowed to the Lord your God what you have promised with your mouth." -Deuteronomy 23:23

"When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow." -Ecclesiastes 5:4



The Anvil:

"You shall not worship the Lord your God in that way, for every abominable thing that the Lord hates they have done for their gods, for they even burn their sons and their daughters in the fire to their gods." -Deuteronomy 12:31

"There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, [1] anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer." -Deuteronomy 18:10

"They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to the demons; they poured out innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and the land was polluted with blood." -Psalm 106:37,38


What should he have done? When we make vows like this, what are we to do?

__________________
Ian Kemmerer
Covenant Presbetyrian Church,Reading,PA
Fleetwood,PA

"Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart, And all is darkened in the vale of tears, Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart, Who comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy fears. Be still, my soul: thy Jesus can repay From His own fullness all He takes away."