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Through the Bible: JudgesSample

Through the Bible: Judges

DAY 5 OF 8

Vow with Care

And Jephthah made a vow to the Lord. He said, “If you give me victory over the Ammonites, I will give to the Lord whatever comes out of my house to meet me when I return in triumph. I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering.” 
Judges 11:30-31 (NLT) 

Even a Spirit-filled man can do foolish things if he does not seek God first in everything. Jephthah made a vow to the Lord – to sacrifice the first ‘thing’ that comes out of his house if God gives him victory. It was an unnecessary vow. It turned out that his daughter was first to greet him out of the house. Jephthah’s rash vow brought him unspeakable grief. 

During turmoil, it is easy to make foolish vows to God but the heart behind it may not be right. They may be attempts to dictate to God what we think He should do. Ecclesiastes 5:1-7 reminds us not to make rash vows before God. We do not need to make any vow by heaven or by earth or by anything else, for everything belongs to God. It is better to be obedient today, than make vows for the future. It is better to be on God’s side, than to persuade Him to be on our side. God will give gladly from His heart of love if our course is rightly ordered before Him.

Prayer: 

Father, thank You for guiding us through life. Help us to be obedient to Your will and not take matters into our hands. Amen!

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About this Plan

Through the Bible: Judges

Judges describes the deteriorating cycle of the Israelites following Joshua’s death. Because of idolatry, the Israelites were oppressed by the enemies. When they repented, God raised up judges to deliver them. Soon they forgot and fell into evil, and the vicious cycle continued. Even today, leaders are sent to deliver us but a true salvation takes place only when our hearts are obedient to the one King who remains forever.

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