The significance of vows

God is serious about vows, promises, and commitments. Numbers 30 has much to say about integrity but also about our security as the Bride of Christ. It provides an elaborate system for determining the validity of promises, oaths, and vows. The basic position, however, is simple: do what you say you will do.

In Ecclesiastes 5:4, we read, “When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow.”

In Psalm 15:5, we are reminded that a godly man is one “who keeps his oath even when it hurts.”

And in Deut. 23:21-23 we read, “If you make a vow to the Lord your God, do not be slow to pay it, for the Lord your God will certainly demand it of you and you will be guilty of sin. But if you refrain from making a vow, you will not be guilty. Whatever your lips utter you must be sure to do, because you made your vow freely to the Lord your God with your own mouth.”

There is a difference between “vows” and “oaths.” The vow was a promise to do a certain thing for the Lord, while the oath was a promise not to do a certain thing.

Moses reminded the people that their promise to God was a very serious matter and must be kept (vv. 1-2). In Old Testament times, people did not sign written contracts. A person’s word was as binding as a signature, and to make a vow was even more binding.

No one was forced by law to make a vow, but once made, vows were to be fulfilled. Breaking a vow meant a broken trust and a broken relationship. Trust is still the basis of our relationships with God and others. A broken promise today is just as harmful as it was in Moses’ day.

The believer should be known by his word as truthful and faithful. God never breaks His word. Every promise God has made has been or will be fulfilled, regardless of any outcomes of that promise.

In this chapter, we see God holding men to their word but making exceptions for women. Is this chauvinistic discrimination? No. It’s a wonderful illustration. You see, on one hand, God wants us to be people of integrity. On the other hand, as the Bride of Christ, we have a Husband who ever lives to make intercession for us, who steps up, steps in, who’s at the right hand of the Father as an Advocate for us (1 John 2:1).

We have a Friend in Jesus Christ. We have a Bridegroom who knows all about our fickleness. We have One who steps up and steps in on our behalf and lives to make intercession for us (Hebrews 7:25). No matter what vows we made at any given time, Jesus will see us through. He promised to, and He keeps every promise perfectly.

The fact that God tells us we are to keep our word means He keeps His. The Bible is packed with promises. God makes promise after promise to you and me. And what He says, He will do.

Application Questions:

1. How faithful is your word to others?

2. If you tell someone you'll pray for them, do you keep your promise and pray for them?

Quote:

Indeed, baptism is a vow, a sacred vow of the believer to follow Christ. Just as a wedding celebrates the fusion of two hearts, baptism celebrates the union of sinner with Savior. - Max Lucado

Prayer:

Lord, I pray that I would take the keeping of my promises seriously, knowing that You keep all your promises to me. Amen.