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Chapter 151
Vows
Does God require that we shall fulfill our promises?
"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." Deut. 23:21.
Does a partial fulfillment meet His requirements?
"If a man vow a vow unto the Lord, or swear an oath to bind his
soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to
all that proceedeth out of his mouth." Num. 30:2.
Why is God so very particular about promises?
Because He is faithful in performing His promises, and He wants His
people to be like Him. "That which is gone out of thy lips thou
shalt keep and perform," even a free will offering, according as
thou hast vowed unto the Lord thy God, which thou hast promised with thy
mouth." Deut. 23:23.
What does He call those who are slack in paying their vows?
"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." Eccl. 5:4.
Will God excuse vows that are made without duly considering whether or not we can
perform them?
"Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest
vow and not pay. Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error; wherefore should God be angry at thy
voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?" Eccl. 5:5, 6.
What will God do for us, if we are faithful in fulfilling our promises?
"Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the Most
High, and call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver thee, and
thou shalt glorify Me." Ps. 50:14, 15.
Is it wise to consider beforehand whether we are able to perform our vows?
"It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after
vows to make inquiry." Prov. 20:25.
Is it not better not to vow?
"Vow, and pay unto the Lord your God: let all that be round about Him bring presents unto Him that ought to be feared." Ps. 76:11.
What did Jacob do after the Lord had appeared unto him?
"And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me,
and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and
raiment to put on, so that I come again to my father's house in peace; then
shall the Lord be my God; and this stone, which I have set for a
pillar, shall be God's house; and of all that thou shalt give me, I
will surely give the tenth unto thee." Gen. 28:20-22.
Did the Lord forget Jacob's vow?
"And the angel of God spake unto me in a dream, saying, Jacob,
...I am the God of Bethel, where thou anointedst the pillar, and where
thou vowedst a vow unto Me; now arise, get thee out from this land,
and return unto the land of thy kindred." Gen. 31:11-13.
And did Jacob keep his promise?
"Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with
him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and
change your garments; and let us arise, and go up to Bethel; and I will
make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and
was with me in the way which I went." Gen. 35:2, 3.
Is the Lord particular as to what we vow to Him?
"But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and
voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing; for I am a great
King, saith the Lord of hosts, and My name is dreadful among the heathen." Mal. 1:14.
What does such a vow betray in him who brings the offering? Contempt.
"And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if
ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy
governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person?
saith the Lord of hosts." Mal. 1:8.
For what other reason has God a right to demand the best? He gives everything.
"For she did not know that I gave her corn, and wine, and
oil, and multiplied her silver and gold." Hos. 2:8.
To whom do we belong?
"What! know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost
which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? for ye
are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in
your spirit, which are God's." 1 Cor.6:19, 20.
What inducement does the lord hold out to those who desire to comply strictly
with His requirements?
"Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be
meat in Mine house, and prove Me now herewith, saith the lord of hosts, if
I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing,
that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the
devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your
ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the
field, saith the lord of hosts." Mal. 3:10, 11.
If God should not grant us prosperity, what should we do?
"Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be
in the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall
yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall
be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in
the God of my salvation." Hab. 3:17, 18.
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