In what ways does 2 Samuel 15:8 connect to Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 about vows? Setting the Scene • 2 Samuel 15 describes Absalom’s conspiracy against his father, David. While requesting permission to go to Hebron, Absalom says, “For your servant vowed while I dwelt at Geshur in Aram, saying, ‘If the LORD indeed brings me back to Jerusalem, I will serve the LORD.’ ” (2 Samuel 15:8) • Ecclesiastes 5 records Solomon’s counsel on worship and vows: “When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it, because He has no pleasure in fools. Fulfill your vow. It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not fulfill it.” (Ecclesiastes 5:4-5) Absalom’s Vow in 2 Samuel 15:8 • Spoken as a pledge of devotion to God, yet used as a pretext to stage rebellion. • Appears pious on the surface but masks ulterior motives (2 Samuel 15:10-12). • Illustrates a vow made but never intended to be faithfully kept. Solomon’s Counsel in Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 • Urges serious, prompt fulfillment of any promise made to God. • Calls those who delay or default on vows “fools.” • Warns that it is safer not to vow at all than to vow and break it. Key Connections between the Two Passages • Both texts recognize vows as direct commitments to God, not merely human promises (cf. Numbers 30:2; Deuteronomy 23:21-23). • Ecclesiastes defines the standard—swift, sincere completion—while 2 Samuel supplies a negative case study of failing that standard. • Absalom’s duplicity embodies the “fool” Solomon describes: one who invokes God’s name yet reneges on the pledge. • The delay and deception in Absalom’s actions contrast starkly with the urgency Ecclesiastes commands, underscoring the seriousness of broken vows. • Together they reveal that vows made for selfish gain invite judgment rather than blessing (cf. Psalm 66:13-14; Jonah 2:9). Supporting Scriptures • Numbers 30:2—“He shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.” • Deuteronomy 23:21-23—Failure to pay a vow is sin. • Matthew 5:33-37; James 5:12—Better to let “Yes” be “Yes” without oath-making that might be broken. Lessons for Today • Guard the tongue: promises to God must never be bargaining chips. • Integrity means aligning inner motives with outward words. • Swift obedience honors God; delay chips away at credibility and invites discipline. • When in doubt, refrain from making a vow—God values honesty over showy religiosity. |
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