What other scriptures highlight the significance of fulfilling promises to God? The Weight of a Vow (Numbers 30:1–2) “Then Moses said to the heads of the tribes of Israel, ‘This is what the LORD has commanded: If a man makes a vow to the LORD or swears an oath to bind himself with a pledge, he must not break his word; he must do everything he has promised.’” God treats every promise made to Him as sacred. Numbers 30 launches a whole chapter of case-laws that spell out how seriously the Lord takes spoken commitments. The rest of Scripture echoes this same heartbeat. Key Old Testament Reinforcements • Deuteronomy 23:21–23 – “If you make a vow to the LORD your God, you are not to delay fulfilling it… Be careful to follow through on what proceeds from your lips.” • Ecclesiastes 5:4–6 – “When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it… It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it.” • Psalm 15:4 – The righteous person “keeps his oath even when it hurts.” • Psalm 50:14 – “Sacrifice a thank offering to God, and fulfill your vows to the Most High.” • Psalm 76:11 – “Make vows to the LORD your God and fulfill them.” • Proverbs 20:25 – “It is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly, only later to reconsider his vows.” • Jonah 2:9 – “What I have vowed I will repay. Salvation is from the LORD!” • Hannah’s example (1 Samuel 1:11, 27–28) – She vowed a son to God and faithfully brought Samuel to serve at Shiloh. • Jephthah’s tragedy (Judges 11:30–39) – A sobering warning about making reckless vows. New Testament Echoes • Matthew 5:33–37 – Jesus cites the Old Testament vow commands, then calls for transparent truthfulness: “Let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’” • James 5:12 – “Above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath. Let your ‘Yes’ be yes and your ‘No,’ no, so that you will not fall under judgment.” • Acts 5:1–11 – Ananias and Sapphira pledge proceeds to God but hold back part, and the Spirit judges the deceit instantly. • 2 Corinthians 1:19–20 – Paul points to Christ as the ultimate “Yes,” showing that God Himself models promise-keeping. • Hebrews 6:17–18 – God confirms His promise with an oath “so that by two unchangeable things… we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be strongly encouraged.” Why the Principle Matters Today • God’s character is at stake; He cannot lie, so He expects His people to mirror that integrity. • Unkept promises fracture trust—in families, churches, workplaces, and our witness to the world. • A fulfilled vow often becomes an act of worship (Psalm 50:14); a broken one becomes sin (Deuteronomy 23:21). • Christ’s call to simple, honest speech (Matthew 5) frees us from the need for elaborate oaths yet heightens the seriousness of every word we speak. Living It Out • Pause before promising; weigh cost, motive, and ability (Proverbs 20:25). • If a vow has been made, fulfill it promptly and joyfully (Psalm 76:11). • Let everyday speech be consistently truthful, so no oath is needed to bolster credibility (James 5:12). • Rest in God’s own unbreakable promises; His faithfulness empowers ours (Hebrews 10:23). |
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