What is the meaning of Ecclesiastes 5:4? When you make a vow to God “When you make a vow to God” (Ecclesiastes 5:4) • Scripture treats a vow as a voluntary promise spoken directly to the Lord—never casual, never trivial. Numbers 30:2 shows this seriousness: “When a man makes a vow to the LORD… he must not break his word.” • Examples in Scripture remind us that vows are often tied to gratitude or desperation, such as Jacob at Bethel (Genesis 28:20-22) or Hannah pleading for a son (1 Samuel 1:11). • Because the Creator is the hearer of every word (Matthew 12:36), a vow is more than personal resolve; it is covenantal speech into God’s courtroom. do not delay in fulfilling it “Do not delay in fulfilling it” • Delay communicates indifference, as though obedience can wait until it is convenient. Deuteronomy 23:21 warns, “When you make a vow… you shall not delay to pay it.” • Procrastination keeps the heart in limbo, inviting forgetfulness (Psalm 66:13-14 shows immediate follow-through: “I will fulfill my vows that my lips promised”). • Timely obedience displays faith. James 2:17 reminds that faith without works is dead; prompt action proves sincerity. because He takes no pleasure in fools “…because He takes no pleasure in fools.” • In Proverbs 10:23, a fool treats wrongdoing like a game; here, the fool treats God’s holiness lightly. • Malachi 1:14 condemns those who vow one thing yet deliver another—calling them “deceivers.” God’s displeasure is moral, not emotional caprice. • Fear of the LORD is “the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10); contempt for vows exposes spiritual folly and invites discipline (Acts 5:1-5). Fulfill your vow “Fulfill your vow.” • Positive command: complete, finish, keep your word. Psalm 50:14 urges, “Fulfill your vows to the Most High.” • Practical steps: – Remember what you promised (write it, rehearse it, share with trusted believers). – Act promptly on any tangible obligation (Jonah 2:9 shows deliverance followed by paid vows). – Let the vow form perseverance; God values steadfastness (Hebrews 10:23). • Jesus later refocuses the issue in Matthew 5:33-37—better to live so honestly that vows become unnecessary—yet if one has vowed, Ecclesiastes still stands: keep it. summary Vows are voluntary but sacred promises made before God Himself. Scripture insists on swift fulfillment because delay signals a foolish heart, and God finds no pleasure in such contempt. The wise believer, therefore, treats every word as weighty, obeys without hesitation, and so honors the holy character of the One who never breaks His own word. |
    |