Numbers 30:1-16 - Vows Unto The Lord

I. THAT A MAN MUST NOT BREAK HIS WORD UNTO GOD . If a man is obliged in honour (and wherever practicable in law too) to keep his promise to his brother man; if an honest man (even among savages), having Raven his word to his neighbour, may not disappoint him, though it were to his own hindrance ( Psalms 15:4 ); if God himself have vouchsafed to make promises to man (and with an oath too— Hebrews 6:17 , Hebrews 6:18 ), which promises he for his part will most surely keep and perform, how much more is man bound to keep his promise made to God!

II. THAT A PROMISE MADE , TO GOD IN SICKNESS OR DISTRESS MAY NOT BE DEPARTED FROM IN HEALTH AND PROSPERITY . No doubt most vows were made under stress of some calamity or need, as Jacob's ( Genesis 28:20 ), Hannah's ( 1 Samuel 1:11 ), and others (cf. Psalms 66:13 ; Psalms 76:11 ). Yet how often do men treat their God with such indignity! ( 1 Corinthians 10:22 ).

III. THAT A RESOLUTION DELIBERATELY FORMED AND OFFERED UNTO GOD IS QUITE AS SACRED AS THOUGH MADE WITH AN OATH . For an oath is on the part of God a condescension which has no meaning for him ( Hebrews 6:17 ), on the part of man a device to overawe his own sinful weakness, but it adds nothing to the real sacredness of the vow. How many vows have we taken upon ourselves, either openly or secretly! They are all as binding on us as though we had imprecated the most frightful penalties upon our failure to observe them. The punishment of Ananias and Sapphira was intended to mark the extreme malediction of such as secretly withhold from God what of themselves or of their own they have deliberately dedicated to his service.

IV. THAT NO PROMISE CAN BE MADE TO GOD IN DEROGATION OF THE JUST RIGHTS OF ANOTHER OVER US . God can never be served with that upon which another has a rightful claim, nor honoured by anything which involves dishonour of another. Only that which is really ours to give can we give unto God. If it be unworthy to offer unto the Lord of that which doth cost us nothing ( 2 Samuel 24:24 ), it is unjust to offer unto the Lord of that which doth cost another something.

V. THAT IN PARTICULAR A DAUGHTER 'S PRIMARY DUTY IS TO HER PARENT , A WIFE 'S TO HER HUSBAND . Only what lies beyond the sphere of their legitimate claims can she sacrifice in the name of religion.

VI. THAT THE " RASH UTTERANCE OF THE LIPS " IS NOT HELD BINDING BY THE LORD . Since he utterly rejects any service which is not truly willing, and since he is infinitely above taking advantage of the folly of man, it is mere obstinacy, not religion, which leads a man to abide by what he has ignorantly and rashly said that he will do.

VII. THAT A FATHER OR A HUSBAND MAY NOT PLAY FAST AND LOOSE WITH THE RELIGIOUS PRACTICES OF THOSE DEPENDENT UPON HIM , NEITHER DISALLOW ONE DAY WHAT HE ALLOWED THE DAY BEFORE . It is given to them to exercise control even in religious matters, but not to exercise it capriciously. It is a fearful responsibility to cross the devout purposes of God's servants from any but the purest motives, and for any but the weightiest reasons.

VIII. THAT IF WE , THROUGH NEGLIGENCE OR CAPRICE , DISTURB THE SPIRITUAL LIFE , AND HINDER THE HEAVENLY DESIRES OF THOSE DEPENDENT ON US , WE MUST BEAR THEIR INIQUITY . We do not know indeed how such responsibility will be apportioned at the day of judgment, but we do know that God will exact vengeance for every injury done to souls, and especially for injury done to such as are committed to our care ( Matthew 18:6 ).