REMEMBER YOUR VOW: DON'T BREAK IT

Sunday 18th December, 2011

Sermon by ELD. EMMANUEL DANQUAH

Main Text: Judges 11:30-32,34,34

"And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said, If thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands,
Then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall surely be the LORD'S, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering.
So Jephthah passed over unto the children of Ammon to fight against them; and the LORD delivered them into his hands.
And Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his house, and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances: and she was his only child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter.
And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he rent his clothes, and said, Alas, my daughter! thou hast brought me very low, and thou art one of them that trouble me: for I have opened my mouth unto the LORD, and I cannot go back."

To vow means to make a determined decision or serious promise to do something without compulsion.
Beloved, have you made any vow to the LORD?

Jephthah vowed to God that if he were victorious in battle, he would give to God whoever came through the doors of his house upon his return from battle. His only child was the one who came out to meet him, and he was really grieved because she was the only person to continue his lineage. The daughter upon knowing the father's vow said to him: Do to me as you have said to the LORD.

"And she said unto him, My father, if thou hast opened thy mouth unto the LORD, do to me according to that which hath proceeded out of thy mouth; forasmuch as the LORD hath taken vengeance for thee of thine enemies, even of the children of Ammon. And she said unto her father, Let this thing be done for me: let me alone two months, that I may go up and down upon the mountains, and bewail my virginity, I and my fellows." (Judges 11:36,37)

Do you keep your vows?

We usually tend to think that making a vow is only in respect of financial matters, but confessing that Christ is the Messiah is a solemn vow/commitment.

Let us not neglect the gift we have received else the valuable (precious) components be lost. As we are in His vineyard and each of us has been tasked with a specific assignment, how are we handling it? The Lord  is fully aware of our strengths before entrusting any assignment to us.

As couples enter into marriage, let's observe the enthusiasm with which they plan the wedding, forsaking what happens afterward. They forget their vows they said on the wedding day that they will forever remain one whether in happiness or sorrow, riches or poverty, in sickness or in good health, and that only death can separate them.

We will soon celebrate the birth of the one whom we have committed ourselves to: How are we preparing to have an encounter with Him. Is Christmas going to reflect in our relationship with Christ, our marriages, etc.

Honour our vows: Don't break them