Good Morning “Careful With Commitments.” Today we are in Judges 11.
Contracts are easily broken in the world in which we live. Often, someone’s word carries little weight. However; the teaching of Scripture is that our word should mean something. Our yes should mean yes and our no mean no. Matthew 5:37 Integrity is paramount. “A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.“ Proverbs 22:1 NIV
We tend to value our personal comfort, our personal lives, our preference above even commitments we’ve made. The problem is… that doesn’t jive with Scripture. Gods expectations of us are different.
Today, we get the story of Jephthah and his daughter. This is yet another story that messes with our categories. How could God allow Jephthah to sacrifice his daughter? Why didn’t God stop him and provide a ram for the sacrifice as He did with Abraham and Isaac? Those are among the questions I’ve fielded regarding this story.
First let’s be clear, God detests the practice of human sacrifice or offering Deuteronomy 12:31, 18:10. In Exodus 21:23-25 we see His command even regarding those that might harm the unborn
”But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.“
Exodus 21:23-25 NIV.
That piece is crystal clear. So what of Jephthah’s daughter? God commanded Abraham to sacrifice Issac as a test. Gods intention was never to allow Abraham to go through with it and in fact Abraham stated that. (Genesis 22:8) It was a bolstering of Abraham’s faith.
God takes commitments seriously. He didn’t make or command the commitment, Jephthah did. Once the words were uttered the commitment needed to be honored. ”Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few. …When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it.“
Ecclesiastes 5:2, 4-5 NIV
Does God value our commitments to Him even over human life? There is support for several other options. Jephthah could have substituted himself. Other passages suggest he could have redeemed her with silver, or even pledged her virginity for life. Scripture is not clear as to whether he actually sacrificed her but one thing is clear, his pledge cost him dearly. Bottom line… be careful what you commit to, but then having committed, honor them even when it costs!
Love you all! Dig in!
Contracts are easily broken in the world in which we live. Often, someone’s word carries little weight. However; the teaching of Scripture is that our word should mean something. Our yes should mean yes and our no mean no. Matthew 5:37 Integrity is paramount. “A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.“ Proverbs 22:1 NIV
We tend to value our personal comfort, our personal lives, our preference above even commitments we’ve made. The problem is… that doesn’t jive with Scripture. Gods expectations of us are different.
Today, we get the story of Jephthah and his daughter. This is yet another story that messes with our categories. How could God allow Jephthah to sacrifice his daughter? Why didn’t God stop him and provide a ram for the sacrifice as He did with Abraham and Isaac? Those are among the questions I’ve fielded regarding this story.
First let’s be clear, God detests the practice of human sacrifice or offering Deuteronomy 12:31, 18:10. In Exodus 21:23-25 we see His command even regarding those that might harm the unborn
”But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.“
Exodus 21:23-25 NIV.
That piece is crystal clear. So what of Jephthah’s daughter? God commanded Abraham to sacrifice Issac as a test. Gods intention was never to allow Abraham to go through with it and in fact Abraham stated that. (Genesis 22:8) It was a bolstering of Abraham’s faith.
God takes commitments seriously. He didn’t make or command the commitment, Jephthah did. Once the words were uttered the commitment needed to be honored. ”Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few. …When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it.“
Ecclesiastes 5:2, 4-5 NIV
Does God value our commitments to Him even over human life? There is support for several other options. Jephthah could have substituted himself. Other passages suggest he could have redeemed her with silver, or even pledged her virginity for life. Scripture is not clear as to whether he actually sacrificed her but one thing is clear, his pledge cost him dearly. Bottom line… be careful what you commit to, but then having committed, honor them even when it costs!
Love you all! Dig in!
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