Judges 11:29-40 “What You Vow”

Judges 11:29-40 “What You Vow”

Two men in the life raft…..

We make vows all the time. We take a vow to be a good church member, to serve and support the church. We take Vows to become an Elder, Deacon, or Pastor. We take a vow when we join the military, testify in court, get married and many more. Some vows are spoken while others are written. Some are solemn, serious, even mystical, while others are flippant. In this passage we find the seriousness with which God takes our vows to Him, even the foolish ones.

Jephthah is the son of Gilead and a prostitute who is raised by Gilead’s wife. But when his half-brothers grow up they kick him out of the family. Doing so they cheat him out of his inheritance. Later when the brothers need a warrior to defeat the Ammonites the brothers come back and ask Jephthah lead them into battle. Jephthah forgives them and takes up the mantle of leadership with all seriousness for He is a man of his word.

1.       Jephthah’s vow
a. if they win….
b. and they do…….
c. Jephthah fulfills his word at the breaking of his heart.

2.       Vows in the Bible
a. Ex 24:3 “everything the Lord has spoken we will do
b. Samson’s mother and Samuel’s mother
c. Ananias and Sapphira Acts 5

3.       People of the Word and people of your word
a. God wants us to be people of our word
b. Number 30:2, Deut 23:23, Ecc 5:4, Ps 22:25
c. Mal 3:8
d. Mat 12:36
e. Matt 5:33-38
f. be careful to do all you vow to the Lord.

4.       God keeps His promises
a. I will never leave you or forsake you Heb 13:5
b. I go to prepare a place for you. John 14:3
c. If you confess your sin 1 John 1:9
d. At the table Matthew 26-29

Jephthah was a person of his word even at the cost of his daughter’s life. God calls us to be people of our word. When we are people of our word God and people take notice. Today also God has made you a promise. No matter what happens in life you can always trust God’s word, you can always come to Him, His words of forgiveness and love are words you can trust.