Think, But Don't Do

Psalm 61: 1 – 8

You can think it, but don’t do it

To the Chief Musician. On a stringed instrument. A Psalm of David.

1 Hear my cry, O God; Attend to my prayer. 2 From the end of the earth I will cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. 3 For You have been a shelter for me, a strong tower from the enemy. 4 I will abide in Your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of Your wings. Selah 5 For You, O God, have heard my vows; You have given me the heritage of those who fear Your name. 6 You will prolong the king’s life, his years as many generations. 7 He shall abide before God forever. Oh, prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him! 8 So I will sing praise to Your name forever, that I may daily perform my vows.

You can think about it, but don’t do it. Does this line sound familiar? If you guessed that it came from the Smokey and the Bandit movie you win a cookie.

This movie somehow put together over 100 quotes that people use in today’s communication. One example is when Sheriff Burford T. Justice played by Jackie Gleason stops and confronts 3 young car thieves. Since he is after the Bandit played by Burt Reynolds held tells the rookie car part criminals to stay at the car they were trying to strip for parts until one of his associates came and arrested them. He then tells them that they can think about leaving after he drives away but they better not do it.

I think this line fits in well with people who was to break a vow that they had made to our Holy God. My answer to them would be similar, ‘you can think about it, but don’t do it.’

In the Bible, both Old and New Testament making a vow is serious business. In so much that it is better not to vow anything, then to vow and not fulfill it. A vow assumes we have the ability in and of ourselves to fulfill that vow.

Making a vow is to be taken seriously and is mentioned in various parts of the bible. In making a vow to God, we promise to do something for him in worship or to please him through an action, change in behavior, a series of actions, constant change, etc. In the book of Numbers chapter 30 verse 1 we read, "Moses said to the heads of the tribes of Israel: 'This is what the LORD commands: 2 When a man makes a vow to the LORD or takes an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word but must do everything he said.'"

In the book of Leviticus chapter 26 we learn that if you don't carry out all of God's commands and violate his covenant, then God will "set my face against you so that you will be defeated by your enemies; those who hate you will rule over you, and you will flee even when no one is pursuing you."

So, if you lived over 2,000 years ago. Then you would have had to make a forgiveness offering to God to be forgiven. Thankfully, a new covenant was made through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and our sins are already forgiven. ‘BUT’, the guilt that is associated with breaking a vow we once made to God is quite hard to shake, I know. When I first became a Christian, I asked God to save me from where I was in my life. In return (I now understand it doesn't work like that), I vowed to do a bunch of things for Him. I failed to keep my part of the vow.

Through this experience, I can truly appreciate the wisdom in James 5 verse 12, which says "Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple 'Yes' or 'No.' Otherwise you will be condemned." When someone asks me to promise them something I say no, which then leads to "why don't you promise" and then sometimes "that's stupid." I just ask something along the lines of "if someone isn't satisfied with my yes or no, then why does a promise suddenly change that?" ...as if a promise suddenly makes your word valid or credible. Love God, obey him, and love others. Vows are unnecessary and yes, sometimes even dangerous.

Let’s learn a little more about vows as we find in today’s Psalm.

To the Chief Musician. On a stringed instrument. A Psalm of David.

This Psalm is also dedicated to the Chief Musician and is to be accompanied by a stringed instrument. It is a Psalm of David. If David, rather than a member of the Davidic house, was its author it was quite possibly written during his period of exile east of Jordan after fleeing from Absalom (2 Samuel 15.13). In later days, after the end of the monarchy and the Exile, it began to be given a Messianic interpretation.