Worshiping God Series

In Biblical times people made vows to God, often in the context of public worship (see Leviticus 22:18-20). We find vows made in the Psalms. For example, Psalm 50:14 says, “Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High.” Psalm 65:1 says, “Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion, and to you shall vows be performed.” Hannah vowed to dedicate her firstborn son to become a priest (1 Samuel 1:11). And Jephthah made a rash vow that cost him his daughter (Judges 11:29-40).

The Preacher is not talking about a rash or a sinful vow. Instead he is talking about vows that God’s people make to him, like the vow the Psalmist described in Psalm 76:11a, “Make your vows to the Lord your God and perform them.” The Preacher simply wants God’s people to keep the vows that they make to God.

Now, notice a few points about vows. First, you are not required to make a vow. Verse 4a says, “When you vow. . . .” A vow is a voluntary act on your part.

Second, all vows are made to God. Verse 4b says, “When you vow a vow to God. . . .” A vow is made directly to God, usually in the presence of human witnesses. An oath, on the other hand, is made directly to humans, invoking God as a witness, and is “a sacred promise to keep one’s word and to honor one’s covenants and agreements.”

Third, vows must be kept once they are made. Verse 4c says, “When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow.” I will never forget talking to Dr. John Gerstner in my study one Sunday morning, just before he was to preach to our congregation. Dr. Gerstner, for those of you who don’t know him, was a towering theologian in our country. Dr. Sproul said that Dr. Gerstner was one of the two greatest teachers that he ever had the privilege to know. Furthermore, Dr. Gerstner, perhaps because he was such a towering theologian, was extremely intimidating. So, as we were sitting in my study I was trying to think of something suitable to say. Then I remembered that when Dr. Gerstner taught at my seminary, he said that he would give every student a free two-volume set of The Works of Jonathan Edwards. There was only one condition to receive the free two-volume set: the student had to vow to God that he would read the entire 1660 pages in a tiny 8-point font in one year. Frankly, that is about as much reading as reading through the entire Old Testament twice and the New Testament once. Well, I had a friend named Danny Phillips who had a lazy eye, which made reading extremely tiring for him. But, he accepted Dr. Gerstner’s offer. About a year and half later I saw Danny and asked him how his reading had gone. “Freddy,” he said, “I managed to finish reading all of The Works of Jonathan Edwards in one year. But it was extremely difficult because of my lazy eye.” So, when Dr. Gerstner was sitting in my study I proudly told him of my friend Danny’s accomplishment, thinking that Dr. Gerstner would say something like, “Wow! That is fantastic! I am really proud of him for working so hard at it.” But instead, all Dr. Gerstner said was, “Well, he made vow, didn’t he!” Clearly, Dr. Gerstner understood that vows must be kept once they are made.