February 2

Day 325: Don't Do It

Sometimes, those Old Testament Bible passages about "rules and reg's" can seem mind-numbing. Especially when the same rules and reg's are repeated, reiterated, restated.

Numbers 28-30 is one such passage. And it seems to have been inserted at an odd place, not before but right after God tells Moses to go up a mountain, look around, hand off leadership, and die. (See yesterday's post.)

Be that as it may, and after a lot of instruction for sacrifices and such, chapter 30 begins with this...

"If a man vows a vow to the Lord, or swears an oath to bind himself by a pledge, he shall not break his word. He shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth." Because this command appears right on the heels of proper sacrifices, it's fair to assume that what we promise to God is also a sacrificial act (?)

If that doesn't seem in absolute and direct opposition to our world today, I don't know what does. You'll agree, it's been a long time since anyone really took that command seriously.

Anyone with a failed and forgotten New Year's resolution? Anyone with a promise to "get together," only for that to have never happened? Anyone with stories of wedding vows witnessed and later voided? Anyone miss more than they make of their weekly GC gatherings?

We all have times when we are well-intentioned. We all experience episodes of inspiration. We have all felt the exciting pangs of risk-taking and greater courage. We all want to improve.

And yet. There's always an "and yet." And yet, our commitment to follow through with our promises to God, to others, even (especially) to ourselves are rarely seen through to completion.

I don't sense it is because we're lousy promise keepers. Even though that's true, and probably even documented. Rather, I think there is a root cause for why we're lousy promise keepers.

We don't take our vows seriously, because we don't take God seriously. God said (above) that if one vows a vow or swears a pledge to the Lord, one must fulfill that same vow/pledge.

Otherwise, the one vowing the vow is guilty of lying to God's face. Even if the vow is made to another person, or to an institution (family, GC, church) the vow is still made before God.

Be it to the Lord, or before the Lord, the injunction remains the same. Don't make vows you cannot or will not complete. Our best of intentions alone don't suffice.

A broader thought on this , however. 2 Timothy 2:11-13 brings the gospel to bear. "The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he will also deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful - for he cannot deny himself."

God will keep His word. Our God is THE promise keeper, even if we are not. Rather than try to keep promise-keeping pace with God, which we cannot, it's far better to call upon the Lord for mercy.

Because we are lousy vow keepers. Jesus knows this, which is why He said in Mathew 5:37 "Let what you say be simply 'Yes' or 'No;' anything more than this comes from evil."

One of the most wonderful aspects of the gospel of Jesus is that the fulfillment of the gospel does not rest on us. (Good thing!) It rests entirely on the gracious actions from our faithful God to unfaithful people.

But, to emulate our God as image-bearers, we're to fulfill our vows made. Or like Jesus said, don't make them at all. Just don't do it.