WHEN THOU SHALT VOW A VOW UNTO THE LORD THY GOD, THOU SHALT NOT SLACK TO PAY IT

To vow unto the Lord was something the Israelite ‘may do’ and not something he ‘must do’. Directions concerning vows were not an integral part of the laws of the covenant but were addi­tional to them. In the book of Leviticus the institutional laws of the covenant are concluded in chapter 26 and not until chapter 27 is there detailed instruction concerning vows. There, provi­sion is made for the individual to express his devotion to God, possibly in appreciation of God’s revelation of Himself in the law, or perhaps as an act of thanksgiving for blessings received from Him, Pss. 50. 14; 116. 17-18. The vow may be prompted by an intense zeal for God, Ps. 22. 25. Such vows might involve the consecration of the person to God or his possessions, a beast, house, or field, Lev. 27. 2, 9,14,16. Equally, it could be a vow of abstinence, Num. 30. 2; Ps. 132. 2-5. In certain circumstances vows could be repealed by one’s peers, the vows of an unmar­ried daughter by her father, or those of a wife by her husband, Num. 30. 3-5, 10-13.

Because it was a voluntary matter, and none were compelled to vow, no sin was involved in forbearing. But if a vow was made it became as binding as an oath and speedy efforts must be made to fulfil it; any failure to do so would leave the person guilty of sinning before God and accountable to Him. How solemn to appreciate that what had begun as an act of piety and devotion to God could end as a grievous offence before Him. Clearly vows were not something to be entered into lightly. No word must be uttered in haste before God for those who vow yet fail to pay are not only displeasing to Him, but are also accounted as fools by Him, Eccles. 5. 2, 4-5 - foolish in promising before God some­thing they are unable or unwilling to fulfil and fools for treating such a sacred exercise so casually.

What a challenge these verses bring to us. In the hymns that we sing and the prayers we offer how quickly we can promise things that we are not really prepared to accomplish. Our spirit can be stirred and our passions aroused as we sing such words as ‘I surrender all’, but to actually do that is another matter!