In The Word
Read: Numbers 30
The Law of Vows
30 Then Moses spoke to the heads of the tribes of the sons of Israel, saying, “This is the word which the Lord has commanded: 2 If a man makes a vow to the Lord, or takes an oath to put himself under a binding obligation, he shall not break his word; he shall act in accordance with everything that comes out of his mouth.
3 “And if a woman makes a vow to the Lord, and puts herself under a binding obligation in her father’s house in her youth, 4 and her father hears her vow and her obligation under which she has put herself, and her father says nothing to her, then all her vows shall remain valid and every binding obligation under which she has put herself shall remain valid. 5 But if her father expresses disapproval to her on the day he hears of it, none of her vows or her obligations under which she has put herself shall remain valid; and the Lord will forgive her because her father has expressed disapproval to her.
6 “However, if she happens to marry while under her vows or the impulsive statement of her lips by which she has obligated herself, 7 and her husband hears of it and says nothing to her on the day he hears it, then her vows shall remain valid and her binding obligations under which she has put herself shall remain valid. 8 But if on the day her husband hears of it, he expresses disapproval to her, then he will annul her vow which she is under and the impulsive statement of her lips by which she has obligated herself; and the Lord will forgive her.
9 “But as for the vow of a widow or of a divorced woman, every binding obligation under which she has put herself, shall remain valid against her. 10 However, if a married woman vowed in her husband’s house, or put herself under a binding obligation with an oath, 11 and her husband heard it, but said nothing to her anddid not express disapproval to her, then all her vows shall remain valid and every binding obligation under which she put herself shall remain valid. 12 But if her husband actually annuls them on the day he hears them, then no utterance from her lips concerning her vows or the obligation she put on herself shall remain valid; her husband has annulled them, and the Lord will forgive her.
13 “Every vow and every binding oath to humble herself, her husband may confirm it or her husband may annul it. 14 But if her husband in fact says nothing to her from day to day, then he confirms all her vows or all her binding obligations which are on her; he has confirmed them, because he said nothing to her on the day he heard them. 15 However, if he actually annuls them after he has heard them, then he shall bear the responsibility for her guilt.”
16 These are the statutes which the Lord commanded Moses concerning matters between a man and his wife, and between a father and his daughter while she is in her youth in her father’s house.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
We should not be quick to speak or be impulsive in thought when bringing a promise to God. Ecclesiastes 5 reminds us that God takes no delight in fools. Death and life are in the power of the tongue. If you make a promise to God, you are bound to your word. It is better not to make a promise than to make a promise and not keep it. God is not pleased when we make excuses for not keeping our word. His judgment can affect the work of our hands. Therefore, it is better that our words be few and be slow to speak and quick to listen.
Covenant marriage vows are promises that are made to God, the husband and wife. They are not to be taken lightly. The first relationship that God created for people was the marriage of one man to one woman. Genesis 2:24 says, “For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.” This promise is for a lifetime, not just until it becomes inconvenient. God’s creative order establishes that the husband has more responsibility in the home. Husbands are to be submitted to Christ, leading their homes and loving their wives as Christ loves the church (Ephesians 5).
Don’t go back on your word. Keep your promise, fear God, and remember that we are accountable for our words and our promises (Matthew 12:33-37).