The power of a vow! : By James Lantz
Commitment is a major ingredient of faith! These three words, confidence, conviction, and commitment describe faith very well. Confidence in God, conviction of what God said, commitment to do what God said are three ingredients that are seen wherever faith is found. There are plenty of talkers but it is the doers of the word that get blessed. Mt. 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. When we came to Christ we died to sin and self and vowed to make Jesus the Lord of our life!
There is a woman named Hannah who wanted so much to have a baby but was unable to conceive. She was married to a godly man named Elkanah and they lived in Israel during the time that Eli was priest. Now Elkanah had two wives and Peninnah bore sons and daughters but the Lord had shut up Hannah’s womb. Peninnah was an adversary to Hannah and tormented her because she bore no children. “ How gracious that God established in this new covenant that a man is to have only one wife.” 1 Tim. 3:12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. Hannah’s greatest desire was to have children but didn’t know much about how to believe God for this miracle. She was a real basket case, fretting, weeping, in bitterness of soul. This went on year after year and instead of being thankful for a good husband that loved her she was grieved and focused on what she did not have. Being unthankful is a sure way not to receive from God. Col. 1:12 amp. Giving thanks to the Father, Who has qualified and made us fit to share the portion which is the inheritance of the saints (God’s holy people) in the Light. Finally Hannah gave God some faith to
Hannah gave God some faith to work with!
work with, she made a commitment to God. 1 Sam. 1:11 And she vowed a vow, and said, O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head. Hannah’s vow enabled God to hook up with the things she was doing right. She made a commitment to God to put His desires ahead of her own. Her heart was right, she was at the right place (in church), doing the right things (honoring God with tithes and offerings and praying the best she knew how). She believed the word from the Lord spoken by Eli the priest (even though it came through a wicked preacher 1 Sam. 2:29, 1 Sam. 22:18, Ps. 37:28), may the God of Israel grant you your request. Hannah believed Eli’s words and went her way being glad. Faith rejoices, gives thanks, and is glad! Doubt despairs, complains, and is sad. Here we see Hannah was able to connect to the power of God through making a vow (commitment) to put God’s kingdom first. Hannah got happy about giving her son to God for the work of the ministry, I am sure Elkanah was rejoicing to have a joyful wife. Take note that Hannah did not yet have the knowledge of what God was going to do for her in giving her additional children. God’s desire is for all of us to believe that He is good and eager to reward all who diligently seek him. Rejoice and serve the Lord and give into His work because the reward will surely come! Those who refuse to serve the Lord with joyfulness and gladness of heart for the abundance of all will serve their enemies and be in want and be destroyed. (Deut. 28: 47&48) Heb. 10:36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. Can you imagine how Hannah must have enjoyed those days and months of her pregnancy and then lovingly training little Samuel until the time he was weaned. Hannah was a changed woman and not sorrowing about having to give little Samuel up to serve in the temple. When Elkanah and Hannah brought little Samuel to the Priest and worshipped God we get a glimpse into Hannah’s heart. 1 Sam. 2:1 And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the Lord, mine horn is exalted in the Lord: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation. Hannah continued to pray and to prophecy about the holiness and the goodness of God. She prophesied that when God gets involved the proud and mighty are brought down and the lowly are lifted up. God will lift up the beggar from the dunghill and set him among princes. She prophesied that the barren hath born seven. I believe God used Hannah’s commitment to give her son to the Lord to help make up for the lack of commitment that God’s people were showing at that time. We read that she had three additional sons and two daughters after Samuel. The prophecy said that the barren one bore seven. I believe this is referring to the Christ to come as a baby. Commitment is a form of intercession.
Abram lifted up his hand in a vow to God, saying, if you will help us to recover all of the wealth of Sodom along with the people that were taken captive I will not keep it for myself. Gen. 14:22&23 And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the Lord, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich.
God takes a vow very seriously and expects us to keep our vows. The Gibeonites lied to Joshua saying they were from a far land and showing their worn out shoes that they said were new when they started. Joshua made a covenant with them, without asking the Lord, and it turned out they were close neighbors to them. They kept their vow to keep the Gibeonites alive but made them slaves. Years later, King Saul broke covenant with the Gibeonites, killing many of them. This sin brought a severe famine to Israel when David was king. After three years David sought the Lord and God showed him the cause of the famine. (See Joshua 9 & 2 Samuel 21)
God does not expect us to keep some vows when the light and truth of God’s word comes to us. If we have vowed to do someone harm for a wrong they did. Rom. 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. When an unbeliever leaves a marriage partner who is a believer, the believer is not held accountable for breaking the marriage vow. 1 Cor. 7:15 But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace. Remember, God himself does not keep covenant with us if we break it. God told Eli, I had said that your house and the house of your father should be priests forever, but now, since you despised me, you will be cut off. The wicked servant’s debts were reinstated (Mt. 18:32-35) 2 Pet. 2:21 NLTse It would be better if they had never known the way to righteousness than to know it and then reject the command they were given to live a holy life. Nathan the prophet had to change what he had spoken to King David when the Lord revealed his plan for David. (2 Sam. 7:3-5)
Some have looked at the negative results of making foolish vows and decided they just aren’t going to vow. The truth of the matter is that every person who made a commitment to Christ has already made a vow to die to self and to live as Jesus would have them live. Many christians are in a place where they are not going to get the breakthrough (debt removal, healing, relationships restored, etc.) they need until they repent and recommit to build the Lord’s house. (1 Cor. 11:30 & Acts 3:22&23 & James 4:7) Repentance is a precious gift from God! Acknowledging sin and turning from sin is what true repentance is all about. Abundance of grace is available to all who will receive the truth and walk in it! A vow of recommitment to Christ could be spoken something like this, Dear God: I recognize I have not been putting your kingdom and your righteousness first place in my life. Please forgive me! With your help, I commit to put you and your things first starting now! In Jesus name! Amen
