Slow down, Take a breath...and meditate before you make a promise!

It is interesting that following the last two Devos dealing with our emotional and mental health, that this Devo, which was planned to be posted but was moved due to the tragedy that led me to deal with those issues, should be on a passage that warns us about emotional decisions. Many times we make commitments in the heat of low or high emotions, this section of Scriptures exposes the folly of that. 
Judges Chapter 11:29-40 

Now the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah, so that he passed through Gilead and Manasseh; then he passed through Mizpah of Gilead, and from Mizpah of Gilead he went on to the sons of Ammon. Jephthah made a vow to the Lord and said, “If You will indeed give the sons of Ammon into my hand, then it shall be that whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the sons of Ammon, it shall be the Lord’s, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering.” So Jephthah crossed over to the sons of Ammon to fight against them; and the Lord gave them into his hand. He struck them with a very great slaughter from Aroer to the entrance of Minnith, twenty cities, and as far as Abel-keramim. So the sons of Ammon were subdued before the sons of Israel. When Jephthah came to his house at Mizpah, behold, his daughter was coming out to meet him with tambourines and with dancing. Now she was his one and only child; besides her he had no son or daughter. When he saw her, he tore his clothes and said, “Alas, my daughter! You have brought me very low, and you are among those who trouble me; for I have given my word to the Lord, and I cannot take it back.” So she said to him, 

“My father, you have given your word to the Lord; do to me as you have said, since the Lord has avenged you of your enemies, the sons of Ammon.” She said to her father, “Let this thing be done for me; let me alone two months, that I may go to the mountains and weep because of my virginity, I and my companions.” Then he said, “Go.” So he sent her away for two months; and she left with her companions, and wept on the mountains because of her virginity. At the end of two months she returned to her father, who did to her according to the vow which he had made; and she had no relations with a man. Thus it became a custom in Israel, that the daughters of Israel went yearly to commemorate the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in the year.

This section of Scripture is loaded with lessons. I want to view three. The Holy Spirit empowered Jephthah to be victorious, Jephthah made an unwise vow and the devotion of his daughter. Let’s look at the facts, then draw some applications.

First, time and time again we are reminded that the battle truly is the Lord’s.

Second, we need to heed the warning we see in Jephthah’s rash vow. Whenever we are being led by the Lord to do something, we need to be careful not to think we need to add more than our dedication into the mix. God had already led Jephthah and his army safely, why did he feel the need to make the vow? Does our vow make God more committed? In discussing how did Jephthah pay this vow, there are two options. He sacrificed his daughter as a burnt offering or she was dedicated to serve in the temple and remained a virgin until her death. Remember, we should not be afraid of the truth, no matter how ugly it is. If you read from commentators, you will find a clear split on what happened, and to spend a lot of energy trying to definitively prove one option is a waste.

Could Jephthah have actually offered a human sacrifice? The answer is yes, however, that does not mean God condoned it. Where Jephthah lived and in the age he was living in, it is very possible he did not understand all the mosaic code that forbid that kind of offering. We want our heroes spotless, but Scripture gives them to us with warts and all. If this is what happened it was a tragedy; and makes the lesson we will consider even stronger. I lean more for the other ending, which is Jephthah, gave his daughter to the temple, costing her a chance for marriage and leaving no heir for Jephthah. I believe this for several reasons. First, this one issue in the law is what separated the true God from all the false ones, which demanded it’s followers to offer their children. Jephthah quoted the history of his people to the King concerning the land. It is clear he knew the Lord. Second, if an unclean animal had come out first, would Jephthah have offered that? Doubtful, but it could be offered for service, he would do that. Third, I think the context of the sorrow is very focused.

“She said to her father, “Let this thing be done for me; let me alone two months, that I may go to the mountains that I may go to the mountains and weep because of my virginity, I and my companions.” Then he said, “Go.” So he sent her away for two months; and she left with her companions, and wept on the mountains because of her virginity. At the end of two months she returned to her father, who did to her according to the vow which he had made; and she had no relations with a man.

I would think she would be weeping over her short life and if he had put her to death, there would be no need to state that she had no relations. Lastly, and I find it curious that this is never mentioned – Scripture states that God’s Spirit came upon Jephthah, surely God would have warned him that human sacrifice was a sin. God warned Abimelech not to sleep with Sarah, isn’t this the same Lord? Rash as it may be Jephthah spoke from sincerity of heart towards the Lord, God honored Abimelech for that very reason. Either scenario, an important lesson should be learned.

Third, Jephthah’s daughter is the picture of commitment, no matter the circumstances. She clearly believes God had rescued her people and protected her father, so she would not consider making her father sin against the Lord.

Lessons:

* When we do battle of any kind, we need to depend on the Lord. No matter our skills or strength if we are not filled with God’s Spirit, even if we win, we gain no fruit. Depending on God is what builds and grows our faith.

* There is nothing wrong with making a vow to the Lord, but it should be based on love and thoughtful meditation. Emotional highs and lows are dangerous. Our vow should reflect we are doing this because we love God, not to try and make Him do something.

I find the best approach is based from Scripture:

Ecclesiastes 5:4–6 When you make a vow to God, do not be late in paying it; for He takes no delight in fools. Pay what you vow! It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. Do not let your speech cause you to sin and do not say in the presence of the messenger of God that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry on account of your voice and destroy the work of your hands?

* If Jephthah’s daughter loved her sinful father enough to commit to him that way, how much more should we be committed to our Lord, Who would never make rash or hurtful decisions. She is a great model for obedience!

Meditation questions: When you approach a trial, where do you turn to first? Do you try and handle the situation on your own? What do you do before you make a promise? Explain. Have you ever made a commitment when emotionally low or high? What did it cost you? What did it teach you? When God desires something from you is your obedience immediate or do you hesitate?