Title: Jephthah's vow/Judges 11:29-40
Contents Today's verse is a part of the record of the actions of Jephthah the judge that continues until verses 10:6-12:7. Jephthah was a very unique judge. Unlike other judges, he did not become a judge because God first established him. After the elders of Gilead first selected Jephthah as the commander of the battle, he became a judge in such a way that God confirmed it. In verses 1-11, which is the first part of the text, the process of Jephthah being appointed as the leader of Israel is recorded, and in the latter part, verses 12-40, the full-scale battle is recorded. I'm making my vows rashly. I hope that you will learn valuable lessons from this vow of Jephthah.
1. Jephthah's Birth and Growth Environment
Regarding Jephthah’s birth environment, in verse 1, (Judges 11:1) Jephthah, a great warrior from Gilead, was the son of a prostitute to Gilead.” He was the son of a prostitute. Our Bible records it as a 'prostitute', but in the English Bible it is expressed as a prostitute. Jephthah, the bastard, was also the bastard. Because he was a half brother, he did not receive the distribution of Gilead and was expelled (verse 2). ) But the real reason the brothers kicked Jephthah out of the house was that he did not want to share his father's inheritance by using his lowly status. He was not recognized as a blood relative and had to leave home, and he was brought up in a very unbelieving environment where he did not receive the “religious education of his parents,” which is characteristic of Hebrew education, and he could not learn about God's disposition. came.
2. Jephthah's rash vow
Jephthah makes a vow that if God gives him victory in his battle with Ammon, after he has won, when he enters the house, whoever welcomes him for the first time will offer him as a burnt offering (verses 30-31). Although his motives may have been zealous and pure, to break God's plain law and seduce the gods with the most noble human beings as bait to fulfill his desired purpose, he had confused pagan idolatry with absolute belief in God . It was a rash and reckless vow to make a vow to offer people as burnt offerings, knowing that God would be most pleased with human sacrifices, like other gods. In short, Jephthah personally did not possess the true knowledge of God. This seems to have something to do with his growing background. You should know that the reckless passion of faith can lead to the result of misrepresenting God's will.
3. Fulfillment of Jephthah's Vow
If you think you need to make a vow, you should make a vow that you can repay. It is absolutely forbidden to expect that God will respond more quickly if you make a vow with contents that are difficult for ordinary people to make, such as making a vow with one's own life or the life of another person as collateral. Because God does not want blind and fanatical zeal. That is why we must make our vows with all our heart as appropriate for our fulfillment.
However, even though he made a rash vow, the lesson we can learn from Jephthah's vow is that he kept his promise to God even though he made rash and reckless vows. That's right. Promises with God must be kept. Whatever it is... Jephthah's faithful faith in offering his daughter was dedicated to God according to his promise. Of course, he made the vow frivolous, but his pure motive, determination, and attitude of obedience to trust God absolutely are the attitude of faith that shows good faith to us who are too disobedient today.
I will conclude
Jephthah was born in an unhappy environment and grew up unfairly. Without knowing anything about God, they make a huge vow to God. But when we see that Jephthah keeps his vow even under very difficult circumstances, we feel once again that we need a firm stance of faith. I hope that all of you will imitate and practice the life of faithful obedience like Jephthah.
Prayer:
Forgive me for not serving you faithfully even in good circumstances.
Do not confuse the idolatry of the world with the service of God.
Don't be afraid to make a vow, or make a vow and not break it.