Anytime we promise to do or not do something, we are making a vow. It is important to follow through with it. For example, if parents don’t follow through on what they say they will do, children can get the idea that they can lie. When we don’t follow through on what we promise, it’s a reflection on our character. There was a time when someone could get a loan at the bank on his word and a handshake. His word was his bond. But nowadays there is not that level of trust. How many times have we found ourselves bargaining with God saying, if you only do this Lord, I will …. Our words have meaning and consequences. Society has become very casual about the words we use. Vow making, however, is a serious matter.
Numbers 30 begins with the discussion of vows to the LORD, and gives permission for a woman to be released from a vow by the authority of her husband or father. Numbers 30:2 says that whoever makes a vow “is not to break his word.” The Hebrew word for “break” comes from the root chalul, meaning to profane or make unholy. This is the same root used in the phrase chillul Hashem, which means to desecrate the Name of the LORD. Leviticus 22:32 says, “And you shall not profane (chillul) My holy name; but I will be sanctified among the children of Israel: I am the LORD who sanctifies you.” Deuteronomy 7:9 says, “From this you know that the LORD your God is indeed God, the faithful God, who keeps his covenant and extends grace to those who love him…”
The LORD will always keep His word, and so He wants us to keep ours as well. Jesus is the Word of God, just as His words are true and life giving, so should ours be also. The sages say that the words we speak, either good or bad, call for a response in the heavenly realm. The Hebrew for “word,” devar, also means “thing.” The words we speak or keep in our hearts can and do define the course of our lives—and things. We’ve discussed lashon harah (evil tongue) many times, and the weight that our words carry before God. This is why Jesus warned not to make an oath or vow, since our words should be enough. He says in Matthew 5:37, “Let your ‘Yes’ be a simple ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ a simple ’No,’; anything more has its origin in evil.”
Let us remember Jepthah in Chapter 11 of Judges who made a vow to the LORD, that whatever came out of his house to meet him when he returned from battle would be sacrificed to ADONAI, and his only child, a daughter, came to greet him–An extreme case, yes, but it was included in scripture for our benefit. Our words are meant to glorify God, and strengthen and build up one another. Ephesians 4:29 exhorts, “Let no harmful language come from your mouth, only good words that are helpful in meeting the need, words that will benefit those who hear them.” Ecclesiastes 5:5 says, “It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it.” This is referring especially to making a vow before God. Remember your words have meaning.
