The Test Of Character: Jephthah’s Vow

And Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his house, and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances: and she was his only child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter. And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he rent his clothes, and said, Alas, my daughter! thou hast brought me very low, and thou art one of them that trouble me: for I have opened my mouth unto the LORD, and I cannot go back.
Judges 11:34‭-‬35 KJV

Now that the battle was over, Jephthah returns home. He had made a vow unto God that whatsoever came out of his house first will be sacrificed unto the Lord. His only daughter came out to meet him. What would have been your reaction if you were in Jepthah’s shoes? Some people would immediately renegotiate the vow. American Bible Society tells us the implications of making this kind of vow ” A vow is a spoken promises made to God, and are often made in response to help received from God. A person making a vow can offer a thing, an action, or the promise of a future action. It is an act of trust between people and God. A person making a vow is expected to fulfill it by doing what is promised”. Ecc.5:4-8 explains how vows are to be made. John Reid answers the question whether vows should be made today in Forerunner Magazine,1996( Sept.-Oct.)edition in the following words: ” The New Testament mentions vows only twice, both times regarding vows made by Christians who had made vows consecrating themselves to God for some length of time, much like the Nazirite vow (Acts 18:18; 21:23; see Numbers 6:18). More often, the New Testament speaks of swearing oaths, a related concept”. Mat.5:34-37 admonishes us not to swear by anything. Our yes should be yes and our no should be no. If we are honest with God, we do not need to swear. We will simply walk in truth with God. This is a large subject. We can’t do justice to it in a vignette. If you’ve made any vow, please fulfill your vow.