Numbers 30 VOWS ARE PROMISES It is not uncommon today to hear people make promises to each other and usually the intention is to keep them. But many time promises made are not kept and sometimes the person making that promise never planned to keep it. The concept of one's word being one's bond is not taken seriously. It happens even in courts of law these days. Guilty people are instructed by lawyers to plead "not guilty" in spite of the facts of the matter. An honest admission of guilt is unusual. In ancient times this was not the case. There was quick judgment passed on those who did not fulfill the vows and promises they made.
There were no written contracts in the nation of Israel in the early years of nationhood. The exchange of a shoe, some salt, a handshake or one's personal word given was considered binding. When one gave their word, a vow, it was a legal obligation. No one was forced to make a vow, but when it was made it had to be fulfilled. A vow made by a man could not be ignored nor its consequences avoided. Breaking a vow meant a broken trust, and a broken trust meant a broken relationship. The vow made by a man was actually a type of our Lord Jesus Christ who came "to do the Father's will," and could not turn aside from all that meant including the death of the cross.
Every man needs to understand there are consequences that follow every promise we make. We jeopardize our integrity and our reputation every time we neglect to fulfill a promise. Even in these days when deception and lack of honest communication are quite common, people still expect us to do what we say even if they don't intend to do what they say. Vows are really binding obligations that cannot be deviated from.
Among the children of Israel, when a single person still in the family, made a rash vow without knowing the consequences that could follow, the father of the family had the right to negate that vow. His experience and knowledge of the law, gave him authority to override a vow that was unreasonable or unattainable. When foolish promises are made by children or immature people, we need to step in and assert mature thinking into a matter that has not been clearly thought through. To make costly commitments that are impossible to meet, often will require someone with authority to step in and correct such a situation. The authority of a father needs to be used with caution lest it be misunderstood as an act of anger instead of love. Caution and love go together when corrections have to be made. We need to protect our loved ones from disaster, and yet allow them to learn from their mistakes.
The vow a married woman might make could also be overridden by her husband . As far as types relating to vows are concerned, the married woman is a type of Israel. If he knew of bad consequences that would follow some thoughtless words that might bind her in a way she had not thought of, he could make that vow void. If he never said anything at the time he heard of the vow, but later tries to make it null and void, he was responsible for the results. That is what the Lord Jesus Christ did when on the cross of Calvary. We are not really at liberty to do or say anything we want as husband and wife. I must consider the effect it has or maybe will have in the future on my spouse. If I take time to consider what is right and best for my spouse, the negative results of taking independent action can be avoided.
Single persons, men or women, are solely responsible for the promises they make. In a practical sense a single person should remember what they have learned from parental guidance in decision making, and act accordingly. The same holds true in binding promises. In the scripture we read of some who made vows of support of some kind, and apparently did not pay. It is better not to make a promise of financial support, or even moral support, than to indicate you are supportive and not follow through with it. Paul made a vow of some kind that affected others and he carried it through on it to completion.
Hannah's vow to give Samuel back to the Lord was fully supported by Elkanah her husband. Choices and promises we make often affect many others beside ourselves. In the case of Hannah's vow, it brought blessing to the whole nation of Israel through Samuel her son. The use of our tongue needs to be very guarded. God demands from us absolute honesty and expects us to carry out our commitments. To ignore vows may bring divine judgment on us.
When a family is begun by marriage vows, this represents, and establishes, a strong basis for a stable society. A family bound together by the vows of commitment between a husband and wife, is able to demonstrate stability that hopefully will be carried on by their children. A wise father oversees the wide variety of issues a family has to face and guides them with discernment from foolish or rash statements of commitment that cannot be met. The design of a family comes from God. A well-guided family promotes the strength of that social unit God designed, and establishes the order needed for the well-being of all who are in it. Strong families make strong assemblies of Christians, and strong families make strong nations.
We are now experiencing in this nation the result of family break-downs, and increasingly the value of human life is being diminished. Corresponding directly with that is increasing discontent among the people, and increasing chaos in society as people become less afraid of the consequences of deceit and dishonesty. Vows are a part of the ceremony civil servants and members of the military make when they step into the role intended for them. How much more the people of God should commit themselves to "the vows of God" that are on us.