1 Samuel 1:9-11 (ESV)
After they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh, Hannah rose. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the LORD. She was deeply distressed and prayed to the LORD and wept bitterly. And she vowed a vow and said, “O LORD of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.”
Hannah was barren and simply wanted to have a baby. So, in the above verses, we read she made a vow to God and promised to give God the baby boy (assuming God would give her a boy). We know now that God did and the boy was Samuel. He would become one of the greatest men in Israel’s history. This all came about because a woman who was barren made a vow. She was picked on by her husband’s other wife:
1 Samuel 1:6 (ESV)
And her rival used to provoke her grievously to irritate her, because the LORD had closed her womb.
Who was living with a narcissistic husband:
1 Samuel 1:8 (ESV)
And Elkanah, her husband, said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? And why do you not eat? And why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?”
Who was accused by Eli, the prophet at the time, of being drunk while she was praying this very prayer:
1 Samuel 1:13-14 (ESV)
Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman. And Eli said to her, “How long will you go on being drunk? Put your wine away from you.”
This woman could not catch a break. But she did make the vow. And she kept the vow. God demands that if we make a vow we are to keep a vow. Be careful what you vow, however. This man vowed a vow and it cost him his daughter:
Judges 11:30-31 (ESV)
And Jephthah made a vow to the LORD and said, “If you will give the Ammonites into my hand, then whatever comes out from the doors of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the Ammonites shall be the LORD’S, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering.”
He vowed this and this happened:
Judges 11:34 (ESV)
Then Jephthah came to his home at Mizpah. And behold, his daughter came out to meet him with tambourines and with dances. She was his only child; besides her he had neither son nor daughter.
If you make a vow, keep a vow:
Numbers 30:2 (ESV)
If a man vows a vow to the LORD, or swears an oath to bind himself by a pledge, he shall not break his word. He shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.
Psalms 50:14 (ESV)
Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving,
and perform your vows to the Most High,
Psalms 56:12 (ESV)
I must perform my vows to you, O God;
I will render thank offerings to you.
Psalms 61:8 (ESV)
So will I ever sing praises to your name,
as I perform my vows day after day.
Psalms 65:1 (ESV)
O God of Our Salvation
TO THE CHOIRMASTER. A PSALM OF DAVID. A SONG.
Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion,
and to you shall vows be performed.
Psalms 116:14 (ESV)
I will pay my vows to the LORD
in the presence of all his people.
Psalms 116:18 (ESV)
I will pay my vows to the LORD
in the presence of all his people,
Proverbs 20:25 (ESV)
It is a snare to say rashly, “It is holy,”
and to reflect only after making vows.
Ecclesiastes 5:4 (ESV)
When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow.
Deuteronomy 23:21-22 (ESV)
“If you make a vow to the LORD your God, you shall not delay fulfilling it, for the LORD your God will surely require it of you, and you will be guilty of sin. But if you refrain from vowing, you will not be guilty of sin.
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