Ecclesiastes 5:4-7 says..., Bible reading week 3, day 5

Our verses today are Ecclesiastes 5:4-7, which read,

v.4, 5 - When you make a vow to God, do not be late in paying it; for He takes no delight in fools.  Pay what you vow!  It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.

Some of these verses sound like we are back in the book of Proverbs.  Last time was to guard your steps as you gather to worship and to remember who God is and who we are.  Today we are back to the tongue and what comes out of our mouths in regards to vows or promises.  These vows and promises are made to God.  How many times did you do this as a kid or maybe as an adult when you got in a jam.  You promised God something if He got you out of it.  You promised to go to church every Sunday or you promised to never do that act again.  How well did you do on keeping that vow or promise?

This instruction comes with the backing of Deuteronomy 23:21-23, which says,

When you make a vow to the LORD your God, you shall not delay to pay it, for it would be sin in you, and the LORD your God will surely require it of you.  However, if you refrain from vowing, it would not be sin in you.  You shall be careful to perform what goes out from your lips, just as you have voluntarily vowed to the LORD your God, what you have promised.

I think Solomon knew his Bible.  How do we do less vowing to God would be to live more in line with Him on a regular basis.  If we are dancing on the line of disobedience then we are going to be making a lot of vows to God to rescue us from our own doing.  If we step away from the line and live a life of glory to God then vows are not necessary because our lives are living out the vow to love Him with all our heart, mind, strength and to love our neighbor and our enemies as our selves.  Some more example of those vowing would be Jephthath's tragic vow in Judges 11 and also the vows of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5.  How we need to realize that God can call in our vows or promises at any moment.

v.6, 7 - Do not let your speech cause you to sin and do not say in the presence of the messenger of God that it was a mistake.  Why should God be angry on account of your voice and destroy the work of your hands?  For in many dreams and in my words there is emptiness.  Rather, fear God.

This person is excusing away the vow made.  This person is saying it was just a small matter so breaking the vow really is a big deal.  How many times have I heard this from myself and others.  Standing as a messenger of God and listening to the rationalization of sin makes me angry and how much more angry must God be?  Why does God have to deal with this?  He doesn't by the examples given in scripture when He takes people out immediately.  His grace is given to us over and over who are still standing here.  

We sin and then we make a vow and then we sin again by not keeping the vow.  This is why confession and repentance are so important.  We don't jump to a vow to be better but we admit that we are sinful and turn rather than just say we are going to turn.  We find ourselves on our knees before God acknowledging His words and ways rather than pleading for a break and that we will do better next time.  We need to be like Isaiah in Isaiah 6:1-13 who admits his sinfulness and allows God to purge his lips with the burning coal from the altar.  No vow was needed at this point but repentance.  A vow would come after repentance when he tells God, "Here am I.  Send me!"  

What is needed right now, confession and repentance or a vow?  If you are in a jam because of sin then it is confession and repentance and not a vow.  A vow at this point will put you in a place that you really should fear God and what He might do.  You are speaking on your own power of your own holiness and we know that isn't much.  When you confess and repent you put yourself under His power and holiness.  He promises to forgiven those who confess and repent.  You fear God in another way by reverencing what He has said and done for you.  Our dreams and many words are empty in comparison to the plans of God for us and His words of life to be lived by.  Let us pray.

"Lord how we make vows that should not be made because we have put ourselves in the place of tempting sin.  We have not followed Your words to stand clear of it.  We are in a bind of our own doing and therefore we ask for a break rather than for forgiveness and mercy.  Help us to live our life today as an answer to the vow of commitment to glorify You.  Amen."

Pastor Adam


A simple man serving a great God and the local pastor of Stillwater Community Chapel (stillwater-chapel.org). We are in our 38th year of full time ministry. God directed us to this local body of believers on the Western Range of the Rockies to grow with them in mission and mindedness of Christ.

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