Have you made  a vow to the LORD recently?
Or a long time ago? Have you ever done it?

Nagging?⤒🔗

Recently someone said to me: “a vow should not be necessary, doesn’t God listen anyway when I ask something? Otherwise I get the feeling I am nagging”.

Is that the reason we hear so little about vows? Are we reluctant to want to influence God with them?

That is therefore understandable. Because we certainly should not go that way. We do not have to offer God anything in the sense of a reward or a gift. In Jephthah’s case it looked somewhat like that: “If you give the Ammonites into my hands, whatever comes out of the door of my house to meet me when I return in triumph from the Ammonites will be the LORD’s and I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering” (Judg. 11:31 NIV). That subsequently became a very difficult happening from which it became clear that this is not the right track. And this is not an isolated case. Time and again the LORD has assured us that he is not waiting for our sacrifices when they are offered as a form of payment. The whole creation is his, the animals in the field and the birds in the sky; what would we give to him then? (Ps. 50).

It would be bizarre if you would name a price in a prayer. Suppose a sick person prays for healing and in doing so promises what it may cost him. Perhaps ten thousand euro, for a charity. Then he might, over time, consider increasing his bid, if there is no result. Fifty thousand? Thus the negotiations would have opened. Twenty thousand, would the LORD answer then? It should definitely not be like that. All shudders about these kinds of vows are entirely justified. For the simple reason that our LORD Jesus Christ paid in full. On basis of his payment, the LORD hears our prayers, entirely by himself. We can never twist this around without deeply insulting him.

Devotion←⤒🔗

But not making vows is also bare. Because Scripture speaks openly about it. Making a vow to the LORD happens quite often. And it is important to redeem them. Because the LORD hears what you say and he will keep you to it (Deut. 23:21–23). Thus he reminded Jacob of his vow made on the run from Esau. Out in the field Jacob made the vow: “If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking…so that I return safely…then the LORD will be my God and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth” (Gen. 28:20–22 NIV). Tithes are being promised here. Bribery? No, because the central point is “the LORD will be my God”. That goes well beyond tithing; that is bringing everything in the sphere of the LORD. Especially yourself. Moreover, in these words Jacob builds on what he had already started: He already had called upon the LORD in that place and offered everything he had (oil, while he really needed that during the long journey). So it is not intended as: “I first wait and see what You will do after which I will promise to do my part.” No, Jacob already expresses his trust and gives what he has, and promises to give much more when the LORD enables him to. That is no bribery but ongoing dedication. A pity Jacob forgot about it. But the LORD did not forget about it and reminded him about it, although there was already an enormous amount of idols in Israel’s tents (Gen. 35:1–15).

Uphold God’s Deliverance←⤒🔗

The same is more evident in Psalm 116, a song full of thankfulness after a marvellous deliverance. The poet sings because he knows himself delivered from death. Words with a deep meaning. Perhaps it was primarily meant as a situation of healing or victory by which dying was averted. But it is has become increasingly clear, that the LORD delivers us from death in our heart. When you experience that, when eternal live is given to you, what are you going to say? Then vows are placed on your lips, twice in this song (vv. 14 and 18).

Which vows? Well, two examples are given:

1. I will lift up the cup of salvation;
2. I call on the name of the LORD.

Those are vows that will cost you nothing, ostensibly. But in the meantime! The cup of salvation reminds of the cup held up at the Passover. The cup Jesus held up in the night He was betrayed, to make it into a sign and seal of his atoning death: drink from it, all of you! The vow sounds from human mouth: “I will lift that cup!”. You say a lot then. This means that you are going to keep that cup high, and especially the meaning of that cup: God alone saves us in Jesus Christ. I will show this my whole life and will lift it above anything else.

You say a lot then in a society which is steeped in self-reliance. We save ourselves! Everything is taken care of, everything is insured, we are entitled to everything, and when there is a gap there is a government to complain to. Right? And look at yourself: a white lie is uttered in an instance. Why? Just saving yourself. Our heart is very adept at that, to talk and remain silent in such a way that we navigate between everything. We continuously save ourselves, with the result that the name of God passes our lips with growing difficulty. That way His name certainly does not reach high, as a clear banner above you. Yet that is apparently the vow God would like to hear. And then for you to stick to it.

Call Upon God’s Name←⤒🔗

Vow number 2 goes hand in hand with that: I will call upon the LORD’s name. That is not something that will cost you a lot; not in money. But in the meantime! Daniel was thrown in the lions’ pit because of it. In our time as well many faithful prayers languish away in prisons. Calling upon the LORD’s name is looking for certainty outside of yourself and outside of this world. When you actually do that, you are contrary and will suffer the consequences.

This shows at the same time how beautiful a vow can be for yourself and the congregation “I will fulfil my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people” (Ps. 116:14, 18 NIV). Because it finds its origin in God: “I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy” (v. 1 NIV). Experience shows that God can answer in a marvellous manner. He has given so much. From this comes the vow, fed by God’s own Spirit: “Now I will call upon the LORD even more!” That is exactly what God is waiting for. That does not only show here, it was also the intent of Psalm 50: You may keep all your sacrifices but “fulfil your vows to the Most High, and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honour me” (vv. 14, 15 NIV).

The true vow becomes increasingly clear: not what you give to God is centre stage, but you holding on to what God gives! That is it. For God’s honour, your own comfort and a wonderful testimony.

Lifting the cup of salvation will then be done by strong hands that do not want to save themselves. But also by trembling hands, sick hands, that can hardly do anything. By hands of people who are desperate, disappointed, betrayed, abandoned, robbed, abused and most of all bogged down in offensive sins of their own heart: together we lift the cup, to expect everything from God’s salvation. Together we call upon his Name, because we entrust him with the guidance of our lives. Even through dying, freed from death (even now) toward life.

Conscious Vow←⤒🔗

Have you lately made a vow to the LORD? I think so. Perhaps you were not aware of it. But this is the meaning of your public profession of faith (how long ago?), of your participation in the Lord’s Supper (recently?) and of every “amen” you utter in the worship services (last Sunday). Perhaps it helps to promise these things outright in prayer to the LORD; then you can ask for help at the same time, because we are not champions yet in upholding his salvation. But still, that you are willing to do this is pleasant and valuable to God. And everyone can say this and mean it, in all situations.

It should be borne in mind that the LORD Jesus also pledged these vows, in his situation. On the night he was betrayed he sang, among others, Psalm 116. And he kept his vows. He called upon God’s Name, even when blood came through his pores. He surrendered to him whom He promised to go all the way. And at his death he raised the salvation high when He called out “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” Nor death nor Satan would receive is spirit, but the Father. Since that time that utterance became the indication for “face your salvation through death”.

Beautiful to see how the Psalms first relate to Jesus and then (with him) to yourself. This helps to make such vows consciously and to commit to them. Now you know how valuable they are to God and how important to yourself. You do not have to lay your own foundation. You will nag even less. But you will focus more on the Saviour who carries you. Because you notice how he keeps his promises.