Two Wrongs Don't Make a Right

[Shiloh62]

Is it ever ok to break a vow with God? Consider the following:

Judges 11:30-35

30 And Jephthath made a vow to the LORD"If you give me 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.

That was Jephthath's first mistake. We should not make secular vows of burnt offerings to the LORD. God had done away with those many years ago before this vow took place. Making vows such as these does not please God.

32 Then Jephthath went over to fight the Ammonites, and the LORD gave them into his hands.33 He devastated twenty towns from Aroer to the vicinity of Minnith, as far as Abel Keramim.Thus Israel subdued Ammon.

34 When Jephthath returned to his home in Mizpah, who should come out to meet him but his daughter, dancing to the sound of tambourines!She was an only child. Except for her, he had neither son nor daughter. 35 When he saw her,he tore his clothes and cried "Oh!My daughter!You have made me miserable and wretched, because I have made a vow to the LORD that I cannot break."

God does not want us to offer child sacrifices to HIM! Its possible that God sent the daughter out of the house to teach Japhtheth a lesson about making vows, certainly not to follow through with it. Certainly God would have forgiven him for breaking his vow, but that he carried it out is heart wrenching.

[Fez]

I for one have never made a vow, or promise to God. I think it is dangerous territory, knowing myself as I do.

I think in desperation some people may say to God, "Lord if you,....I will". This is not a road that one should go down in my opinion.

Just throw yourself at His feet and pray! I think the passage that Shiloh quoted is a good example of a lesson to be learned.

[Shiloh62]

I for one have never made a vow, or promise to God. I think it is dangerous territory, knowing myself as I do.

I think in desperation some people may say to God, "Lord if you,....I will". This is not a road that one should go down in my opinion.

Just throw yourself at His feet and pray! I think the passage that Shiloh quoted is a good example of a lesson to be learned.

Yes, we are all guilty of that. I can hear myself saying, If you will take away this toothache,I will help out with the 3rd graders and such.God takes these vows seriously.

[Matthitjah]

Grace to you,

There is some indication from some commentaries that she was not sacrificed because of the command not to do such a thing. Some feel that she was sent away as a dedicated servant to the Lord.

There is a participle in the verse;

Jg

[nebula]

The other interpretation makes more sense if you consider what Jephthath must have been thinking. Why would a sheep or a goat or a bull be the first thing to greet him?

[Matthitjah]

The other interpretation makes more sense if you consider what Jephthath must have been thinking. Why would a sheep or a goat or a bull be the first thing to greet him?

What about a dog?

Think about this for a minute. Jepthah was the son of a Jew but he was also the son of a pagan harlot.

[EricH]

Grace to you,

There is some indication from some commentaries that she was not sacrificed because of the command not to do such a thing. Some feel that she was sent away as a dedicated servant to the Lord.

There is a participle in the verse;

Jg

[traveller]

Grace to you,

There is some indication from some commentaries that she was not sacrificed because of the command not to do such a thing. Some feel that she was sent away as a dedicated servant to the Lord.

There is a participle in the verse;

Jg

[nebula]

The other interpretation makes more sense if you consider what Jephthath must have been thinking. Why would a sheep or a goat or a bull be the first thing to greet him?

What about a dog?

I haven't read about anyone in Israel owning a dog.

Think about this for a minute. Jepthah was the son of a Jew but he was also the son of a pagan harlot.

Interesting

[Blien]

Is it ever ok to break a vow with God? Consider the following:

Judges 11:30-35

30 And Jephthath made a vow to the LORD"If you give me 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.

That was Jephthath's first mistake. We should not make secular vows of burnt offerings to the LORD. God had done away with those many years ago before this vow took place. Making vows such as these does not please God.

32 Then Jephthath went over to fight the Ammonites, and the LORD gave them into his hands.33 He devastated twenty towns from Aroer to the vicinity of Minnith, as far as Abel Keramim.Thus Israel subdued Ammon.

34 When Jephthath returned to his home in Mizpah, who should come out to meet him but his daughter, dancing to the sound of tambourines!She was an only child. Except for her, he had neither son nor daughter. 35 When he saw her,he tore his clothes and cried "Oh!My daughter!You have made me miserable and wretched, because I have made a vow to the LORD that I cannot break."

Jephthath then sacrificed his daughter as a burnt offering to the LORD.

God does not want us to offer child sacrifices to HIM! Its possible that God sent the daughter out of the house to teach Japhtheth a lesson about making vows, certainly not to follow through with it. Certainly God would have forgiven him for breaking his vow, but that he carried it out is heart wrenching.

Yeah one of the most heartbreaking stories of the Bible..