When people are excited or desperate for something or wants to win trust truthfully or pretentiously, they can say anything, promise, vow, or take an oath. We all have at one time or the other fall victim of this situation, either in a situation to win God’s favor or to prove something to someone or sometimes in an attempt to be diplomatic. Priests and the Religious make vows and promises, people take an oath to be a citizen of a nation, married people enter into covenant, and many times we promise ourselves to do or not to do something. But do we really weigh the gravity of what is said? Do we really take those words serious?
It is only a person with integrity and who is trustworthy that will keep his words in whatever situation. Many of us will claim to be an integrity or trustworthy person yet will sometimes find it difficult to keep to our promises, vows, covenant or oath. And if we find someone sticking to his/her words, we sometimes blame the person. Take for instance, in the story of Herod and his daughter in Mark 6:14-28, because it is not right to behead someone, people have said and continue to say that Herod could have taken back his words – not fulfilling his promise to his daughter – since it was just a promise.
Does that mean vows, promises, covenants, and oath have different meaning? What are the differences?
“It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it. Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And do not protest to the temple messenger, “My vow was a mistake.” (Eccl 5:5-6).
Watch out for episode 2
Be Blessed.
Shalom
Teampobs
