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The Scriptorium

Vows and Snacks

Love God, love your neighbor. Deuteronomy 23.21-25

A Holy Nation (3): Deuteronomy 22-24.4 (5)

Opening Prayer: Psalm 143.1, 2
Hear my prayer, O LORD,
Give ear to my supplications!
In Your faithfulness answer me,
And in Your righteousness.
Do not enter into judgment with Your servant,
For in Your sight no one living is righteous.

Psalm 143.1, 2
(Divinum Mysterium: Of the Father’s Love Begotten)
Hear my earnest prayer, O Lord!  Give ear to my pleas for grace!
In Your faithfulness and righteousness, look upon me with Your face!
Enter not to judgment with Your servant, Lord, with Your loving servant, Lord:
None can stand before Your Word.

Today’s Text: Read Deuteronomy 23.21-25

Preparation
1. What’s another word for a vow?

2. What could you not do in your neighbor’s vineyard or standing grain?

Meditation
A vow is a promise made to God, usually made in response to something He has revealed to us or done for us, for which we want to express our gratitude in some particular form of duty or obedience. Vows should be more a part of our walk with and work for the Lord than they are. If we are truly grateful for all His goodness to us, and if we long to lay hold on His promises, we will vow obedience in particular ways. Doing so helps us to focus on areas of our life where we want to make progress in our faith or undertake some new endeavor for the Lord (see the example of Jacob’s vow in Genesis 28.10-22).

Vows are appropriate at any time God moves us to make them – at the end of corporate worship, coming out of our morning time with the Lord, or when we are suddenly made aware of the greatness of God’s love or Presence with us. Whatever we vow or promise to the Lord, we must be careful to perform right away (v. 21). It is not necessary to make vows (v. 22); but if we do, we must be assiduous and resolute in fulfilling them (v. 23).

This is especially true of formal and binding vows, such as those we take concerning marriage, serving in church office, or even coming into membership in a local church.

Verses 24 and 25 remind us again that the earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it (Ps. 24.1). People on a journey – as we see with Jesus and His disciples in Matthew 12.1, 2 – could enter anyone’s vineyard or standing grain and eat their fill. They just couldn’t take anything with them, or harvest more than they could eat in that moment. Showing love to our neighbors doesn’t always require our being present with them, only that we serve them as God directs, using the resources He has put at our disposal.

Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
The most sacred and eternal vow we make to God is for our salvation. We agree with Him that we need a Savior. We agree that we must repent of and turn away from sin. We agree that we cannot please Him or cover up our own sin. He offers us the Gift of Jesus, and we accept it. Wholeheartedly and set in stone. We voluntarily vow to follow God. We voluntarily give Him ourselves. We must not delay in doing it; for the Lord requires it: “I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes forever, to the very end.” “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” “He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me…” “…present your bodies a living sacrifice holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” (Ps. 119.112; Mk. 8.34; Jn. 12.25, 26; Rom. 12.1) Indeed, “It is a snare for a man to devote rashly something as holy, and afterward to reconsider his vows.” “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Prov. 20.25; Lk. 9.62) With much consideration and care we make this vow; promptly and perpetually it must be kept. But God gives us the option of abstention. Decide cautiously.

Reflection

1. Why should we make good use of vows in our walk with and work for the Lord?

2. How should you use your wealth and possessions to help those who are in need?

3. How would you explain to an unbelieving friend what it means to become a Christian?

…what between men is called a covenant or agreement, with respect to God is a vow; and therefore it may be fitly called a sacred engagement, which not only is made with God as its witness, but which is contracted with God Himself.
John Calvin (1509-1564), Commentary on Deuteronomy 23.21

Give me grace to keep my promises to You, O Lord, so that today I…

Closing Prayer: Psalm 143.3-12
God has delivered us from the enemy of our soul. What will you promise Him today concerning your soul, and your whole life?

Psalm 143.3-12
(Divinum Mysterium: Of the Father’s Love Begotten)
See, the enemy pursued my soul; he has crushed and cast me down.
He has made me sit in darkness, Lord, like those dead and in the ground.
Thus my spirit faints within me, Lord, faints within my weary soul,
and my heart is no more whole.

I recall the days of old; on Your works I meditate –
all the wonders of Your mighty hand, works both small, O Lord, and great.
Lord, my thirsty soul cries out to You!  To You, Lord, I reach my hand
in a dry and weary land.

Answer quickly, O my Lord!  Do not hide from me Your face!
For my spirit fails and I am like those who do not know Your grace.
In the morning let me hear Your steadfast love; Lord I trust You, show my way!
I lift up my soul and pray!

Rescue me from all my enemies!  Lord, I refuge seek in You.
Let me know Your will, O Lord my God; make me know what I must do.
Let Your Spirit lead me on to level ground; save my life!  Preserve my soul!
Rescue, Lord, and make me whole!

T. M. and Susie Moore

Listen to our summary of last week’s study in Deuteronomy by clicking here. You can download all the studies in the series by clicking here.

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All quotations from Church Fathers from
Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy: Ancient Christian Commentary Series III, Joseph T. Lienhard, S. J. ed. in collaboration with Ronnie J. Rombs, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2001). All quotations from John Calvin from John Calvin, Commentaries on The Four Last Books of Moses Arranged in the Order of A Harmony, Rev. Charles William Bingham M. A., tr. and ed. (Edinburgh: The Calvin Translation Society, 1863. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (available by clicking here).

T.M. Moore

T. M. Moore is principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, a spiritual fellowship in the Celtic Christian tradition. He and his wife, Susie, make their home in the Champlain Valley of Vermont.
Books by T. M. Moore

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