Originally posted: 05/29/2019
Vow: a solemn promise, pledge, or personal commitment.
It’s an honorable decision, to make a special vow to dedicate oneself to the LORD; but it would be anything but effortless to fulfill.
Again the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘When a man or woman makes a special vow, the vow of a Nazirite, to dedicate himself to the Lord, 3 he shall… (6:1-3…).
There would be much to do, much to abstain from, much to offer, much to avoid; and if by chance you came in contact with a dead person accidentally, well then, back to square one.
…but the former days will be void because his separation was defiled, (6:12).
The Vow of the Nazirite, made by the man or woman desiring to be wholly dedicated to the LORD, was indicative of a heart’s longing to do and give all within one’s capability to please and honor Him; and it must be strictly adhered.
“This is the law of the Nazirite who vows his offering to the Lord according to his separation, in addition to what else he can afford; according to his vow which he takes, so he shall do according to the law of his separation,” (6:21).
This special oath included many stringent requirements that were needed for men and women to wholly dedicate themselves in holy commitment; but it is not so with God.
The LORD Needs No Vow; for He, in Himself, is able to fulfill every promise and intention of His heart.
Consider Him Who Needs No Vow
- The LORD is Faithful. He Needs No Vow to confirm His Word; for He will always do what He has promised.
- Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; (Hebrews 10:23).
- The LORD is Good. He Needs No Vow to consecrate special days of dedication; for He is always kind, benevolent, and devoted to His children.
- The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.
9 He will not always strive with us,
Nor will He keep His anger forever.
10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him.
12 As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
13 Just as a father has compassion on his children,
So the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him.
14 For He Himself knows our frame;
He is mindful that we are but dust, (Psalm 103:8-14).
- The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
- The LORD is Gracious. He Needs No Vow to regulate His commitment by strict adherence; for His abundant and amazing grace moves Him to grant us His undeserved blessings.
- Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, (Ephesians 1:2-3).
How do we respond to Him Who Needs No Vow?
- The LORD was clear. Before His Blessing, His Name was to be put upon the children of Israel, signifying they belonged to Him. Recipients of His blessing must belong to Him.
- “So they shall put My name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them,” (6:27 NKJV).
- There is coming a day when all will know exactly whose name we bear.
- And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, 17 and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name, (Revelations 13:16-17).
- There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him; 4 they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads, (Revelation 22:3-4).
- Jesus did not mince words; there is no sitting on the fence.
- “He who is not with Me is against Me,” (Matthew 12:30).
- We either belong to Him or we are against Him. Do we bear His Name? When we trust in Him as our Savior and Redeemer we bear His Name.
- and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch, (Acts 11:26).
- When we belong to Jesus and bear His Name, we can fully believe His Word; for He Needs No Vow to prove He is trustworthy.
- For the Son of God, Christ Jesus, who was preached among you by us—by me and Silvanus and Timothy—was not yes and no, but is yes in Him. 20 For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes; therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us, (2 Corinthians 1:19-20).
Let us therefore receive His blessing by faith. What He declares, He will do; for every word He speaks is His solemn promise and Personal commitment. He Needs No Vow.
Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 23 “Speak to Aaron and to his sons, saying, ‘Thus you shall bless the sons of Israel. You shall say to them:
24 The Lord bless you, and keep you;
25 The Lord make His face shine on you,
And be gracious to you;
26 The Lord lift up His countenance on you,
And give you peace,’” (6:22-26).
“So they shall put My name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them,” (6:27 NKJV).
Let us spend time ruminating over His lavish blessing that Aaron was called to proclaim over God’s people, that we would know His pronounced intentions on those who bear His Name:
- to bless us (to sanctify or make holy, to grant favor)
- to keep us (to guard, to protect, to preserve)
- to make His face shine upon us (to shed the light of His acceptance and favor)
- to be gracious (to be gracious toward, to favor, to have mercy)
- to lift up His countenance (to be before or in front of)
- to give peace (to give not merely the absence of turmoil but the fullness of His peace, peace from Him and with Him, our right standing before Him)
I am amazed I so easily fall into discouragement and even despair. What more could we ever need when He has told us of His blessing for those who bear His Name!
God didn’t promise us a life free from trials and sorrows, but He did promise the undeserved blessing of His mercy, protection, acceptance, and grace; He promised His Presence that would lead us and give us His indescribable peace. We know we can trust Him to do what He has promised, for we bear His Name and He Needs No Vow.
Let us praise Him Who Needs No Vow, for He is gracious and faithful to bless those who bear His Name, even in our suffering.
But if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but glorify God that you bear that name, (1 Peter 4:16 BSB).