As we listen to the local, national and the international news, we can’t avoid hearing of the surging crime rate in the world, and the havoc it brings to bear in communities around the world. This is the result of the sin of Adam and Eve in Eden almost 7, 000 years ago. And is passed on from generation to generation by the seed of Adam and can only be delivered by faith in the power of the “Blood of Jesus Christ” that was shed over 2,000 years ago on the slopes of a hill near Jerusalem called Calvary PS 116:14-18; King David writes;

“ I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. O Lord, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds. I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people, In the courts of the Lord’s house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the Lord“.

David uses the Nation of Israel as witnesses as he made a public “Vow unto the Lord”. There are vows that are made in private prayer unto the Lord that no one other than God and the person making the vow hears or knows about. These are as binding as those made in public.

In a number of programs on T.V. by the televangelist’s in their “fund raising” ask the audience to make pledges or “vows to the Lord” to send gifts to their ministry. This is to create a feeling of “guilt” if they later question their liberality in making their pledge. They use the term “seed faith” in relation to the gift sent to or promised to the program.

In the O.T. the word “seed” S # 223 “zera” is used 223 times and refers # 1 to the “kernel” of the grain that when planted in the ground and “watered” and fertilized will “sprout” and reproduce hundreds of its kind.

# 2 It is used to the “semen” of a man or beast that is released and planted in the womb of the female of its kind will fertilize the “egg” of the female and after a “gestation period” will reproduce its self.

# 3 It also refers to the descendants from an “original source“; As in sons of God or Abraham.

# 4 It can also refer to a “race of people“.

In the O.T. there are two Hebrew words for “vow” S# 5087 “nadir” to make a vow and S# 5088 “neder” a vow or a votive offering. The word “Vow” is preceded by the word “pay” S# 7999 “shalam” to make amends, or restitution ; as to pay a debt that is owed. When a person in prayer unto God in seeking for God to grant a request understands that Prayer is the “Sincere desire of the heart”;

The first use of the word vow is in Genesis 28:20 where Jacob made a vow unto God saying; “If thou will be with me, and will keep me in the way that I go and will give me bread to eat and clothing to put on; So that when I come again to my father’s house in peace; then the Lord [ S# 3068 Yehovah; Hebrew, Jehovah; English] will be my God. [S# 430 "Elohiym" plural for Godhead]

In O.T. times the “making of a vow unto God” was accompanied by an offering. When Jacob made this “vow unto God” he took the stone that he sat on and

Poured oil upon it and then vowed unto God.

In the N.T. the word for “vow” is S#2171 “euche” a votive obligation to God. In the N.T. Christians are instructed in Romans 12:1 ” I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service”. In Exodus 30:10; Aaron was commanded to “Pour the blood of the “sin offering” upon the horns of the altar once in a year as an “offering for sin” throughout your generations. It is most holy unto the Lord.

Presenting an “offering unto God” began early after the completion of the creation process; in Genesis 4: Cain and Abel; the sons of Adam and Eve” in the process of time; brought offerings unto God without any recorded commandment to do so. And Abel’s offering was accepted by God because it was a “blood offering” that cost the life of an animal. Cain’s offering was rejected because it was of the “fruit of the ground“. This resulted in the “sin of Jealousy being revealed and the first murder being committed.

We learn from Heb 10:1-7 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? Because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure”.

Because of this fact; God sent his son Gal 4:4-6 ” But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father“.

Instructions are given in Leviticus 22:17-33 to Moses regarding the whole burnt offering; First it was required to be a “freewill offering”, next the offering would be a male without blemish from the herd of sheep or goats. Verse # 22 warns against presenting an animal that had defects; such as, broken or maimed or having a wen, [running sore] scurvy, [cause to itch] scabbed, [wounded] or lacking in parts. The offering could not be bruised, crushed, broken or cut. And it could not be from a strangers [a Gentile] hand because of corruption.

The same principle applies to the Christian Church today. 1 Cor 12:27 ” Now ye are the body of Christ , and members in particular”. Rom 12:1 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service”. Where the O.T. animal sacrifices would not be accepted if they showed signs of physical abuse or injury; when we present our bodies to God as a sacrifice if it is scared by sin will also be rejected until it is washed and made white by the blood of Jesus.

There are two instances in the N.T. where “vows” according to O.T. Scriptures were made, In Acts 18:18 Paul in route from Corinth to Syria with Priscilla and Aquila had shorn his head “for he had a vow”. And in Acts 21:23 Paul is making a report to James and the Elders at Jerusalem and with him were four converted Jewish brethren “that had a vow” and he was told to “take them and purify thyself with them” that they know that you are not breaking the law. The Jewish believers were in a transition period in moving from “keepers of the Law” to living under Grace and were very careful not to offend the Jewish Christians. This did not change the fact that according to Rom 10:4-5 that Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every ne that believeth. For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law; That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.

When a person in prayer makes a “vow” or commitment to God it is good to remember the words of Solomon in Eccl 5:4-5 ” When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay”.Too many people with good intentions after hearing an inspired sermon will make vows to pray more, visit more, study the Bible more, love the family more and other things to improve their life and relationship with God.

KJV

www.Godswordtooyou.com

revashelton@aol.com

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