Sacredness of Vows
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susceptible to impressions of the Holy Spirit, and resolves are made to
deny self and to sacrifice for the cause of God. It is when divine light
shines into the chambers of the mind with unusual clearness and power
that the feelings of the natural man are overcome, that selfishness loses
its power upon the heart, and that desires are awakened to imitate the
Pattern, Jesus Christ, in practicing self-denial and benevolence. The
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disposition of the naturally selfish man then becomes kind and pitiful
toward lost sinners, and he makes a solemn pledge to God, as did
Abraham and Jacob. Heavenly angels are present on such occasions.
The love of God and love for souls triumphs over selfishness and love
of the world. Especially is this the case when the speaker, in the Spirit
and power of God, presents the plan of redemption, laid by the Majesty
of heaven in the sacrifice of the cross. By the following scriptures we
may see how God regards the subject of vows:
“And Moses spake unto the heads of the tribes concerning the
children of Israel, saying, This is the thing which the Lord hath com-
manded. If a man vow a vow unto the Lord, or swear an oath to bind
his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according
to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.”
Numbers 30:1, 2
. “Suffer not
thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel,
that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and
destroy the work of thine hands?”
Ecclesiastes 5:6
. “I will go into
Thy house with burnt offerings: I will pay Thee my vows, which my
lips have uttered, and my mouth hath spoken, when I was in trouble.”
Psalm 66:13, 14
. “It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is
holy, and after vows to make inquiry.”
Proverbs 20:25
. “When thou
shalt vow a vow unto the Lord thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay
it: for the Lord thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be
sin in thee. But if thou shalt forbear to vow, it shall be no sin in thee.
That which is gone out of thy lips thou shalt keep and perform; even a
freewill offering, according as thou hast vowed unto the Lord thy God,
which thou hast promised with thy mouth.”
Deuteronomy 23:21-23
.
“Vow, and pay unto the Lord your God: let all that be round about
Him bring presents unto Him that ought to be feared.”
Psalm 76:11
.
“But ye have profaned it, in that ye say, The table of the Lord is
polluted; and the fruit thereof, even His meat, is contemptible. Ye said
also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith
the Lord of hosts; and ye brought that which was torn, and the lame,