Contract With God
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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
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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,
and the sick; thus ye brought an offering: should I accept this of your
hand? saith the Lord. But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his
flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing;
for I am a great King, saith the Lord of hosts, and My name is dreadful
among the heathen.”
Malachi 1:12-14
.
“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 shouldst not vow, than that thou shouldst vow and not pay.”
Ecclesiastes 5:4, 5
.—
Testimonies for the Church 4:470-472
.