Avoid Making Rash Vows!
Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom for those who avoid making rash vows. In Jesus’ name, amen.
After the Philistine camp was in chaos, Saul was about to make what the English Standard Version calls in its heading, “Saul’s Rash Vow.”
1 Samuel 14:24-30 (ESV) provides context for what happened.
“And the men of Israel had been hard pressed that day, so Saul had laid an oath on the people, saying, “Cursed be the man who eats food until it is evening and I am avenged on my enemies.” So none of the people had tasted food. Now when all the people came to the forest, behold, there was honey on the ground. And when the people entered the forest, behold, the honey was dropping, but no one put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath. But Jonathan had not heard his father charge the people with the oath, so he put out the tip of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb and put his hand to his mouth, and his eyes became bright. Then one of the people said, ‘Your father strictly charged the people with an oath, saying, ‘Cursed be the man who eats food this day.’’ And the people were faint. Then Jonathan said, “My father has troubled the land. See how my eyes have become bright because I tasted a little of this honey. How much better if the people had eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies that they found. For now the defeat among the Philistines has not been great.”
Jonathan, unaware of his father’s oath, violated the oath by tasting the honey. Saul’s vow carried the weight as the king. What he said, was like the law of the land.
It is easier said than done…avoid making any statements that may later be regretted.
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