NUMBERS

Numbers Chapter 30

• Numbers 30:1 And Moses spake unto the heads of the tribes concerning the children of Israel, saying, This is the thing which the LORD hath commanded. 
• 2 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. 

God never did like for us to tell lies or make promises and not fulfill them. Our word should be trusted by those that hear us. It is much better not to make a promise than to make one and not keep it. Can our children believe us when we say something and not really mean it? If we make a promise and cannot keep it, then at least we should do all we can to ask forgiveness for the rash promise. 

My dad used to tell me to say, "If the Lord will I will do such and such." Another way would be to say, I will do what I promise unless something unforeseen crops up and hinders me in some way. 

The vows spoken of here are those that mostly concern vows made to the Lord. Even those kind of vows should never be taken lightly. I remember one person who wanted a certain car and he promised the Lord that if He (the Lord) would help him get the car he would be satisfied with the car and keep that car until He (The Lord) returned. Needless to say the car got old and worn out long before the coming of the Lord and he had to get another car. 

• Numbers 30:3 If a woman also vows a vow unto the LORD, and bind herself by a bond, being in her father's house in her youth; 
• 4 And her father hear her vow, and her bond wherewith she hath bound her soul, and her father shall hold his peace at her: then all her vows shall stand, and every bond wherewith she hath bound her soul shall stand. 
• 5 But if her father disallow her in the day that he heareth; not any of her vows, or of her bonds wherewith she hath bound her soul, shall stand: and the LORD shall forgive her, because her father disallowed her. 

If someone who is under a higher authority like a father or husband, if the higher authority disallows the vow it will be forgiven by the Lord because they were unable to keep it of her own accord. 

• Numbers 30:6 And if she had at all an husband, when she vowed, or uttered ought out of her lips, wherewith she bound her soul; 
• 7 And her husband heard it, and held his peace at her in the day that he heard it: then her vows shall stand, and her bonds wherewith she bound her soul shall stand. 
• 8 But if her husband disallowed her on the day that he heard it; then he shall make her vow which she vowed, and that which she uttered with her lips, wherewith she bound her soul, of none effect: and the LORD shall forgive her. 
• 9 But every vow of a widow, and of her that is divorced, wherewith they have bound their souls, shall stand against her. 
• 10 And if she vowed in her husband's house, or bound her soul by a bond with an oath; 
• 11 And her husband heard it, and held his peace at her, and disallowed her not: then all her vows shall stand, and every bond wherewith she bound her soul shall stand. 
• 12 But if her husband hath utterly made them void on the day he heard them; then whatsoever proceeded out of her lips concerning her vows, or concerning the bond of her soul, shall not stand: her husband hath made them void; and the LORD shall forgive her. 
• 13 Every vow, and every binding oath to afflict the soul, her husband may establish it, or her husband may make it void. 
• 14 But if her husband altogether hold his peace at her from day to day; then he establisheth all her vows, or all her bonds, which are upon her: he confirmeth them, because he held his peace at her in the day that he heard them. 
• 15 But if he shall any ways make them void after that he hath heard them; then he shall bear her iniquity. 
• 16 These are the statutes, which the LORD commanded Moses, between a man and his wife, between the father and his daughter, being yet in her youth in her father's house. 

We see here another case of the seriousness of sinning against God and how we can't just take the things of God lightly and act like it doesn't matter one way or another how we live. To make an oath to God is never to be taken lightly even in this day of grace. God is a holy just God. Jesus though gives us a remedy against sinning against God by making vows responsively. 

• Matthew 5:33 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: 
• 34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: 
• 35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. 
• 36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. 
• 37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil. 

Jesus knows that from the time He came into the world until now that we live in much uncertainty and we do not know the day or the hour when He is returning so it is better to not make a vow at all. Many use the above scriptures to refuse to take an oath to tell the truth in court. Actually a believer should not even have to swear to tell the truth, we are to be children of truth and not have our father be the father of all liars, even Satan. 

Jesus even goes further to say that we should be content with speaking either yes or no. He warns that more than that is evil. I find that to be true. With the exception of teaching the word or preaching the gospel, idle conversation is what gets us in so much trouble. We say things we should not say when we speak presumptuously, or speak without thinking, when we speak in foolish jesting or what we might call joking, when we gossip or speak behind someone's back, when we give unnecessary criticism in front of others to the person we are speaking to for instance. 

Constructive meaningful criticism meant to help someone should be done in private and after much prayer. There is a difference. I've seen people destroy each other's character by too much criticism at the wrong time, in the wrong spirit and in front of other people. 

Proverbs says that faithful are the wounds of a friend. That means if we see a brother or sister overtaken in a fault that would cause them spiritual harm, we in the spirit of meekness try to warn them. 

This is not what I'm seeing today. I see people biting and devouring each other with hurtful bashing that causes actual hatred. This kind is not what the Proverbs is speaking of. There is never a reason to lose one's temper and shout. Proverbs also says a "Soft answer turns away wrath." On other hand we could see someone seriously in danger of harming himself spiritually and we mind our own business and keep quiet, not even praying for the person. That also is wrong. 

• Galatians 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 
• 2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. 

There is a right way and a wrong way.  Paul emphasizes, "In the spirit of meekness."   

Jesus speaks of a powerful way to keep from making mistakes by sinning against God or by hurting one another. 

• Matthew 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 
• 38 This is the first and great commandment. 
• 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 
• 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. 

Doing things is love beats everything and fulfills the law. With perfect love as our motive, we can be right with God as well as have a right relationship with our fellowmen. 

I read once something that explains a lot when it comes to law and grace:

"Obeying the law" by one's natural powers is not "fulfilling" it. One may "keep the law" (mechanically) while loathing that law in his heart because of its restraints. The law, apart from the Spirit, increase sin (Romans 5:20). Man's enmity against the law becomes greater in proportion to the demands it makes upon him, since he finds himself unable to fulfill those demands."

When the sinner sees and acknowledges his sinfulness, believes the gospel and with his whole heart accepts the free gift, he is justified by faith. Than God can shed the love of God in his heart by the Holy Spirit. That is when he is regenerated or born again by God's spirit. Then and only then is he ready for the infusion of God's righteousness in sanctification. 

The bible says, By love serve one another. Love is the key to all things. I'm speaking of a pure holy love that is from the depth of our soul shed in our heart by the Holy Spirit, not the kind of love that the world calls love. 

Getting back to the vows. They were to take what they said to God seriously. That is really how we are supposed to talk to one another also. Joking and kidding around can be harmful. Some people do not have the nerve to speak to people about their faults in a constructive way so they may cover up their criticism by making a joke or saying something and then saying, "I'm just kidding." Are they really kidding or covering up their real purpose? That is not constructive criticism. 

What we promise, what we affirm, what we say should be what we really mean or else do not say it. 

"I promise to be at your house on Friday." or "I will try my best to be at your house. I fully intend to be there unless something comes up that makes that impossible." 

We can say to God, "Lord, I will obey You and keep your commandments," in the heat of a great moving spiritual service and later forget what we vowed. or "Lord, I want so much to obey your word and keep your commandments but I know my flesh is weak, please help me to keep your words in my heart that I will not sin against you."  

We must recognize that the spirit is willing but the flesh is very weak. Yet God makes a way. 

• Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 
• 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 
• 3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 
• 4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 
• 5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 

Paul adds more:

• Romans 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 
• 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 
• 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 
• 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 
• 10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

God is so great to make a way for us to live and fruitful spirit filled life.

• Romans 6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 
• 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. 
• 15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 
• 16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 

We still have our freewill to choose. We can yield to the spirit or to the old flesh. Yet through Christ power is available to keep us from returning to sin. We do not have to speak and walk in unrighteousness. 

Concerning speaking: 

• Colosians 4:6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. 

That is one of my favorite verses. Colosians 4:6

• Titus 2:7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, 
• 8 Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you. 

Sound speech. How good that sounds.

• Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. 

If we take heed to these scriptures concerning our speech we do not have to worry about making rash vows or promises that we cannot keep. God covers all bases if we listen. DC