“Fulfilling The Vows You Have Made!”

“Fulfilling The Vows You Have Made!”(I Sam.1:19-28).
A man had one ?. He prayed that if God adds one goat more he would give one as thanksgiving to God. But when he had two goats, instead of fulfilling his vow he rather prayed, “LORD if I have three goats, I’ll bring one to you as thanksgiving.”
It is your choice to make a vow or a pledge to the LORD, but once made, it is good to fulfil it.
When Hannah was pouring out her sorrows to the LORD she made a vow, “O LORD Almighty, if you will only look upon your servant’s misery and remember me, and..give her a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head”(I Sam.1:11).
We are told that “the LORD remembered her.” In the course of time she conceived and gave birth to a son whom she named, Samuel, saying, “Because I asked the LORD for him.”
Hannah had a husband who cooperated with her and didn’t hinder her from keeping her vow. The LORD’S command for a married woman’s vow stated, “If a woman living with her husband makes a vow…and her husband hears about it but says nothing to her and does not forbid her, then all her vows…will stand. But if her husband nullified them when he hears about them, then none of the vows…that came from her lips will stand. Her husband has nullified them, and the LORD will release her…”(Num.30:10-15).
Like we said earlier, Elkanah would have rejected Hannah’s vow on the excuse that Samuel was an only son. When she refused to accompany him to go and fulfill his own vow, he simply said, “Stay here until you have weaned him; only may the LORD make good his word.”
When Samuel was weaned, Hannah took her to the priest and placed him in the service of the LORD for his whole life.
Samuel grew up with God’s favour. God chose him over Eli’s sons and he is the one who anointed the first two kings of Israel.
The big lesson we learn from Hannah is that pray and pour your pain to God and he will answer you. And when he answers you do well to fulfill any vow you made to him. Even if you did not make any vow, still go into his presence with gift offerings of thanksgiving. A show of appreciation gladdens the hearts of those who bless us. In the same way God is happy with us when we appreciate the blessings we receive from him. His grace and mercy never ends.
Have you once stood in the LORD’S presence and say, “I promise;” or “I will, God being my helper?” Did you keep the promise?
Prayer: Holy Spirit help me to always keep the vows I make to the LORD and fellow man. Amen!
Have a blessed day! Peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang.