Hi everyone,
I read Numbers 30 in my devotions this morning. This is such an interesting passage. You may have heard of it before, or read it yourselves. It concerns Vows.
In summary, it says this:
v1-2 - Man makes a vow - it is binding
v3-5 - Unmarried girl makes a vow - her father may annul her vow when he first hears of it, otherwise (including his silence) it is binding
v6-8 - Unmarried girl makes a vow, her father permits it, girl later gets married while still under her vow, then her husband may annul her vow when he first hears of it, otherwise (including his silence), it continues to be binding
v9 - Widow or divorced woman makes a vow - it is binding
v10-15 - Married woman makes a vow - her husband may annul her vow when he first hears of it, otherwise (including his silence) it is binding
Furthermore, these instructions concerning vows are emphasized before (v1 - "This is the command of the Lord") and after (v16 - "These are the statutes of the Lord").
Instead of sharing my thoughts and reflections on this, I thought to try something different. So, I'm inviting comment and discussion for a bit of fun and interest:
How do you feel upon reading this? What's your reaction?
Why do you think these instructions were given?
Guys - how do you feel being given right of annulment over your future wives' vows?
Ladies - how would you feel if your father (presently) or husband/future husband annuls your vow?
I'm not looking to rationalise or justify the instructions, nor delve into its deep theological reasoning. More curious as to your thinking about this and trying to generate a bit of "blog-cussion" (that's blog-discussion).
Comment away ...
I vow not judge your comments too harshly ... and that's binding!
:-)
Wen-Wei
Monday, January 28, 2008
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10 comments:
doesn't this bring back memories (WW)?
my stand on vows, that regardless it is the one u made with your wife at the church where u bind it with rings, or the one u utter at home kneeling down or anywhere, God holds u to it.
i'm reminded that our Lord Jesus said in Mat 5:37 "Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one."
I have this resigned attitude to it I think (not that I make that many vows).
The only vow I make is to God and to me God has the highest authority. If anyone should want to annul it, I believe God still holds the vow.
And for me, anyone can annul my vows but they don't control my opinions or desires, father or husband alike.
As for me, God has the authority over me. Due to this relationship i have with God, what i have made to Him, He will hold me to it.
i was reminded of Col 3:18 & 20, to submit to husband,and to obey parent(father), which is both pleasing to God. Hence, husband/father can annul my vows.
however, this will not change my stand or views.
-jami-
Wow! Some interesting views! Thanks for commenting. More, please!
Alicia and Jami both say God holds final authority, yet this passage in Numbers clearly says this instruction on vows is God's command (v1 & v16). How do you reconcile that with statements such as "they don't control my opinion" or "this will not change my stand or views"? Do you think this refers only to the legal binding of a vow, or does it refer to an attitude of the heart as well?
I said I wouldn't judge harshly, I didn't say I would judge! :-)
Then again, this is not judgment, merely questioning and discussion. You know I love you all and desire you to have an accurate understanding of God's Word.
thanks for questioning.. indeed made me think deeper.. (:
For me, i will say is more towards the attitude of my heart.
i wont disobey that command of God, anyone can still annul it, i think it will just be my perception wont alter. (not like i will have any violent objection though (: )
The first thought that came to me was that God had obviously placed men over women. However, He has not given them full authority over women, because after hearing the ladies' vows for the first time and stays silent, he has no right to annul them anymore. This shows that God is still soveriegn. Also, God clearly put it such that when a girl is unmarried, the father is the head. When married, the husband is the head(Eph 22:24). Divorced/widowed, she does not have anyone as her head, but herself and God as her, ya, God.
At the same time, I am reminded that in one Pastor Vincent's sermons, he mentioned that this does not mean that women are not equal to men. So, to me, this vows thing doesn't mean any gender inequality in any sense.
Sorry this is kind of long. Mr. Chiang, there is this new covenant and old covenant thing? By the new covenant, doesn't it mean that we do not have to follow rituals per se to enter God's kingdom because we have Christ? I don't know if I have found the right association to this issue, but I feel that all of us are accountable to God. I can make a vow to God and I will be accountable to Him only. After all, when we speak to Him, it's between us and God. Nevertheless, I acknowledge that God has put a father/ husband as the head.
My conclusion is that my vows are to God and God only, because I feel that whatever we do, we are accountable only to God, though our Brothers and Sisters can be our accountability 'PARTNERS'. Partners, by virtue of the fact that we journey together. Hope I have answered the question. :)
Correction: I said that God has placed men over women. I don't mean it in the absolute sense, but in the sense that when we are a daughter/ wife, we have a father/ husband as our head. Hope this clarifies. :)
There's a ranking system that exists here. First being God, then father/husband. I would trust that if my father/husband should annul my vow, it is to protect my spiritual life and not for their own selfish reason. In this case, I will accept the action. But if it so happens that either decides that I should disobey God, they can annul my vow but my attitude towards this will not change.
Num 29:39 “These you shall offer to the LORD at your appointed feasts, in addition to your vow offerings and your freewill offerings, for your burnt offerings, and for your grain offerings, and for your drink offerings, and for your peace offerings.”
Remember the rule of interpretation - CONTEXT, CONTEXT, CONTEXT!
I read in a book recently, the diligence of Bible Study is learning to love God WITH YOUR MIND!
So to understand Scripture and consequently understand God better (better means more accurately), we need to actively apply our minds to wrestle with difficult texts and not react to them emotionally, or read into them what we hope they would say.
To the best of my understanding (and I could be wrong, so challenge me if you think I am), vows here refer to freewill offerings over and above the legal requirements (see Num 29:39 above). Examples would be vows of abstinence for a season, vows of special sacrifice, vow of a Nazarite (research this if you don't know what this is). These are vows of special devotion to God.
Numbers 30 in effect says, all vows are made to God. Vows are serious things and all vows are to be kept. Failure to fulfill a vow is sin against God.
But God has assigned headship of a family to the husband and father. In God's grace, He allows father or husband one day to hear and consider the vows of his family members under his care. This is not an escape clause, but a gracious means of release from a vow without consequence. If husband and father judges that the vow was made rashly, ie without fully considering its implications, he may annul it.
For further interest, I understand that most commentators also read "underaged boy" into the phrase "unmarried woman". It simply refers to children under parental care.
Thank you for all your thoughts. I really enjoyed reading them. I am encouraged and blessed by your willingness to engage with more difficult passages of Scripture. Let us continue to sharpen each others' Bible reading skills.
Specific comment to Yin Ting (since you specifically asked me to comment on your comment!) :-)
What you said is mostly right. But I would advise you anchor each of your statements to a Biblical reference instead of "Pastor Vincent said ..." and "I feel that ..."
Your faith and convictions must stand on the authority of the Word of God and not hearsay or suppositions.
While I said you are mostly right, I might also suggest that what you said is incomplete. True, you are accountable finally to God. But it is dangerous to say you are ONLY accountable to God. Alicia got it right when she said accountability structures are put there to protect us.
In non sin issues, the human authorities stand over us. When we defy them, we disobey God.
I remember a funny story of a boy who was compelled to sit down in class. He finally answered defiantly, "I may be sitting down, but I'm standing up in my heart."
That is not the attitude befitting a child of God. I would say consider carefully and with great humility if you ever consider God's authority over-rides a legitimate human authority.
Many blessings to you!
PS - your comments aren't long compared to mine :-)
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