6 October Leviticus 27

Making vows

Leviticus 27:1-8 (NIV) “The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘If anyone makes a special vow to dedicate a person to the Lord by giving the equivalent value, set the value of a male between the ages of twenty and sixty at fifty shekels of silver, according to the sanctuary shekel; for a female, set her value at thirty shekels; for a person between the ages of five and twenty, set the value of a male at twenty shekels and of a female at ten shekels; for a person between one month and five years, set the value of a male at five shekels of silver and that of a female at three shekels[g] of silver; for a person sixty years old or more, set the value of a male at fifteen shekels and of a female at ten shekels. If anyone making the vow is too poor to pay the specified amount, the person being dedicated is to be presented to the priest, who will set the value according to what the one making the vow can afford”.

This chapter deals with things that are given to God by a vow. That means a command of the law did not require them, but the vow was a freely promised and given gift to God. In this case, it deals with persons promised to the LORD in a vow.

Making a vow is the highest act of devotion that a person can make to God. Today, any believer in Christ is part of His holy priesthood. Thus, the instructions in this Bible apply to every believer. He wants you to make a vow of devotion to Him. Yet, He only wants you to make vows that you will keep.

Matthew 5:33-37 (AMP) “Again, you have heard that it was said to the men of old, ‘You shall not make false vows, but you shall fulfil your vows to the Lord [as a religious duty].’ 34 But I say to you, do not make an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God; 35 or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36 Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you are not able to make a single hair white or black. 37 But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’ [a firm yes or no]; anything more than that comes from the evil one”. The psalmist speaks to oaths in Psalm 15:4 (NIV) “who despises a vile person but honours those who fear the Lord; who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and does not change their mind”.

The principle here is clear for believers: be careful about making vows to the Lord or one another. Our proneness to errors in judgment means that we may make vows foolishly or out of immaturity. Our word is our bond.

In Leviticus 27, we see the seriousness of vows and dedicating people or possessions to the Lord. The instructions emphasise that vows are a voluntary expression of devotion, not commanded by law, yet they carry a significant responsibility once made. God's people are called to honour their vows with the appropriate dedication, whether in terms of people or property, recognising that everything they commit is ultimately an offering to God.

For Christians today, this principle still applies. As part of the holy priesthood in Christ, we are reminded that our words and commitments matter deeply. Matthew 5:33-37 teaches us to be cautious in making oaths or vows, advising us to speak with simplicity and integrity—let our "yes" be yes, and our "no" be no. Psalm 15:4 reinforces the idea that a person who fears the Lord keeps their vows, even when difficult, highlighting the value of steadfastness in our commitments.

In conclusion, making a vow to God is a profound act of devotion and must be undertaken with reverence and thoughtfulness. God desires sincere and kept vows, underscoring the importance of integrity in our words and actions. As believers, we must ensure that our commitments, whether made to God or others, are intentional, honouring, and fulfilled.