Year 1, Week 15, Day 4 Bible Reading Observations

Year 1, Week 15, Day 4

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of Leviticus 27.

Today’s reading describes the rules concerning vows. Leviticus 27 records how Israel was to go about the matter of making vows to the LORD. Vows are sworn promises. These vows pertained to the animal sacrifices that they intended to offer at the Tabernacle, but also pertained to persons and inanimate things that would have been dedicated to the LORD. An aspect of these rules even entailed regulations of the assessed value of the person promised: “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, If anyone makes a special vow to the LORD involving the valuation of persons,” (Leviticus 27:2).

What struck me in today’s reading is the LORD’s expectation that vows were to be fulfilled: “Make your vows to the LORD your God and perform them; let all around him bring gifts to him who is to be feared, who cuts off the spirit of princes, who is to be feared by the kings of the earth.” (Psalm 76:11-12). Vows were commitments made to the LORD, often as a response to answered prayer or in light of some manner of blessing from the LORD: “Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High, and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.” (Psalm 50:14-15). The person or item vowed was being dedicated to the LORD. In most cases, a vow wasn’t necessarily required: “But if you refrain from vowing, you will not be guilty of sin.” (Deuteronomy 23:22). But once a vow was made, it was essential that it be kept. Thus, wisdom taught: “When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow. It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.” (Ecclesiastes 5:4-5).

While these Old Covenant regulations are not binding for believers today, there are still relevant instructions for living in the New Covenant. The Law’s conversation about vows orients us to consider what a life of devotion consists of. While the express language of vow is not used to describe a believer’s resolve to follow the Lord Jesus Christ, such sacrificial devotion to the LORD is the fitting response to the Lord’s mercy, love, and kindness: “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” (Romans 12:1). The serious call of devotion, from our Lord Himself, is framed in the language of commitment and dedication: “Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:61-62); and “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?” (Luke 14:26-28). Commitment to follow Christ is not a thing to be taken lightly, but wholeheartedly. While the language of vow is not explicitly used in reference to Christian discipleship, its sentiments should inform our gratitude: “What shall I render to the LORD for all his benefits to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD, I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people.” (Psalm 116:12-14).

The Law’s conversation about vows also orients us to consider what a life of giving and generosity involves. The Old Covenant’s vows concerning tithes were expressed as involuntary: “Every tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the trees, is the LORD'S; it is holy to the LORD. If a man wishes to redeem some of his tithe, he shall add a fifth to it. And every tithe of herds and flocks, every tenth animal of all that pass under the herdsman's staff, shall be holy to the LORD.” (Leviticus 27:30-32). While the permanence of tithing in the New Covenant is a matter for discussion, the obligatory nature of giving continues: “Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.” (1 Corinthians 16:1-2). Consistent, deliberate generosity is applicable to each follower of Christ and yet the exact amount is proportionate to their income. However, Christian giving, while not driven my express vows is sacrificial: "We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means” (2 Corinthians 8:1-3a). For the resolve to give generously is propelled by the sacrificial generosity of the Lord Himself: “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.” (2 Corinthians 8:9). Generosity prompted by gratitude is a much stronger resolve than by mere requirement.

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe