When I was a child, my parents affectionately called me “Motor Mouth.” I understood; my mouth turned on when I woke up and it did not stop until long after I was tucked in bed. The flow of words was ceaseless. Today, I talk MUCH LESS! Sometimes I love to simply sit in silence, listening. Turning off the word-faucet is so peaceful.
The older we get, the less some of us should talk. We must communicate well—and LISTENING is a big part of that. Listen and think before you speak.
Jephthah was a judge in Israel and had to battle the Ammonites. Before leading his brothers into war he made a vow. What are the rules for vows? First, God punishes people who make vows but do not keep them. There are many examples. Second, do not make rash vows. Think about what you are saying!
Jephthah made this vow to the Lord:
“If you will hand over the Ammonites to me, whatever comes out of the door of my house to greet me when I return in peace … will belong to the Lord, and I will offer it as a burnt offering” Judges 11:30-31.
Maybe Jephthah’s house had an old blanket hanging in front of an open door. Maybe goats and sheep were regularly wandering in and out of his house. That is not as unusual in his culture as it would be in ours, particularly in bad weather (animals may shelter on the dirt-floored lower level and the family live on the second). But this vow sounds rash to me. Seriously rash. The rashest of rash. God provided a great slaughter of the Ammonites. Jephthah won 20 cities and came marching home proudly, staring eagerly at the door to see what would come out first. Would it be a sheep, a goat, a chicken, or a dog, maybe?
“When Jephthah went to his home … there was his daughter coming out to meet him with tambourines and dancing! She was his only child; he had no other son or daughter besides her. When he saw his daughter, he tore his clothes and said, ‘No! Not my daughter! You have devastated me! You have brought misery on me. I have given my word to the Lord and cannot take it back” Judges 11:34-35.
“Let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to become angry” James 1:19.
WORDS MATTER. Choose wisely.
ΑΩ
Household Words: 