One of the most troubling and tragic passages in the entire Old Testament is the story of Jephthah’s vow in Judges 11:29-40. What was the nature of the vow and how could the entire thing have been avoided? What does this story teach us about our misconceptions and lack of knowledge about God? Join Pastor Jim as he navigates this difficult passage to mine it for truths about the richness of God’s grace and mercy.
Sermon Notes
“There is an old cliché that says, ‘Ignorance is bliss.” In fact, ignorance can be extremely dangerous and have tragic consequences, and, if that is generally true, it is particularly true of spiritual ignorance.”
Gary Inrig
Hearts of Iron, Feet of Clay
1. Impulsive oaths require repentance not fulfillment.
“The greatest single secret of spiritual development lies in personal, humble, believing, obedient response to the Word of God. It is as God speaks to us through his Word that his warnings can bring us to conviction of sin, his promises to assurance of forgiveness, and his commands to amendment of life. We live and grow by his Word.”
John Stott
2. The covenant God of the Bible takes promise-making and promise-keeping very seriously.
“God writes with a pen that never blots, speaks with a tongue that never slips, acts with a hand that never fails.”
C. H. Spurgeon
3. Salvation is a gift given, not a deal struck.
“Unbounded trust in the merciful love of the redeeming God deals a mortal blow to skepticism, cynicism, self-condemnation, and despair. It is our decisive YES to Christ’s command ‘Trust in God and trust in me.’”
Brennan Manning