Unbreakable
I shall pay You my vows, which my lips uttered and my mouth spoke when I was in distress. Psalm 66:13b-14
Vows – What is the absolute basis of the covenant? What is the one thing that constitutes the covenant arrangement? The answer: a promise. In Hebrew: nâdar. A vow is a promise to God. It reflects God’s promise to Israel. It is unbreakable. “A nēder is something promised to God verbally (Num 30:4 [H 5]). If one so promises he is obliged to fulfill/do his promise (Deut 23:22). In most cases, the context shows that the vow implies a promised gift for sacrifice, not merely a course of action as is implied in the English word ‘vow.’ The biblical ‘vow’ is always to deity, never a promise between man and man.”[1]
But vows in ancient Israel were not like the vows made to other gods of the Semitic world. We must be careful not to confuse the two. In other religious practices, vows were attempts to appease the deity. In some parts of the modern world, they still are. The idea is that the gods are either angry or fickle, and if I present an offering or make a commitment to these gods, I can change their minds and gain their favor. This is not Israel’s view.
“Vows were supererogatory acts of devotion and love contracted either preceding (Ps 50:14) or following divine blessing (Ps 116:17–18). They were accompanied by joy (Nah 1:5 [H 2:1]) and/or singing (Ps 61:8 [H 9]), and were acceptable only if iniquity was not cherished in the offerer’s heart (Ps 66:18; cf. Prov 7:14).”[2]
Vows in Israel are expressions of love and devotion regardless of the outcome. In fact, if the motivation is for gain or protection, the vow is unacceptable. There’s no bartering with God, as Havvah discovered as early as Genesis 4:1. YHVH loves. He does not need to be spurred to love by presents. YHVH cherishes His creation. He does not require gifts to be motivated to care for it. YHVH is not one of the “gods.” He is the only, faithful, One.
Let’s place this idea in this Psalms’ context. If we read this verse as Western, we might think the Psalmist is advocating vocal promise-keeping. He speaks words that God wants to hear in order to make sure he gets God’s blessing. But this isn’t Hebraic. Notice that a nēder is something that occurs either before or after a blessing. This verse either follows or anticipates God’s favor. It does not generate the favor. It merely acknowledges God’s benevolence. This is quite extraordinary for the Psalmist has just declared that God is the author of oppressive burdens even if He is also the One Who rescues. So, we are intended to understand the entire package of God’s past actions as a blessing (perhaps in disguise, but now revealed). At the same time, we are instructed to consider that God’s past action secures His future benevolence. We look back to see forward. The vow is nothing more, nor less, than our way of expressing unbridled devotion to this benevolent God. His faithfulness is unbreakable. That’s enough.
Topical Index: vow, nēder, promise, Psalm 66:13b-14
[1] Coppes, L. J. (1999). 1308 נָדַר. R. L. Harris, G. L. Archer Jr., & B. K. Waltke (Eds.), Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament (electronic ed., p. 557). Chicago: Moody Press.
[2] Ibid.
