Psalm 116:14

Psalm 116:14

Fulfilling our vows to the Lord

This verse carries a deep and meaningful message about the importance of keeping our promises and being faithful to our commitments, especially in the presence of witnesses. As we have seen, the psalmist has described a time when he was in distress and called on the Lord for help, and the Lord answered his prayers. In response to this deliverance, he expresses his gratitude, and vows to fulfil his promises to the Lord. In ancient Israel, making a vow or promise to the Lord was a serious commitment that was not to be taken lightly. It was a way of expressing devotion and dedication to the Lord, and failing to fulfil a vow was considered a grave offense.

Note that the psalmist declares his intention to fulfil his vows to the Lord "in the presence of all his people," indicating that he is making a public declaration of his faithfulness and devotion. By openly declaring his commitment to the Lord, the psalmist is setting an example for others and he invites them to witness this.

The theme of keeping vows and fulfilling commitments is a recurring one throughout the Bible. In the Old Testament, there are numerous references to making vows to the Lord and the importance of honouring them. For example, in the book of Deuteronomy, it is written: "If you make a vow to the Lord your God, do not be slow to pay it, for the Lord your God will certainly demand it of you and you will be guilty of sin" (Deuteronomy 23:21). This verse underscores the seriousness of making vows and emphasizes the necessity of fulfilling them promptly.

In the New Testament, Jesus also speaks about the significance of keeping one's word and fulfilling oaths. In Matthew 5:33-37, He teaches about the importance of speaking truthfully and keeping one's promises, saying, "Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfil to the Lord the vows you have made.’ But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” This passage reinforces the idea that honesty and integrity in our words and commitments are essential qualities of a faithful follower of God.

I suppose that the ceremonial vows at baptism and weddings are cases in point, here are public declarations of faith and devotion but are there other occasions when promises and vows are made publicly to the Lord? Jesus had a point. Of course He did! It’s best just to simply say, “Yes” or No!” 

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