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Apr 04, 2012 / Bible Study / 1 COMMENTS
Today’s Bible Study
April 4, 2012
“If you (God) give me victory, I will give you whatever comes out of my house to meet me… as a burnt offering” (Judges 11:31).
See Jephthah Consoled After Making His Foolish Vow:
Click to download Chart of 12 Judges:
Chart of 12 Judges
To Find (look for):
To Mind (key point):
This is a continuation from yesterday’s lesson. Today, we see the conclusion of Jephthah’s story and his hasty vow that he makes to God. While filled with the Holy Spirit, he promises to offer God a burnt offering – whatever comes out of his house to meet him. I wonder if he had animals living inside his house and thought one of those would be coming outside?
To Bind (apply to our lives):
Commentators disagree on the fate of this young girl. Was she offered as a burnt offering which would have prematurely ended her life, or was she dedicated to a life of service without being able to marry and have children of her own? We may never know for sure. What we can learn from this story is the importance of our words and the harm that can so easily come from a word carelessly spoken. Are you careful to watch the words you say and to follow-through on the promises you make?
Share With The Group
Click the “Leave a Comment” link above to share your take-away.
Dear Shannon, I am so blessed by your words this morning. I praise God that something I said has resonated with you. Believe me, that prayer for God to put a guard over my mouth is one I need to pray constantly. I am so flawed, and left to my own devices, my mouth gets me in trouble. Thank you for using my own words to remind me and challenge me today. 🙂
I must admit, I’ve struggled with Jephthah’s vow ever since I was first made aware of it years ago. I couldn’t understand how he could make it, after all, it seemed pretty stupid to say what he said since most likely his wife or his daughter would be the first coming out to greet him after battle. And I couldn’t believe God would require it.
So the commentary that he may have meant he was giving his daughter to the Lord for His service makes more sense to me and makes me think perhaps it wasn’t as dumb a comment as I had thought it was. 🙂 Thank you!
And I never had put two and two together that Samson’s touching the dead lion was against the Nazarite pledge. Wow–what great detail is available in His word, if we dig deep!
Thank you for your continued faithfulness to study and prepare, making scripture come alive for us every day.