04 July 2016

Vows

Vows
Text: Numbers 21:1-3; Psalm 61

Speaker:
Rev. Dr. Charles Tan
Series:
Bethany IV Prayer Circle

Message Notes

VOWS

1. Vow made by Jacob

First vow recorded   (Genesis 28:20-22)
a) Made by Jacob when God gave him a vision of a ladder ascending and descending from heaven
b) If God were to protect and preserve him
c) He offered this prayer as a vow to God
i) The Lord would be his God
ii) The stone would be God’s house
iii) He would give a tenth of all he has to the Lord

2. Vow made by Israel   (Numbers 21:1-3)

a) Context
i) King of Arad attacked Israel   (Numbers 21:1)
ii) Israel defeated by the King of Arad
iii) Some from Israel were taken as prisoners   (Numbers 21:1)
b) Vow of Israel
i) Asked for God’s help
ii) Arad to be delivered into the hands of Israel
iii) Israel would utterly destroy the Canaanite cities of Arad   (Numbers 21:2)
c) God heard that prayer-vow
i) He listened   (Numbers 21:3)
ii) He delivered Arad into the hands of Israel   (Numbers 21:3)
d) Israel kept its vow
i) The Canaanite cities of Arad were utterly destroyed   (Numbers 21:3)
ii) Name of the place was called “Hormah” (Destruction)
To commemorate this event

3. Vow(s) made by King David

a) When he must have been in difficult straits   (Psalm 61:1)
b) His life may have been in danger   (Psalm 61: 7)
c) He made some vows to the Lord   (Psalm 61:5)
d) He determined to fulfil his vows daily   (Psalm 61:8)
e) What were those vows?
i) To abide in the tabernacle of the Lord forever?   (Psalm 61:4)
ii) To trust in the shelter of the Lord’s wings?   (Psalm 61:4)
iii) To sing praises to the Lord’s name forever?   (Psalm 61:8)