The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Leviticus 27:14-15,
"If anyone dedicates their house as something holy to the Lord, the priest will judge its quality as good or bad. Whatever value the priest then sets, so it will remain. If the one who dedicates their house wishes to redeem it, they must add a fifth to its value, and the house will again become theirs."
Bob Deffinbaugh, at "bible.org", describes the "vows" discussed in Leviticus 27 as "a kind of 'credit card' act of worship." A promise to worship God at a future time by giving something as a person, an animal, a house, an inheritance, land, etc. Something promised to God, to be provided in the future. The reason for the delay in delivering on what was offered is that the worshiper, motivated by gratitude for something God had done or provided them, was unable to provide what was offered at the time and so makes a vow to provide it later. What is discussed in this chapter refers to voluntary gifts folks promised to God and now have reconsidered.
Recognizing the regret that many may have over having rashly vowed something to the Lord in the heat of a moment, direction here is provided as to how what was vowed might be redeemed back by the worshiper. In the above example of a house, a fifth of the value is to be added to the value of the house if the owner wanted to "un-vow" it, to "buy back" his vow to the Lord. In this way the house could be redeemed without harm to the fickle worshiper.
From this I recognize that God knows us all too well. He knows how we can be impulsive. He knows how we can be caught up in a moment we may later reconsider - even a moment of legitimate gratitude. How often I have been blessed by God in some wonderful way, only later to find my appreciation waning...
This, I believe is not good. God certainly deserves better from me. In regard to vows, the Scriptures tell us not to make them lightly. "It is a trap to dedicate something rashly and only later to consider one's vows." Proverbs 20:25. "When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it." Ecclesiastes 5:4-5. Better to not vow, than to make one and not keep it. I find this particularly true with wedding vows, when what is vowed to the spouse is vowed before God. Here in this passage, I note that not following through on a vow is to cost something. In the case of a house, it is 20%.
"If anyone dedicates their house as something holy to the Lord, the priest will judge its quality as good or bad. Whatever value the priest then sets, so it will remain. If the one who dedicates their house wishes to redeem it, they must add a fifth to its value, and the house will again become theirs."
Bob Deffinbaugh, at "bible.org", describes the "vows" discussed in Leviticus 27 as "a kind of 'credit card' act of worship." A promise to worship God at a future time by giving something as a person, an animal, a house, an inheritance, land, etc. Something promised to God, to be provided in the future. The reason for the delay in delivering on what was offered is that the worshiper, motivated by gratitude for something God had done or provided them, was unable to provide what was offered at the time and so makes a vow to provide it later. What is discussed in this chapter refers to voluntary gifts folks promised to God and now have reconsidered.
Recognizing the regret that many may have over having rashly vowed something to the Lord in the heat of a moment, direction here is provided as to how what was vowed might be redeemed back by the worshiper. In the above example of a house, a fifth of the value is to be added to the value of the house if the owner wanted to "un-vow" it, to "buy back" his vow to the Lord. In this way the house could be redeemed without harm to the fickle worshiper.
From this I recognize that God knows us all too well. He knows how we can be impulsive. He knows how we can be caught up in a moment we may later reconsider - even a moment of legitimate gratitude. How often I have been blessed by God in some wonderful way, only later to find my appreciation waning...
This, I believe is not good. God certainly deserves better from me. In regard to vows, the Scriptures tell us not to make them lightly. "It is a trap to dedicate something rashly and only later to consider one's vows." Proverbs 20:25. "When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it." Ecclesiastes 5:4-5. Better to not vow, than to make one and not keep it. I find this particularly true with wedding vows, when what is vowed to the spouse is vowed before God. Here in this passage, I note that not following through on a vow is to cost something. In the case of a house, it is 20%.
I find it fascinating that the Lord does provide for our weakness. It is precisely his propensity to do so that we call God our wonderful Lord of Grace. He makes a way... not because we deserve it, but in spite of the fact we don't.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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