1. Oscar Garza
Bible Study: Keeping Your Promises
JEPHTAH
Keeping Your Promises: Even When It Costs You!
2. Acceptance & Rejection:
Everyone wantstobe loved.Bynature,people crave acceptance,andtheyfearrejection.
Nobodywantstobe rejected.
o Seekingacceptance indifferentplaces: (Somepeople are sohungryforlove and
acceptance that theywill payanyprice to getit.)
Business
Academics
Athletics
Romance
Some have beenrejectedsooftenthattheyhave givenup.Theysettleforrejectionasanormal
part of life.Unfortunately,manytimestheyreinforcetheirrejectionthroughdepressed
behaviorpatternssuchasdrug or alcohol abuse.
Questions?Thoughts?
Judges 10-12:
1. Includesastrange story of acceptance and rejection.It,too,issetina time whenthe promise
seemedtobe fading.It’sthe storyof Jephtahthe Gileadite –a mostunusual hero.The bible
says,“Jephthahthe Gileadite wasamightywarrior.HisfatherwasGilead;hismotherwasa
prostitute”(Judges11:1NKJV) thisillegitimatesonwasnotexactlythe familyfavorite. Gilead’s
othersonsexpelledhimfromthe family.JephtahfledtoTob.Inthe edge of the wilderness.
There he gathereda bandof roguesandrebelsaroundhim. He survived,butnotwithoutthe
painof rejectioninhisheart.
Aftera while the Ammonitesfromthe Transjordanattackedthe communitiesof the
districtof Gilead.Andthe familysentforthe helpof Jephthahtorescue them.Crazy, his
ownrelativesthrewhimoutbutwantedhishelp.
The Nature of Rejection:
Rejectionhasaway of toughingus upto deal withthe realitiesof life.Just as the human body develops
immunities to resist disease, likewise our personality develops skills to resist rejection.
1. Avoidit
2. Attack it
3. Denyit
4. Compensate forit
Jepthah had become an expert at compensation. He had developed a barrier that would not allow
anyone or anything to penetrate. He had become a “mighty warrior”. He could slice your head off and
not care. But down inside, his heart longed for acceptance.
Questions?Thoughts?Howdoyoudeal withrejection?
3. Nothing Like Crisis to Pull Things Together:
The Ammonite invasionwasjustwhatJephthahneeded- achance toreconcile withhisrelatives,an
opportunitytobe restoredtoleadershipandprominence.“Come,”theysaid,“be ourcommander,so
we can fightthe Ammonites”(Judges11:6).Jephthahreplies(Judges11:7)
So theypromisedtomake himtheircaptainandput himoverall the citiesof Gilead.Jephthahaccepted
theiroffer.Necessityisnotonlythe “motherof invasion”,itisalsooftenthe “motive of acceptance.”
The threat of a commonenemy drew themall together.
Jephthah had a heart for God despite his background as the illegitimate son of a prostitute, a desert
bandit,anda social outcast.Andyet, he was a person of great faith in God. Perhaps the rejection drew
him closer to God. He may have turned to the Lord as the only One who would accept him.
Reasons for Rejection:
1. Personal rejection(Youdon’twantme)
2. Social rejection(Nobodywantsme)
3. Conditional love(Youonlylove me if….)
4. Deprivationof love (Youdon’tlove me)
5. Divorce (Youleftme)
6. Desertion(Youleftusall)
7. Dysfunction(Youdon’tunderstandme)
8. Abuse (Youhurtme)
9. Insecurity(Idon’tlike myself)
10. Death(You’re nothere for me)
Overcoming Rejection:
In orderto overcome rejection,we mustcome toGRIPS withcertainKEY FACTORSinour lives.We must:
1. AcceptGod’s love forus;
2. Stopblamingourselves;
3. Stopblamingothers;
4. Start livinglike anewperson.
Most of us have to deal withrejectioninourlivessoonerorlater.Youmighthave to overcome rejection
fromfamilymembers,friends,co-workers,etc.Whileyourlife mightbe shapedbythatrejection,itdoes
not have to be limitedbyit.Youcan learnto overcome it.In fact, you can even become a better person
because of it.
Can’t we work this out?
The Ammonite kinginsistedthatthe landbelongedtothe Ammonitesandthatthe Israelitestookitfrom
them in the conquest under Joshua. Jephthah tried settling the issue peacefully but it didn’t work.
Finally, Jephthah took his case to God. (Judges 11:27) This recognized God alone is sovereign over the
land. Unfortunately, the king rejected Jephthah’s appeal and continued going towards the Israelites.
4. Promises, Promises:
“The Spiritof the Lord came upon Jephthah” (Judges 11:29). He rallied a great army and crossed Gilead
and Manasseh to meet the enemy at Mizpah. En route to the battle, he made a solmn vow to God:
(Judges11:30, 31) A vowwas a solemnpromise toGod. The Hebrew term “nadir” conveys the idea of a
consecrationtoGod, meaningaseriouscommitmentorpledge.Itrepresentednotonlyaperson’swork,
but also his character. Such vows were not to be made or taken lightly.
Examples:
Psalm50:14
NT, Jesusremindsustospeakthe truthwhenwe take an oath or make a vow. (Matthew 5:37)
Thiswas serious.Itmeantkeepingacovenant,andultimatelythe honorof one’scharacter.
The Promise Keepers Phenomenon 7 basic promises
1. Honor JesusChristthroughworship,prayer,andobedience toGod’swordthroughthe powerof
the HolySpirit.
2. Pursue vital relationshipswithafew othermen,understandingthatwe needbrotherstohelpus
keepourpromises.
3. Practice spiritual,moral,ethical,andsexual purity.
4. Buildstrongmarriagesandfamiliesthroughlove,protection,andbiblical values.
5. Supportthe missionof the church byhonoringandprayingfor yourpastor and byactivelygiving
time andresources.
6. Reach beyondany racial and denominationalbarrierstodemonstrate the powerof biblical
unity.
7. Influence the world,beingobedienttothe GreatCommandment(Mark12:30,31) and the Great
Commission(Matthew 28:19,20)
Jephthah’s Win:
Jephthahwinsoverthe Ammonites.He returnshome asIsrael’sgreathero.ButwhenJephthah reached
hishouse,tohisutter dismay,hisowndaughterran out to meet him dancing and playing a tambourine
(Judges11:34). It wasn’ta sheepora goat,it washis onlychild!He had promised to sacrifice her to God
as a burnt offering. Now what would he do?
Many newbelieversmake the mistake of OVERCOMMITTINGthemselves.Theyare soexcited
abouttheirnewlife inChristthattheywantto experienceeverythingtheycan.Sothey
volunteerforeveryjob inthe church.The problemis,theyoftendosoat expense of their
families.
EX) beingcommittedtochurchthat he spentmore time there thanat home.Ignoringmarriage.
Ignoringfamily.Etc. Becomingsoovercommittedthatyoustart doingthe wrongthingsat
home.Eventuallyitcancostfamily.
Keeping Your Word:
Jephthah’svowwasmade ingoodfaith.
5. What was the vow?1 Viewisthathe promisedtosacrifice whatevercame outof his house asa
burntofferingtoGod. Inthose days,animalswere oftenkeptinthe house.Anythingcould’ve
come out of his house:asheep,a goat,or a cow (Whichhappento be appropriate sacrifices).A
dog,a cat, or evena mouse couldhave come runningoutof hishouse as well.Those animals
wouldnothave beenanappropriate sacrifice toGod.
That is why some translators prefer to translate the passage: “Whatever comes out of my
house…..will be the Lord’sorI will sacrifice itasa burntoffering.”The original Hebrewallowsfor
eithertranslation.Thatwayif whatcomesout of the house isnot appropriate forsacrifice,itcan
be dedicated to God’s service.
FOR EXAMPLE) in biblical times, animals not suitable for sacrifice could be given to the priest
and sold. The proceeds would then would then go to the temple. Leviticus 27 gives various
amountsto be paidfor the redemptionof persons who had been vowed to the Lord or animals
that had been dedicated to the Tabernacle.
Issue at Stake:
DidJephthahactuallyslewhisowndaughterandofferedherasaburnt sacrifice toGod. Commentaries
on thispassage are equallydivided.
What textsays?
1. He wasbrokenheartedoverthe vow (Verse 35)
2. His daughteracceptedit:“Do to me justas you promised”(36)
3. She askedfora 2 monthdelaytoweepbecause “she wouldnevermarry”(37,38)
4. He laterfulfilledthe vow(39)
The bible doesnotactuallysaythat he sacrificedher.Itsays that he kepthispromise tothe Lord. Nowit
isoftensuggestedthatJephthahwasarogue,the son of a harlot,anda manof war. Therefore,itis
impliedthathe couldhave killedher.
However,considerthe reasonswhyhe wouldnothave killedher:
1. Childsacrifice wasforbiddenbythe Law of Moses(Leviticus20:2-5; Deuteronomy18:10)
2. Childkillersare universallycondemnedinScripture:kingof Moab(2 kings3:26, 27), Ahaz(2
Chronicles28:3),Manasseh (2 Kings21:6) and Herod(Matthew 2:16).
3. Jephthahhadjustdefeatedthe Ammonites,whowere notoriousforchildsacrificetothe gods
Molechand Chemosh.
4. God wouldnotletAbrahamsacrifice Isaacto Him (Gen22:12)
5. Jephthahisdescribedasbeingfilledwiththe HolySpirit(Judges11:29)
6. The daughtereagerly acceptedthe consequencesof the vow-perpetualvirginity(notdeath).
7. The Israelitescommemoratedthisvow everyyearasan annual practice (Judges11:40). It is
highlyunlikelytheywouldhave celebratedawrongor sinful decision.
Baby Dedication Is Serious Business:
Common:
1. Samuel’smother“loaned”himtothe Lord. She presentedhimtoEli,the priestatthe
tabernacle.(1Samuel 1:28)
6. 2. Readabout “youngvirgins”dancingatthe annual festival of the Lordat the Tabernacle inShiloh
(Judges21:19-22) those mentionedinthispassage were takenbythe Benjamitestobe their
wives.Therefore, it’sinbible history.
Thoughvictoriousinbattle,he wouldhave nooffspringtoperpetuate hisfamilyline.Inancienttimes,
thiswas consideredagrave tragedy.
Whateverviewyoutake,the factremainsthathe fulfilledit.Hisheartwasbroken.
Dedicating Ourselves to God
Whena couple dedicatestheirchildrentoGod, there really dedicatingthemselvestoGod.The promise
to raise the childbytheirChristlike example.Onlythe Spiritof Godcan transforma humanheart.
God challengesustoraise ourchildrenbyHis principles.
Deuteronomy 6:6,7
Proverbs22:6
Proverbs23:26
Ephesians6:1,4
The emphasisonaccountabilityinscripture restssolelywiththe parents.
If our example contradictsourinstruction,we sendaconfusingmessage tothose aroundus.Ask
yourself, doesmylifebackupmy instruction?Whenyouare determinedtobe the godlyexamplethose
aroundyou need,Godwill blessthemthroughyourinfluence.
The itemson whichwe spendourtime andmoneyare probablythe mostimportantthingsinour lives.
Andthe people we spendourtime withare probablythe mostimportantpeople inourlives.
Making promisesisone thing.Keepingthemisanother.Goingfroma promise makertoa keeperof
promisesbeginsinourownhearts.Itbeginsbygivingourselvestotallyto Godand lettingHimbecome
the objectof our love anddevotion.Onlywhenwe are fullycommittedtoHimcanwe become fully
committedtoour wivesandchildren.Onlythencanwe reallykeepourpromises.
ASK YOURSELF:
1. Have you everfeltrejected?How?Bywhom?
2. How didyoudeal withitor how are youdealingwithit?
3. Have you evermade a promise thatyoulaterwishedyouhadnot made?
4. Have you evermade a vowthat reallycostyousomething?
5. WouldGod ask usto keepa promise thatviolatedHisWord?
6. Do youhave a difficulttimekeepingyourpromises?
7. What usuallygoeswrong?
8. What shouldyoudodifferentlyinthe future?
9. What shouldyoudodifferentlyinthe future?
10. In whatareas doyou needtobe a betterexample toothers?
