Post by R' Y'hoshua Moshe on Sept 15, 2005 21:30:25 GMT -8
The following is a commentary compliments of Rabbi Ya'akov BenYosef. Enjoy!
Ki Tetze “When you go”- Devarim (Deuteronomy) 21:10- 25:19
13 Elul 5765 – Sep. 17, 2005
"Throughout the
there are many examples of how commitment to HaShem establishes faith. In the Brit Hadashah there are also examples of individuals whose commitment established faith. Hebrews 11 lists some of the individuals considered pillars of faith. The one thing all the pillars of faith had in common was their decisions to act on faith. For example, Noah’s faith led him to build an ark. Noah started building the ark long before there were any signs of rain. As a result, Noah’s faith was a public display that a flood was coming. Noah’s actions publicly demonstrated his commitment. Every individual in scripture described as HaShem’s faithful servant has put his or her faith on public display. It was by their actions that the world witnessed the glory of HaShem. James 2:18 even states “You have faith, and I have works: show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” Faith in HaShem is shown by deeds. Through works the world sees the glory of HaShem. Without action there is no visible distinction between the followers of Yeshua and everyone else. Therefore, it is critical for HaShem’s followers to put their faith on public display for the world to see.
In Ki Tetze we can see that the vow is one way of making a public display of faith. However, because a vow is publicly proclaimed the world will witness fulfillment and failure equally. In other words, a vow is a public declaration; failure to fulfill a vow publicly demonstrates a lack of faith. As a result, a person’s heart is revealed by his or her commitment to complete the vow. Therefore, a vow should not be made frivolously. HaShem warned the Children of Yisrael about the dangers of treating a vow frivolously. Devarim 23:21-23 states “When you shall vow a vow unto the LORD thy God, you shall not hesitate to pay it: for the LORD your God will surely require it of you; and it would be sin in you. But if you shall not vow, it will not be sin to you. That which is gone out of your lips you shall keep and perform; even a freewill offering, according as you have vowed unto the LORD thy God, which you have promised with your mouth.”
Also, a vow should not be made hastily. The consequences of making a vow before thinking can be seen in Shoftim 11:30-37 which states
“Yiftach vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said, If thou shall without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands, Then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall surely be the LORD’S, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering. So Yiftach passed over unto the children of Ammon to fight against them; and the LORD delivered them into his hands. And he smote them from Aroer, even till thou come to Minnith, even twenty cities, and unto the plain of the vineyards, with a very great slaughter. Thus the children of Ammon were subdued before the children of Israel. And Yiftach came to Mizpeh unto his house, and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances: and she was his only child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter. And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he rent his clothes, and said, Alas, my daughter! You have brought me very low, and you are one of them that trouble me: for I have opened my mouth unto the LORD, and I cannot go back. And she said unto him, My father, if thou hast opened your mouth unto the LORD, do to me according to that which hath proceeded out of thy mouth; forasmuch as the LORD hath taken vengeance for you of your enemies, even of the children of Ammon. And she said unto her father, Let this thing be done for me:”
By stating that he would give HaShem whatever came out of his doors to meet him on his return, Yiftach did not consider the possible outcome of his vow. His daughter had to pay the price for her father’s vow. The consequences of the vows we make can put us in situations that are harmful to our families and to us. Therefore, it is better to not make a vow than to make one in the heat of the moment.
Yeshua was also concerned about individuals making vows frivolously and hastily. Mathew 5:33-37 states “you have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shall not forswear yourself, but shall perform unto the Lord your oaths: But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Neither shall thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. But let your communication be, Yes; No: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil”. Because we cannot control what might happen, making vows without considering the results can be devastating. If Yiftach could have foreseen that his daughter would be the first one out of the door, he would have refrained from his vow. Yeshua declares that the best way to prevent this from happening is to let our “yes be yes and our no be no”. Yeshua does not want His followers to make hasty or frivolous vows. Yeshua prefers a commitment to HaShem that does not require a pledge in return. Followers of Yeshua should act on faith based solely commitment, not on the need to fulfill a vow.
The pillars of faith mentioned in Scripture had one common attribute. They all acted on their faith. In Ki Tetze we can see one way to act on faith is to pledge a vow. A vow is a public proclamation of faith in action. Therefore, a vow is an excellent witness that reveals HaShem to the rest of the world. Unfortunately, when a vow is not fulfilled it is also a public declaration. An unfulfilled vow discredits the power of HaShem. The considers a vow to be one of the most solemn actions a believer can undertake. When a believer commits to a vow the weight and the cost of the vow must be calculated against the benefit. Failure to fulfill a vow publicly shows a lack of commitment to HaShem. Yeshua warns us that it is better to serve HaShem with a simple yes or no, than hastily take on a vow we cannot fulfill. Before pledging a vow to HaShem count the cost and determine if you can afford to pay the price of success or failure."
By Rabbi Yaakov benYosef – ABOUT-.org
Ki Tetze “When you go”- Devarim (Deuteronomy) 21:10- 25:19
13 Elul 5765 – Sep. 17, 2005
"Throughout the
there are many examples of how commitment to HaShem establishes faith. In the Brit Hadashah there are also examples of individuals whose commitment established faith. Hebrews 11 lists some of the individuals considered pillars of faith. The one thing all the pillars of faith had in common was their decisions to act on faith. For example, Noah’s faith led him to build an ark. Noah started building the ark long before there were any signs of rain. As a result, Noah’s faith was a public display that a flood was coming. Noah’s actions publicly demonstrated his commitment. Every individual in scripture described as HaShem’s faithful servant has put his or her faith on public display. It was by their actions that the world witnessed the glory of HaShem. James 2:18 even states “You have faith, and I have works: show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” Faith in HaShem is shown by deeds. Through works the world sees the glory of HaShem. Without action there is no visible distinction between the followers of Yeshua and everyone else. Therefore, it is critical for HaShem’s followers to put their faith on public display for the world to see. In Ki Tetze we can see that the vow is one way of making a public display of faith. However, because a vow is publicly proclaimed the world will witness fulfillment and failure equally. In other words, a vow is a public declaration; failure to fulfill a vow publicly demonstrates a lack of faith. As a result, a person’s heart is revealed by his or her commitment to complete the vow. Therefore, a vow should not be made frivolously. HaShem warned the Children of Yisrael about the dangers of treating a vow frivolously. Devarim 23:21-23 states “When you shall vow a vow unto the LORD thy God, you shall not hesitate to pay it: for the LORD your God will surely require it of you; and it would be sin in you. But if you shall not vow, it will not be sin to you. That which is gone out of your lips you shall keep and perform; even a freewill offering, according as you have vowed unto the LORD thy God, which you have promised with your mouth.”
Also, a vow should not be made hastily. The consequences of making a vow before thinking can be seen in Shoftim 11:30-37 which states
“Yiftach vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said, If thou shall without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands, Then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall surely be the LORD’S, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering. So Yiftach passed over unto the children of Ammon to fight against them; and the LORD delivered them into his hands. And he smote them from Aroer, even till thou come to Minnith, even twenty cities, and unto the plain of the vineyards, with a very great slaughter. Thus the children of Ammon were subdued before the children of Israel. And Yiftach came to Mizpeh unto his house, and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances: and she was his only child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter. And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he rent his clothes, and said, Alas, my daughter! You have brought me very low, and you are one of them that trouble me: for I have opened my mouth unto the LORD, and I cannot go back. And she said unto him, My father, if thou hast opened your mouth unto the LORD, do to me according to that which hath proceeded out of thy mouth; forasmuch as the LORD hath taken vengeance for you of your enemies, even of the children of Ammon. And she said unto her father, Let this thing be done for me:”
By stating that he would give HaShem whatever came out of his doors to meet him on his return, Yiftach did not consider the possible outcome of his vow. His daughter had to pay the price for her father’s vow. The consequences of the vows we make can put us in situations that are harmful to our families and to us. Therefore, it is better to not make a vow than to make one in the heat of the moment.
Yeshua was also concerned about individuals making vows frivolously and hastily. Mathew 5:33-37 states “you have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shall not forswear yourself, but shall perform unto the Lord your oaths: But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Neither shall thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. But let your communication be, Yes; No: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil”. Because we cannot control what might happen, making vows without considering the results can be devastating. If Yiftach could have foreseen that his daughter would be the first one out of the door, he would have refrained from his vow. Yeshua declares that the best way to prevent this from happening is to let our “yes be yes and our no be no”. Yeshua does not want His followers to make hasty or frivolous vows. Yeshua prefers a commitment to HaShem that does not require a pledge in return. Followers of Yeshua should act on faith based solely commitment, not on the need to fulfill a vow.
The pillars of faith mentioned in Scripture had one common attribute. They all acted on their faith. In Ki Tetze we can see one way to act on faith is to pledge a vow. A vow is a public proclamation of faith in action. Therefore, a vow is an excellent witness that reveals HaShem to the rest of the world. Unfortunately, when a vow is not fulfilled it is also a public declaration. An unfulfilled vow discredits the power of HaShem. The
considers a vow to be one of the most solemn actions a believer can undertake. When a believer commits to a vow the weight and the cost of the vow must be calculated against the benefit. Failure to fulfill a vow publicly shows a lack of commitment to HaShem. Yeshua warns us that it is better to serve HaShem with a simple yes or no, than hastily take on a vow we cannot fulfill. Before pledging a vow to HaShem count the cost and determine if you can afford to pay the price of success or failure."By Rabbi Yaakov benYosef – ABOUT-
.org
