Bibledoorajar: Vows on the Plains of Moab

     Moses met with the leaders of the tribes and gave them instructions from the Lord about vows. They were to be kept because they were given based on their word. Vows discussed had to do with instructions for both men and women.
     It seems that in the culture of America vows do not mean as much as they used to. Deals are not made with just a vow nowadays, but with reams of legal papers attached so that they can be presented to the courts of justice when one goes back on their vow. Divorce courts are full of broken vows. But the truth is, even after Moses discussed the importance of vows, God still had to raise up judges to settle disputes about broken vows. Men looked for a way to make things right, or if not right, different. Settled.
     But there is one Vow that was made in eternity past and God never veered to the right or to the left on it. Jesus never broke His vow that He would come to earth and take on the sins of the humans who break vows right and left.
     In 1863 Henry Wadsworth wrote a poem entitled Christmas Bells. Later someone turned it into my favorite Christmas carol.

I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play
And mild and sweet their songs repeat
Of peace on earth good will to men

And the bells are ringing (peace on earth)
Like a choir they're singing (peace on earth)
In my heart I hear them (peace on earth)
Peace on earth, good will to men

And in despair I bowed my head
There is no peace on earth I said
For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men

But the bells are ringing (peace on earth)
Like a choir singing (peace on earth)
Does anybody hear them? (peace on earth)
Peace on earth, good will to men

Then rang the bells more loud and deep
God is not dead, nor does he sleep (peace on earth, peace on earth)
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace… 

God is not dead nor does He sleep. He keeps His vows. Settled!