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A person need not make a vow--nothing compels them. 

But if a person chooses and makes a vow before the Living Lord, then the vow must be kept.

James 5:12

And since you know that God cares, let your language show it.  Do not swear or make an oath--not by heaven, or by earth, or by anything else.  Don't add words like "I swear to God" to your own words.  Do not show your impatience by concocting oaths to hurry up God.  Simply say Yes or No.  Let your Yes be Yes and your No be No.  Just say what is true. That way, your language can't cause you to sin in hypocrisy and be used in judgment and condemnation against you.

MAKING VOWS:

The importance of choosing your words to match your desire and then honoring and keeping the words of your desire.

Below are some stories and passages from Scripture. 

They are chosen so that you might consider them and dwell upon them.

The story of Jephthah  Judges 10:6 - 12:7

The book of Judges records that 300 years after the time of Moses and the exodus from Egypt, another period of apostasy [abandonment of religious faith] and idolatry prevailed in Israel. The Lord God had fallen from favor with the people and they abandoned Him, substituting foreign gods.

The attraction of this pleasure-seeking idolatry was short-lived. It resulted in kindling the Lord God's anger and He doomed the Israelites to eighteen years of oppression and warfare with the Philistines and the Ammonites. Under these conditions, Israel's affection for the false gods waned rapidly. And as had occurred frequently before, the people's memory of their Lord God showed a remarkable recovery with the loss of their identity and comfort. The Lord God had not forgotten His Chosen People; but He had not enjoyed their loyalty.

The Israelites acknowledged to their Lord God how feckless and impotent the heathen idols were in delivering them from their plight. But the Lord God was not satisfied by their cries to be rescued. He wanted repentance and solemn, unqualified commitment to His Law. He replied to them, "Go and cry out to the gods which you have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your distress."  Judges 10:14

This blunt and awesome declaration was heeded by the wicked Israelites. They vowed fervently to divest themselves of their blasphemous practices. Reality had manifested itself. The Ammonites grew stronger daily and they wandered without control throughout the land of Gilead killing, kidnapping, plundering, pillaging, ravaging and raping. Finally Ammon decided to annihilate Israel. But who could save them? They had no strong man to lead them.

Jephthah was born to a harlot. This made him a bastard son, and as such, he was rejected as unfit to share in the family inheritance. He fled his home and went to live in the land of Tob. There he gathered outcast men from accepted society who have taken exile. Because of his great physical prowess combined with his strong leadership qualities, Jephthah gained fame as a chief and captain, assembling and welding these desperate men into a tough, nomadic fighting unit of mercenaries. This gained the attention of the elders of Gilead. Here was a man of bold courage and skilled in the tactics of war. Was this the intrepid hero who could lead the Gileadites to regain their identity? The elders went to enlist him as their military commander. They plead with Jephthah to be come and be their commander. Judges 11:6

Jephthah saw this as a short term exploitation of his talents and skills. The Gileadites would endure his command until he had defeated the oppressors, but once rid of them, he would again become expendable and unfit to live among them as a true Gileadite. Jephthah reproached them for not helping him when he needed them, and demanded: "Didn't you hate me and drive me from my father's house? Why do you come to me now, when you're in trouble?" Judges 11:7 They replied: "Nevertheless, we are turning to you now; come with us to fight the Ammonites, and you will be our head over all who live in Gilead" Judges 11:8

Jephthah would accept their offer on one condition; he insisted that he be made the absolute ruler--civil and military. The elders acquiesced. In spite of the abysmal treatment by those of Gilead, they now wanted Jephthah and his fugitive band of guerrillas to risk their lives on behalf of the society which had so cruelly expelled them.

Full of mistrust for the elders of Gilead, Jephthah demanded a compact before the Lord God at Mizpah. Judges 11:11 Mizpah was a place of sacred character, as is mentioned in the Book of Genesis in the story of Jacob. Genesis 31:49 Mizpah means watchtower and the Lord God was believed to reside there.

Jephthah's first official act was not to appeal to the sword, but to attempt to negotiate peace. He dispatched messengers to ask the Ammonite king the real reason for their invasion. The Ammonite was direct: "When Israel came up out of Egypt, they took away my land. Now give it back peaceably." Judges 11:13 Jephthah equally was direct in his reply:

Israel did not take the land of Moab or the land of the Ammonites.
But when Israel came out of Egypt, they went through the desert to the Red Sea and on to Kadesh.
Israel sent messengers to the king of Edom, asking, "Give us permission to go through your country."
But the king of Edom would not listen. Messengers also were sent to the king of Moab and he refused.
So Israel stayed at Kadesh.
So Israel traveled through the desert, skirted the lands of Edom and Moab, passed along the eastern side of the country of Moab, and camped on the other side of the Arnon.
They did not enter the territory of Moab, for the Arnon was its border.
Then Israel sent messengers to Sihon, king of the Amorites, asking him, "Let us pass through your country to our own place."
Sihon, however, did not trust Israel to pass through his land.
He mustered all his men and encamped at Jahaz and fought with Israel.
The Lord God of Israel delivered Sihon and all his men into hands of Israel and they defeated Sihon. Israel took over all the land of the Amorites.
Since the Lord God of Israel has driven the Amorites out and given the land to his people of Israel, what right have you to take it over?
Will you not take what your god Chemosh gives you?
Likewise, whatever the Lord God has given us, we will possess.
Judges 11:15-24

Jephthah was reminding the Ammonite king of the time of Moses and exodus 300 years earlier. The Hebrews had been forbidden by God to war with the tribes of Moab or Ammon. Deuteronomy 2:9; Deuteronomy 2:19

As a further argument, Jephthah advised the king of Ammon that Sihon had previously wrested this territory from the children of Lot. Both Moab and Ammon had sprung from Lot. Jephthah declared that the Lord God had judged that Israel should have the disputed territory and that the Ammonites should be satisfied with what Chemosh, the god of Moab and Ammon had provided to them.

Jephthah also drew the Ammonite king's attention to the fact that Balak, an earlier king of Moab, with fighting forces more formidable than Ammom now boasted, was afraid to make war against Israel. Numbers 22:1-20 Jephthah was making the case--why would the king of Ammon attempt what Balak feared to do with superior forces at his command. And he added, if Ammon had not done anything to assert their territorial claims in 300 years, why should they now feel justified in doing so. Jephthah finished with the statement that the Lord God would be the final judge.

All this fell on deaf ears. The overbearing Ammonite king angrily rejected Jephthah's appeasements, remaining hardened to the arguments. Jephthah's attempted diplomacy had failed. This meant war. Before setting out to battle, he made a vow to the Lord God:

If you will deliver the Ammonites into my hand, then whatever first comes out from the doors of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the Ammonites shall be the Lord God's and I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering.
Judges 11:30-31

Jephthah recognized the critical need to win the war. Loss to the powerful Ammonite army would have slavery or death to the people. Consumed by zeal, Jephthah made a rash vow to the Lord God, hoping to gain complete victory by His hand.

The Scriptures record that Jephthah defeated the Ammonites "with a very great slaughter." Judges 11.33 The victorious Jephthah, exhilarated by victory, returned triumphantly to Mizpah with his jubilant army. But this ecstatic joy was to be short-lived. Jephthah approached his house. News of his success and feats in the war with Ammon had preceded him. From the door of Jephthah's house came his only child, his beloved daughter. Her face was filled with joy and pride for her father. The horror of his vow arrested Jephthah.

He crumpled to his knees in extremest grief. He tore his clothes and cried "Oh! My daughter! You have made me miserable and wretched. My heart is torn to shreds because I have made a vow to the Lord God that I cannot break." Judges 11:35

Her sterling character is demonstrated by her unhesitating reply in courageous resignation to her fate: "My father, you have given your word to the Lord God. Do to me as you have said, since the Lord God has avenged you of your enemies, the Ammonites." Judges 11:36 Nobly accepting her fate, she did not become hysterical or resentful, but made a final request. She asked to be allowed two months to wander in the mountains with her friends, to meditate, and to bewail her virginity. Judges 11:37 It was regarded as a great disgrace for a woman not to be wed and bear children, especially sons. As promised, Jephthah's daughter returned to him after two months.

John the Baptist is Beheaded  

Matthew 14:1-12

1At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus, 2and he said to his attendants, "This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him." 3Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, 4for John had been saying to him: "It is not lawful for you to have her." 5Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered him a prophet. 6On Herod's birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for them and pleased Herod so much 7that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. 8Prompted by her mother, she said, "Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist." 9The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted 10and had John beheaded in the prison. 11His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. 12John's disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.

Mark 6:7-29

Jesus Sends Out the Twelve

Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village.

Calling the Twelve Disciples to Him, He sent them out two by two and gave them authority over evil spirits.

These were his instructions: "Take nothing for the journey except a staff--no bread, no bag, no money in your belts.

Wear sandals but not an extra tunic.

Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town.

And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave, as a testimony against them."

They went out and preached that people should repent.

They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.

John the Baptist is Beheaded

King Herod heard about this, for Jesus' name had become well known.

Some were saying, "John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him."

Others said, "He is Elijah."

And still others claimed, "He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of long ago."

But when Herod heard this, he said, "John, the man I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!"

For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison.

He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, whom he had married.

For John had been saying to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have adultery relations with your brother's wife."

So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him.

But she was not able to, because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man.

When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled; yet he liked to listen to him.

Finally the opportune time came.

On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee.

When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests.

The king said to the girl, "Ask me for anything you want, and I'll give it to you."

And he promised her with an oath, "Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom."

She went out and said to her mother, "What shall I ask for?"

"The head of John the Baptist," Herodias answered.

At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: "I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter."

The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her.

So he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John's head.

The man went, beheaded John in the prison, and brought back his head on a platter.

He presented it to the girl, and she gave it to her mother.

On hearing of this, John's disciples came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

Of note: 

For a discussion of the importance and necessary role that John the Baptist fulfilled in preparing Jesus to become the Sacrificial Lamb, follow this link to a Reflection on John the Baptist.

The Parable of the Two Sons  Matthew 21:23-32

The Authority of Jesus Questioned

Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. "By what authority are you doing these things?" they asked. "And who gave you this authority?"

Jesus replied, "I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

John's baptism--where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or from men?"

They discussed it among themselves and said, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask, 'Then why didn't you believe him?' But if we say, 'From men'--we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet."

So they answered Jesus, "We don't know." Then he said, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

The Parable of the Two Sons

"What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work today in the vineyard.'

"'I will not,' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.

"Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, 'I will, sir,' but he did not go.

"Which of the two did what his father wanted?" "The first," they answered.

Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.

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