RR Psalm 66:13-15 Part 7

Shalom,

Psalm 66:13 With burnt offerings I will come to Your House, fulfilling my vows to You 14 that my lips uttered and mouth spoke, when I was in trouble. 15 To You I will present burnt offerings of fat animals, with the sweet smoke of rams. I will offer bulls with goats. Selah

These verses tell us about David’s commitments (vows) to God and how he plans to complete them.  The question yet to be answered is how will we do the same?  We don’t have the option of offering rams, bulls and goats.  What’s left?  Let’s take this a step at a time.

First, we know God takes our vows seriously.  Yeshua said as much clearly in His Sermon On The Mount.  Matthew 5:37 “But let your word ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’—anything more than this is from the evil one.”  Solomon confirmed this in similar fashion.  Ecclesiastes 5:3(4)  When you swear a vow to God, don’t delay in fulfilling it. For He takes no delight in fools. Pay what you vow!

The Hebrew Scriptures use the word “Sh’lom’ei” for “fulfilling” (of vows).  Do you see the word “Shalom” there?  They are both derived from the same Shoresh.  The “peace” of “Shalom” extends to complete wholeness, lacking nothing, satisfied, and fullness.  That completeness means nothing is left undone.  When we fulfill a vow, we can rest, knowing that there is nothing more to be done.

Now, back to you and me.  What offering have we promised to God?  We said it when we received the gift of Yeshua’s sacrifice into our lives.  There was some version of “I give you my heart, Lord!”  It is the only thing in creation that God has not already given Himself.  He has left us with free will.  

The offering of a willing heart will take a lifetime to complete, as it must be offered up daily.  Luke 9:23  Then Yeshua was saying to everyone, “If anyone wants to follow Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross every day, and follow Me.  My heart is no longer my heart, it belongs to Yeshua.  Again, let’s turn to Solomon… Proverbs 23:26  My son, give your heart to me, and let your eyes observe my ways.

When we give God our hearts, we are fulfilling this Scripture… Philippians 3:10 My aim is to know Him and the power of His resurrection and the sharing of His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death.  Is it worth it?  Matthew 5:12a Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great!  Shalom shalom.

Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Thu     8-Oct-2026                 27th of Tishrei, 5787
Ge 4:19-22            Jos 6                Ps 6           Mt 5:1-26       (Jas 5)