Jephthah's daughter - Judg 11: 34-37

The original Korean text: http://blog.naver.com/stevision/50025357085

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The period of kings follows after the period of judges in the history of Israel. The judge led the army of Israel as a king when war broke out. There was a man named Jephthah in a village in Israel. This man was looked down on by his brothers for he was a son of a concubine. Not standing the insult, he came out from home and lived alone. However, this guy had a boss temperament, so gangs gathered around him. Israel was invaded by the neighboring country. But there was no man to lead Israel among them. They had to come to Jephthah for help. "Please be our leader and defeat the enemy. Then we will serve you as the judge of Israel." Jephthah was deeply stirred. What a good opportunity for a man who was born a bastard and has suffered all kinds of contempt! Jephthah gave a vow to God. "Lord, if you give me a victory in this war, I'll give you one who will come first from my house to me when I return home with victory, as a burnt offering."

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What a crazy thing to say! He is saying that he will burn the first person to welcome him. What an ignorant and reckless vow! With the help of God, Israel won. But when he came home, his only daughter, dancing gladly, came first through the gate! She was so happy that her father returned alive. God, who had told Abraham to give him Isaac as a burnt offering, stopped Abraham from killing his son when Abraham really intended to kill him. However, the case of Jephthah is a little different. God didn't say to a man who gave a reckless vow, "Do not offer your daughter." To teach the future generations: You should not utter vain words to the holy God, or you will be like Jephthah.

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Why should the only precious daughter come out first? Let us think from God's point of view. Who else should be the victim of the foolish vow of Jephthah, instead of his daughter? The righteous God didn't allow members of other family to shed tears because of Jephthah's foolish behavior.

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Think differently. If his daughter knew her father's foolish vow, she perhaps did not want to see other person die because of the irresponsible behavior of her house. That's why she went out first before others went out. She is a very good daughter of a foolish father.

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By necessity, Jephthah's only daughter ought to die and be offered up as a burnt offering, not having been married. Jesus said, “On the day of the last judgment, all the useless words uttered by believers shall be condemned.”

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