在上战场之前，耶弗他许了一个愿：神若让他得胜，他必把他回家时出来迎接他的任何人献给神。耶弗他果然胜利了，他履行了他愚昧的愿，以致误了他女儿的一生。
箴言20:25教导我们说：“人冒失说，这是圣物，许愿之后才查问，就是自陷网罗。”我们要经过三思之后才可开口说话，并且要按照主正确和美善的旨意许愿。
然而，在士师的时代，各人都行他们眼中看为正的事。论到这种情况，箴言如此说：“愚妄人所行的，在自己眼中看为正直；惟智慧人肯听人的劝教。”（箴言 12:15）。
尽管耶和华的灵已降在耶弗他身上，他仍然许了这个愚昧的愿。不过，如果你活在一个以你眼中看为正的事为标准的文化中，你未经思考便开口、不去思想圣灵的感动，是司空见惯的事。
在今天，作为基督的信徒，我们可以藉着圣灵而活，并祈求神赐智慧去走每一步（雅各书 1:5）；保罗也在加拉太书5章劝喻我们，“当顺着圣灵而行”和“当靠圣灵行事，”远离肉体的情欲和愚妄（参看加拉太书 5:13-26）。
主啊，求你保守我不妄作应许，又藉着你的灵帮助我贴近你心，与你同行。奉耶稣祈求，阿们。
士师记 11:29-36
29耶和华的灵降在耶弗他身上，他就经过基列和玛拿西，来到基列的米斯巴，又从米斯巴来到亚扪人那里。
30耶弗他就向耶和华许愿，说：“你若将亚扪人交在我手中，
31我从亚扪人那里平平安安回来的时候，无论什么人，先从我家门出来迎接我，就必归你，我也必将他献上为燔祭。”
32于是耶弗他往亚扪人那里去，与他们争战。耶和华将他们交在他手中，
33他就大大杀败他们，从亚罗珥到米匿，直到亚备勒基拉明，攻取了二十座城。这样，亚扪人就被以色列人制伏了。
34耶弗他回米斯巴到了自己的家，不料，他女儿拿着鼓跳舞出来迎接他，是他独生的，此外无儿无女。
35耶弗他看见她，就撕裂衣服，说：“哀哉！我的女儿啊，你使我甚是愁苦，叫我作难了！因为我已经向耶和华开口许愿，不能挽回。”
36他女儿回答说：“父啊，你既向耶和华开口，就当照你口中所说的向我行，因耶和华已经在仇敌亚扪人身上为你报仇。”
“Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” - Galatians 5:25
Before going into battle, Jephthah made a vow: if God would give him victory, he would sacrifice whatever met him when he returned home. Jephthah won the battle and kept his foolish vow, at the cost of his daughter’s life.
Proverbs 20:25 teaches: “It is a trap to dedicate something rashly and only later to consider one’s vows.” Think before you speak; make your vows in line with the right and good will of the Lord.
In the days of the judges, however, people did what was right in their own eyes. On that note Proverbs says: “The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice” (12:15).
Jephthah made his foolish vow even after the Spirit of the Lord had moved him. But then, if you live in a culture defined by what is right in your own eyes, it’s not uncommon to speak before you think and to avoid reflecting on the motivations of the Holy Spirit.
As believers in Christ today, we can live by the Spirit, asking God for wisdom every step of the way (James 1:5). As Paul urges us in Galatians 5, “walk by the Spirit” and “keep in step with the Spirit,” turning away from the desires and foolishness of the sinful nature (see 5:13-26).
Keep me, Lord, from making rash promises; by your Spirit, help me live and walk closely with you. For Jesus’ sake, Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
