content/10/07.md
---
pagetitle: Of lawful oaths and vows, part 6
date: February 19, 2020
prev_url: /westminster-daily/10/06/
prev_date: Oct 6
this_url: /westminster-daily/10/07/
short_date: "1007"
this_date: Oct 7
next_url: /westminster-daily/10/08/
next_date: Oct 8
---
#### Confession of Faith
##### Chapter 22: Of Lawful Oaths and Vows
It is not to be made to any creature, but to God alone:[^fnref:wcf1] and, that it may be accepted, it is to be made voluntarily, out of faith, and conscience of duty, in way of thankfulness for mercy received, or for the obtaining of what we want, whereby we more strictly bind ourselves to necessary duties; or, to other things, so far and so long as they may fitly conduce thereunto.[^fnref:wcf2]
[^fnref:wcf1]: <div class="esv"><h5>Psalm 76:11</h5> <div class="esv-text"><div class="block-indent"> <p class="line-group" id="p19076011.01-1">Make your vows to the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span> your God and perform them;<br /> <span class="indent"></span>let all around him bring gifts<br /> <span class="indent"></span>to him who is to be feared,</p> </div> </div><h5>Jeremiah 44:25-26</h5> <div class="esv-text"><p id="p24044025.01-2">Thus says the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span> of hosts, the God of Israel: You and your wives have declared with your mouths, and have fulfilled it with your hands, saying, ‘We will surely perform our vows that we have made, to make offerings to the queen of heaven and to pour out drink offerings to her.’ Then confirm your vows and perform your vows! Therefore hear the word of the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span>, all you of Judah who dwell in the land of Egypt: Behold, I have sworn by my great name, says the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span>, that my name shall no more be invoked by the mouth of any man of Judah in all the land of Egypt, saying, ‘As the Lord <span class="small-caps">God</span> lives.’ (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p> </div> </div>
[^fnref:wcf2]: <div class="esv"><h5>Deuteronomy 23:21-23</h5> <div class="esv-text"><p id="p05023021.01-1">“If you make a vow to the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span> your God, you shall not delay fulfilling it, for the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span> your God will surely require it of you, and you will be guilty of sin. But if you refrain from vowing, you will not be guilty of sin. You shall be careful to do what has passed your lips, for you have voluntarily vowed to the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span> your God what you have promised with your mouth.</p> </div><h5>Psalm 50:14</h5> <div class="esv-text"><div class="block-indent"> <p class="line-group" id="p19050014.01-2">Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving,<br /> <span class="indent"></span>and perform your vows to the Most High,</p> </div> </div><h5>Genesis 28:20-22</h5> <div class="esv-text"><p id="p01028020.01-3">Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, so that I come again to my father's house in peace, then the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span> shall be my God, and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God's house. And of all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you.”</p> </div><h5>1 Samuel 1:11</h5> <div class="esv-text"><p id="p09001011.01-4">And she vowed a vow and said, “O <span class="small-caps">Lord</span> of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span> all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.”</p> </div><h5>Psalm 66:13-14</h5> <div class="esv-text"><div class="block-indent"> <p class="line-group" id="p19066013.01-5">I will come into your house with burnt offerings;<br /> <span class="indent"></span>I will perform my vows to you,<br /> that which my lips uttered<br /> <span class="indent"></span>and my mouth promised when I was in trouble.</p> </div> </div><h5>Psalm 132:2-5</h5> <div class="esv-text"><div class="block-indent"> <p class="line-group" id="p19132002.01-6">how he swore to the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span><br /> <span class="indent"></span>and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob,<br /> “I will not enter my house<br /> <span class="indent"></span>or get into my bed,<br /> I will not give sleep to my eyes<br /> <span class="indent"></span>or slumber to my eyelids,<br /> until I find a place for the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span>,<br /> <span class="indent"></span>a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob.” (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p> </div> </div> </div>