A contemplative scene of a man prayerfully considering whether he can truly give what he is contemplating. His expression shows reverence and honest self-reflection, and the open Bible indicates that he’s seeking God’s guidance. Image generated with ChatGPT by OpenAI.
“When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it.”
Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 NIV
In our previous forays into Ecclesiastes, much has been said about the more “philosophical” content of this Old Testament book. Chapter 5 is a bit different in that it examines what it takes to worship God with reverence.
What do I mean by reverence? The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines the word as:
1: honor or respect felt or shown : DEFERENCE especially : profound adoring awed respect
Using this modern definition, it’s clear to see that Solomon (generally accepted as the author of Ecclesiastes) was setting out guidelines in Chapter 5 on how believers should show the Lord the honor and respect He deserves.
Solomon begins by saying “When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it“. A vow to God is a promise you make to do something for Him. Perhaps it is to stop repeating a sin habit once and for all, maybe it is to attend church regularly, or it is finally making up your mind to give your “first fruits” to the Lord in the form of a tithe or charitable giving. Whatever the vow is, your next step after making that vow is to take action and fulfill it.
Enduring Word provides this excellent commentary on verse 4:
i. “God does not take broken vows lightly. A broken vow may incur his judgment upon our endeavours. One who ‘swears to his own hurt and does not change’ pleases God (Psalm 15:4).” (Eaton)
ii. A commonly overlooked and unappreciated sin among God’s people is the sin of broken vows – promising things to God and failing to live up to the vow. Those who honor God:
· Will not be quick to make vows to God.
· Will be serious about fulfilling vows made.
· Will regard broken vows as sins to be confessed and to be repented of.
This is as true today as it was in the time of King Solomon! Don’t make a promise to God that you’re not willing or able to immediately keep, as breaking that vow is a sin.
The second part of Ecclesiastes 5:4 says “He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow.” In the context of this book of wisdom, foolishness doesn’t just mean a lack of intelligence, but living life without respect for God. Anyone who speaks carelessly to the Lord and doesn’t follow through is showing contempt for the holiness of God! He doesn’t just listen to words said in prayer or in passing; God judges the integrity of the worshiper as well.
Fulfilling your vow mans keeping one’s word to God, and that is an act of worship and of reverence to the Lord. In New Testament times, Jesus made a similar call to His followers for simple faithfulness (Matthew 5:33-37).
In verse 5, Solomon goes on to advise that “It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it.” In other words, don’t make a promise that you can’t keep — especially to God!
God doesn’t require His people to make voluntary promises, He just wants them to obey His commands. Speaking a vow to God in the time of Solomon brought a person under a very strict obligation, so carelessly making a vow could not later be chalked up to empty speech. Israel was commanded to fulfill whatever any of its people voluntarily promised to God!
These vows were made in times of need, when those who worshipped Yahweh sought His help or blessing. There are many examples in the Old Testament of vows being made to the Lord, and in those cases where worshippers faithfully fulfilled those vows, God was faithful in return.
One such example is found in 1 Samuel 1:11, 27-28, where Hannah vowed that if she was given a son, he would be dedicated to the Lord. She brought Samuel to serve at Shiloh after God answered her prayer. Giving up a son is a serious commitment, but Hannah made her vow after a lot of reflection and prayer, and she followed through.
Not fulfilling a vow broke the covenant with God and revealed a heart that did not obey. God is always faithful to His Word, and He calls for His people to reflect that faithfulness in every commitment they make.
I’ll close out this devotional with a commentary from Our Daily Bread cited on Precept Austin.
We live in an era of unkept promises. Nations sign important treaties and then break them at will. And many couples show little regard for their wedding vows. In this kind of society, we who are God’s people should be known for keeping our promises.
The brilliant Christian scholar and writer C. S. Lewis took that truth seriously. He was determined to pay what he had vowed. His biography tells of the suffering he endured because he kept a promise he had made to a buddy during World War I. This friend was worried about the care of his wife and small daughter if he should be killed in battle, so Lewis assured him that if that were to happen he would look after them. As the war dragged on, the man was killed. True to his word, Lewis took care of his friend’s family. Yet no matter how helpful he tried to be, the woman was ungrateful, rude, arrogant, and domineering. Through it all, Lewis kept forgiving her. He refused to let her actions become an excuse to renege on his promise. -H.V.L
Heaven On Wheels Daily Prayer:
Lord, I thank You for the wisdom that Solomon captured in Ecclesiastes. Help me to always remember that it is better not to vow than to make a vow and renege on it. Grant me the strength and commitment to always honor my promises to You, and to approach You in prayer and worship in a sincere and humble manner. AMEN.
Scripture quotations taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica US, Inc.®. Used by permission.
BibleHub was accessed on October 27, 2026 for commentary on Ecclesiastes 5:4-5
Commentary quotations from Enduring Word are used with the written permission of the author and reproduced here in their original format. © 1996-present The Enduring Word Bible Commentary by David Guzik – enduringword.com
Precept Austin was accessed on October 27, 2026 for commentary on Ecclesiastes 5:4-5