Judges 11: Sacrificing Virgins

"Then she said to him, 'My father, you have given your word to the Lord.  Do to me as you have said, for the Lord brought vengeance on your enemies, the Ammonites.'"

Judges 11:36

So this is how it all started...  I always wondered where the idea of sacrificing virgins came from...

This is a classic example, though, of a man making an oath which he later regretted.  Jephthah promised the Lord that he would sacrifice whatever came out of his door when he returned from war, so long as the Lord delivered all the Ammonites to him in battle.  He completely eradicated his enemies and came home to see his virgin daughter - his only offspring - exit his home dancing and rejoicing.

The daughter, of course, shows wisdom in encouraging her father to fulfill his promise to the Lord.

Question of the Day:

Have you ever made a promise you knew you couldn't keep?  What about a promise you thought you'd be able to keep, but hadn't thought through all the way?

Prayer of the Day:

Lord, give me wisdom to make promises only when I will not regret their outcome.  Do not let me come to the point where I must sacrifice the proverbial virgin.  Instead, let me sacrifice my own self for You, not as a burnt offering but as a living offering from now until eternity.  Amen.