Fulfilling A Vow

"And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee, let me go, and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto the Lord, in Hebron.  For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the Lord shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve the Lord."  II Samuel 15:7-8.  Absalom had been in Geshur for a time of  three years.  II Samuel 13:38.  He wanted the Lord to bring him again to Jerusalem.  God required the payment of vows.  "When thou shalt vow a vow unto the Lord thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for the Lord thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee."  Deuteronomy 23:21.  After being in Jerusalem for forty years,  Absalom now wanted to pay that which he had vowed.  In times of need or stress, people will make promises to God if God will help them in their time of need.  However, many times after the need or stress has passed, the vow is forgotten.  We want God to keep the promises which He has made to us.  But, we are more reluctant to keep our promises to God.  We want God's help when we need Him, but perhaps, give Him no thought the rest of the time.  We might vow a certain gift or a change of life.  We are willing in the moment to make vows to God, and quite often, forget the vow.  Let's think about what we might vow unto God with the resolve that we will keep the vow.