The foolishness of unlimited promises.
"He promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask." We are sometimes invited to promise before we are told what is to be asked. It should never be done. No man can tell whether it is right to promise until he knows what is to be promised. In the case now before us, we find a man excited with wine and company, and not really himself. It is necessary to realize the gay but degrading scene, and the skilfulness of the wicked scheme carried through by Herodias. To us dancing is a modest and beautiful amusement, whatever may be thought of its relation to religious people. But at Eastern feasts, girls of bad character were often introduced, who amused the guests, and excited evil passions, by rude movements and antics, and dancing in filmy garments. "Herodias knew the tetrarch's weak point as well as Madame du Barry knew that of Louis XV. of France, and sought to bend him to her will, even though it were by the sacrifice of her daughter's modesty." She made Salome act before these guests as if she were an Almeh-dancer. Herod loses all self-control, and foolishly promises her anything.
I. A SURRENDER OF JUDGMENT. A man should always consider and decide before he promises. A man may surrender his judgment to God. He may yield his judgment in discussion with his fellow men, because a better judgment may be given. But he may never give away his judgment, and let some one else judge for him. Then a man is weak, unmanly. By unlimited promise Herod surrendered his manhood, his right to control his conduct.
II. AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE UNSCRUPULOUS. Their trouble always is that their plans may be considered, weighed, judged. So their scheme always is to get things carried through before they can be thought about. "Tomorrow" is the weakness of the undecided, and the ruin of the unscrupulous. If Herod had said, "We will see about the promise tomorrow," John Baptist would not have lost his head. That unlimited promise broke the barriers down; and unscrupulous Herodias pressed her opportunity.
III. A CURSE ALIKE FOR THOSE WHO GET AND THOSE WHO GIVE. Is it possible for us to estimate the moral effect of this abominable transaction on Herodias and Salome? The worst thing that can ever happen to us is to be successful in some shameless enterprise. Salome's life was a horror, almost worse than that of Herodias. Then estimate the misery of Herod. His conscience that ever reminded him of the head in the charger. His dreadful fears that John had risen from the dead. Never promise without knowing what you promise.—R.T.