Theme: Hard-heartedness toward God's commands eventually leads us to confusion of soul.

Theme: Jephthah's bold example teaches us to stand firmly for what God has promised is ours through Jesus Christ.

Theme: Jephthah's vow warns us of the seriousness with which God takes our promises.

Theme: Jephthah's sad conflict with the tribe of Ephriam teaches us the destructive divisiveness that comes from of a love of 'first place'.

Theme: This passage shows us the blessings of being fully adopted by the greatest of all Fathers.

Theme: The closing story of Gideon shows how even God's most faithful servants need to take care to end well.