Numbers
chapter 6 provides the details of a special vow of separation to the
Lord, called the vow of the Nazirite. The chapter begins with God
telling Moses to “speak
to the Israelites“.
God then gives the specifics. This vow could be taken by “a
man or woman“.
It is clearly voluntary and it is for a specific period of time.
There were three main outward expressions of this vow. “Abstain
from wine or other fermented drink… nor eat anything that comes
from the vine“.
“No
razor may be used on his head. He must be holy until the period of
separation to the Lord is completed“.
And finally, “Do
not go near a dead body even his own father or mother“.
God adds, throughout the period of his separation, “he
is consecrated to the Lord“.
We also read, “if
someone dies suddenly in his presence… he must shave his head…
bring two doves to the Tent of Meeting… bring a year old male lamb
as a guilt offering… the previous days do not count because he
became defiled during his separation“.
He had to start over again; the time of living under the law was
meaningless unless it was completed. It is important to remember,
even though the vow is voluntary, the rules of the vow are God’s and
God does not accept our partial substitutions for His standards.
When
the period of separation is completed, he is brought to the Tent of
Meeting and must present his offering to the Lord. The offering
consists of, a male lamb as a burnt offering, a ewe lamb as a sin
offering, a ram as a fellowship offering and grain offerings. “The
Naziirte must shave off the hair that he has dedicated”
and it too is burned. Clearly this oath was a costly and difficult
to complete, even for a limited time. Almost as a summary reminder,
we read, “In
addition to whatever else he can afford. He must fill the vow he has
made according to the law of the Nazirite“.
There is no partial credit given here.
Many
of us began our spiritual journey of trying to “get right with
God” by attempting to live a more holy lifestyle, and that
self-designed “righteous lifestyle” usually has little to
do with God’s standard of righteousness. When we begin to understand
God’s standard, we find out quickly that it is not possible to be
perfect. We can have as many fresh starts as we want, but we will
eventually find that living a perfectly sinless life is impossible.
This frustrating period of failure is how we come to realize that we
need a Savior. Romans 7:7 explains, the purpose of the law is to
teach us how far we really are from God’s standard, “I
would not have come to know sin, except through the law“.
As believers, our vow is simply a vow of faith, that by accepting
Jesus Christ as our Savior, we are forgiven completely. In contrast
to trying to earn our way to heaven through our own good works, the
apostle Paul explains to the church in Ephesus, “For
by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of
yourselves, it is a gift of God; not as a result of works, that no
one should boast“.
If you are tired of constantly falling short, perhaps you need to
accept God’s mercy is a free gift that you cannot earn. Christ
completed the work; all you need to do is believe!
The
chapter ends with a very cool blessing. “This
is how you are to bless the Israelites… The Lord bless you and keep
you; the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace. So they will
put My name on the Israelites and I will bless them.”
I pray God will put His name on you too, so you can experience His
grace and peace.