Adult STS Lesson 92 The Law of the Nazarite
MEMORY VERSE: “Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, when either man or woman shall separate themselves to vow a vow of a Nazarite, to separate themselves unto the LORD: Ail the days of his separation he is holy unto the LORD (Numbers 6:2,8).
TEXT: Numbers 6:1-27
The institution of the law regulating the Nazarite vow in the Old Testament was a symbol of a life consecrated and devoted to God. The separated life of a Nazarite is in essence an illustration of what a consecrated Christian life is in reality. The Nazarite vow was taken voluntarily by an individual who separates himself to live only for God and to devote his life exclusively to serving Him. The word Nazarite is derived from the Hebrew word nazar, translated as ‘separation’, meaning something set apart or wholly dedicated for a sacred purpose. However, it should not be mistaken for the expression Nazarene, which was a term used to describe the Lord Jesus because He dwelt in the city of Nazareth (Matthew 2:23), and was also a derogatory term used to describe Christians in the early Church (Acts 24:5). The Nazarite’s vow symbolizes a life that is totally surrendered, submissive, loyal and obedient to the Lord and His word; a life that is separated from the world and all its vanities and sinful propensities and devoted exclusively to seeking at all times and in all things God’s glory and honour. In truth, every true believer in Christ is a spiritual Nazarite, called to separate from sin and the world into a life of holiness and service to God.
- PERSONAL SEPARATION AND CONSECRATION OF A NAZARITE
Numbers 6:1 -8; Romans 12:1,2; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; Luke 1:74,75; Acts 21:23-27: Judges 13:3-5,7; 16:17: Genesis 28:20; Amos 2:11,12; 1 Peter 1:15,16
The separation of the Nazarite was personal, voluntary and wholly given to the service of God. From the text, the vow of Nazarites involves four distinct restrictions or from the average prohibitions that distinguished Israelites.
One, they were not allowed to drink wine or strong drink (Numbers 6:3).
Two, they were not allowed to eat or drink anything processed from the grape-vine, that is, they could not eat the fresh grapes or dried raisins (skins); neither the seed of the fruit nor the vine (grapes).
Three, they left their hair uncut all through the period of their separation (Numbers 6:5; Judges 13:5; 16:17).
Four, they were not permitted to go near a dead body or mourn the dead, even a close relative father, mother or siblings. These prohibitions were very significant as they set forth a high standard of holiness and absolute surrender that God demands from those who profess real devotion to Him. The wine (fermented) and represented carnal and sinful pleasures. It was prohibited because it intoxicates and impairs or deadens the senses; it can also pose a serious danger to true devotion and a holy walk with God as seen in the cases of Noah and Lot (Genesis 9:20,21; 19:31-38), and it can lead a child of God to become an easy prey to Satan. Warnings against fermented wine and strong drink abound in the Scriptures (Proverbs 20:1;23:29-35; 31:4- 6; Isaiah 5:11; Hosea 4:11; Ephesians 5:18). “All the days of the vow of his separation there shall no razor come upon his head: until the days be fulfilled, in the which he separateth himself unto the LORD, he shall be holy, and shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow (Numbers 6:5). Among the Jews, an abundance of hair was considered a mark of physical strength. The free growth of hair on the head of a Nazarite represented his dedication of his whole strength and powers to the service of God. It also serves as a mark of identification of his status as a Nazarite, Similarly, a believer through his lifestyle and dressing should bear a mark of identification with the Lord Jesus Christ (Galatians 6:17). This shows that true devotion and genuine piety must not remain hidden but outwardly manifested. A believer should keep his conscicnce pure from dead works and should touch no unclean thing. “Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing: go ye out of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD” (Isaiah 52:11). The vow of a Nazarite could be taken for short, not more than 30 days or for long. For a lifetime. Some were Nazarites for life either by divine designation like Samson (Judges 13:5-7: l6:17) and John the Baptist (Luke 1:15) or by their parents’ vow concerning them, like Samuel (1 Samuel 1:11.24-28). The Nazarite’s consecration typifies the absolute surrender of Christ as well as total separation that God expects from Christians (Hebrews 7:26; 2 Corinthians 6:17; James 1:27). God used the lifestyle of the Nazarites to illustrate the high standard of holiness and commitment required of believers. They were living examples of dedication and devotion among the lsraelites. They also exemplified practical deadness to the world, self-denial and single-mindedness in the service of God.
- PRESCRIBED SACRIFICE FOR INTERRUPTED NAZARITE’S VOW
Numbers 6:9-21;Leviticus 21:10,11; Acts 18:18; 21:23-26; Ezekiel 33:12,13; 18:24
“And if any man die very suddenly by him, and he hath defiled the head of his consecration; then he shall shave his head in the day of his cleansing, on the seventh day defiled shall he shave it” (Numbers 6:9). If a Nazarite becomes defiled accidentally by the dead after taking a vow of separation, the vow is deemed to have been interrupted and is therefore, required to go through a cleansing rite for eight days. On the seventh day, he is expected to shave his head, while on the eighth day, with the priest at the brazen altar to perform the prescribed sacrifice and hallow his head. The implication of this is that he would have to start his consecration anew, beginning again to let his hair grow and abstaining from all forbidden things. Also, all the days he had previously consecrated at the time he became defiled would be lost completely (Numbers 6:12) The experience of a Nazarite in his day of defilement underscores the terrible effect of the defilement of sin in the life of a believer. When a believer falls into sin, it makes all his past consecration and sacrifice to become worthless; and unless he repents and gets restored to the Lord, those days would neither be remembered nor rewarded by God. By implication too, the righteousness of the righteous man shall not be remembered when he goes back into sin (Ezekiel 3:20). That debunks the view of eternal security held by some religious teachers who erroneously believe that once an individual is saved, he or she remains saved even when sin is committed. Sin makes all our labour for God to be disapprove a we stand in danger of losing our eternal (Acts 1:16-20; 19:27-34; 1 Timothy 1:19,20; 2 Timothy 4:14,15). Therefore, believers should watch conscientiously against sin and defilement in order to avoid the grave consequences of losing the grace of God and fellowship with Him. At the time of expiration, the Nazarite who had successfully completed his period of dedication was taken to the tabernacle to make sacrifices before being discharged from his vow. “And this is the law of the Nazarite, when the days of his separation are fulfilled: he shall be brought unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation” (Numbers 6:13). He would offer a year old male lamb without blemish for a burnt offering, a year old female lamb for a sin offering, a ram without blemish for a peace offering, a basket of unleavened Dread, cakes and wavers anointed with oil plus meat offerings and drink offerings. After the priest has ended the sacrifices, then the Nazarite would shave his head and put the hair in the fire of the peace offerings. Thereafter, the priest would place the prescribed portions of the offering in the hands of the Nazarite and wave them before the Lord. Then the Nazarite could, as a token of gratitude to God, offer freewill offerings in addition to the normal requirements of his Nazarite vow. After this ceremony, the Nazarite was released from his vow and he was free to live as an ordinary person. The Nazarite had to offer the prescribed sacrifices at the end of his vow as a testimony that even though he had offered unto God his best services and consecrated himself, he still needed the efficacy of the blood of atonement. The best we can offer to God will only be acceptable unto Him on the basis of Christ’s atoning blood. Without faith in His blood, all our works are vain. From the separated life of the Nazarites, we learn the following:
One, as the Nazarites were examples and models of devotion to the children of Israel, so should believers be examples to the world and the leaders in the church should be models to the congregation (1 Timothy 4:12; Titus 2:7; 1 Peter 5:3).
Two, as the Nazarite vow was voluntary, so also should our commitment and consecration to God be voluntary. Believers can perform some specific duties in the church such as singing, evangelism, intercession, security and financial support of project or programme.
Three, the Nazarites maintained a very high level of personal purity. They abstained not only from sin but even from the appearance of it. Believers should be scrupulously holy abstain from every source of defilement.
Four, by allowing his hair to grow long, the Nazarite accepted a practice that would bring reproach to him. In the same manner, believers must devote themselves to God unmindful of the reproach of people, and should always be ready to surrender their dignity or honour, if need be, in the path of devotion.
Five, their lives depicted total detachment from the world and a mastery over its joys or sorrows. They restrained their appetites and controlled their emotions for the sake of their commitment to God.
- PRIESTLY BENEDICTIONS PRONOUNCED ON GOD’S PEOPLE
Numbers 6:22-27; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Psalms 4:6-8; 121:7; 128:1,4; Deuteronomy 28:3-6; John 14:27; 2 Thessalonians 3:16
It is pertinent to observe that the command to bless the children of Israel was only given after they had obeyed the commands and instructions that God gave them. They had built the tabernacle and began true worship; they were also counted, camped, cleansed and consecrated to God as priests, Levites or Nazarites before the priestly benediction was given. This teaches that obedience to God and total consecration to Him are conditions for true and permanent blessings. “The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace” (Numbers 6:24-26). The content and structure of the blessings is remarkable: it is rhythmical and consists of three distinct parts which cover every area of human needs- spiritual and physical. Each part of the benediction begins with God’s name and this is an indication of the Trinitarian doctrine and a pointer to the fact that all the three members of the Godhead are united in blessing the saints. In the priestly benediction, we see the blessing of God’s Goodness and His preservation; two, the benefits of God’s grace and His presence; and three, the bounties of God’s gifts and His peace. It is such an all-encompassing benediction which may well be regarded as the Lord’s prayer of the Old Testament. From the priestly benediction, we learn some important lessons.
One, it is important for leaders to pray for their congregation.
Two, the content pertains more to spiritual blessings than physical or material acquisition.
Three, believers are priests of God; therefore, we should learn to bless people with our lips rather than criticize or curse them.
Four, the blessings of God will come upon us only as we live in obedience to Him and do all that is pleasing in His sight. The priestly benedictions could not avail for Israel when they backslid and turned away from God. God is always righteous and He blesses the righteous. To begin to enjoy the blessings of the Lord, repent of all your sins, receive Jesus as Lord and Saviour, make restitutions and remain in unbroken fellowship with Him.
QUESTIONS FOR REVIEW:
- Who is a Nazarite and what does his separation symbolise for New Testament believers?
- Mention some activities Nazarites were prohibited from partaking in and out their significance.
- Mention some Nazarites in the Bible and point out the lessons a believer can draw from their
Consecration.
- What can a believer learn from the instance of a Nazarite’s interrupted vow and the cancellation of his days of consecration by defilement?
- What are the implications of the Nazarite’s vow to believers?
- Mention some important lessons from the priestly benediction.
- State the condition on which the priestly benediction would be fulfilled
