Separated to the Lord

God Instructs the People of God

Listening for God in Changing Times:

Walk in God's Path

Numbers 6:1-8

The Message

Nazirite Vows

 ^1-4 God spoke to Moses: "Speak to the People of Israel; tell them, If any of you, man or woman, wants to make a special Nazirite vow, consecrating yourself totally to God, you must not drink any wine or beer, no intoxicating drink of any kind, not even the juice of grapes—in fact, you must not even eat grapes or raisins. For the duration of the consecration, nothing from the grapevine—not even the seeds, not even the skin—may be eaten. ⁵ "Also, for the duration of the consecration you must not have your hair cut. Your long hair will be a continuing sign of holy separation to God.
 ^6-7 "Also, for the duration of the consecration to God, you must not go near a corpse. Even if it's the body of your father or mother, brother or sister, you must not ritually defile yourself because the sign of consecration to God is on your head.
 ⁸ "For the entire duration of your consecration you are holy to God.

For Reflection


Nazirite means to separate ones self to God as, perhaps, a monk.  It continues for a period of time agreed upon in contract at the time the vow was taken.  At the conclusion of the contract, one would sacrifice a burnt offering, a sin offering and a peace offering which included unleavened bread, drink, grain and then shaving their head and put the hair on the peace offering fire.

Think about the vow and the ritual following its completion.  today?  Suppose you wanted to take a Nazirite like vow today.  How would you metaphorically parallel a Nazirite vow?  What would you refrain from doing or do as a result of your vow? How would you consecrate yourself to God? What three offerings would you make at the vow's conclusion.  Do you want to try it?  For how long?  Go for it!

Pray
that you commitment to the Lord deepens with every breath.  Pray that you understand how you in which the Spirit dwells are consecrated to God and separated from the culture in which you live.  Pray for the sustaining hand of God to support your separateness in grace.