"The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Numbers 6:21,
"This is the law of the Nazirite who vows offerings to the Lord in accordance with their dedication, in addition to whatever else they can afford. They must fulfill the vows they have made, according to the law of the Nazirite."
In this chapter of the book of Numbers, the Lord provides Moses with instructions for when someone might make a vow to him. When someone wanted to dedicate themselves to the Lord by fulfilling a vow, the Lord provided this. The Quest Bible observes that the term "Nazarite" means "dedicated one" or "set apart one". Either a man or a woman could take the vow and according to Jewish tradition, the vow typically lasted for 30 days, but could, and commonly was, for longer periods of time. Samson comes to mind as an individual who was dedicated through this Nazarite vow for his lifetime by the Lord himself, "You [Samson's mother] are barren and childless, but you are going to become pregnant and give birth to a son [Samson]. Now see to it that you drink no wine or other fermented drink and that you do not eat anything unclean. You will become pregnant and have a son whose head is never to be touched by a razor because the boy is to be a Nazirite, dedicated to God from the womb. He will take the lead in delivering Israel from the hands of the Philistines." Judges 13:3-5.
The apostle Paul took this vow, along with four others, that we read of in Acts 21:20-26 to demonstrate to the Jews he was not the lawbreaker they had heard he was.
In Numbers 6 when the period of time for dedication was complete, the one who took the vow was to bring a burnt offering, a sin offering and a fellowship offering to the Lord with further instructions. It clearly was an important affair and something that was to be fulfilled once the vow was taken. Vows to the Lord are important and the regulations regarding the Nazarite vow make that very clear.
Why would one take any kind of a vow? I can think of a variety of reasons someone today might take a vow. In the heat of combat, when things get dicey, it is not unknown for some unbelievers to cry out to the Lord something on the order of, "Lord if you just get us through this I'll give my life to you" or whatever. A "foxhole" conversion. When a child is struck with a serious illness, the parents might ask for God to bring healing and if he does so they will do this or that. I suspect that within the realm of desperation vows are not uncommon. I also suspect when the outcome of something very positive becomes important a vow might be made. The book of Psalms is full of vows.
The most common vows we witness publicly today are wedding vows. When a man and woman commit themselves to one another in marriage they make a vow to one another and to God.
What I see in this Nazarite vow is that the Lord provided a form and structure for just such a time when anyone wanted to make a vow. What I also see in this is that vows are not to be taken lightly and that the Lord is not to be treated insincerely or in a disrespectful way by anyone not following through on their promises to God. I am reminded of Ecclesiastes 5:4-6, "When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it. Do not let your mouth lead you into sin." Also, Proverbs 20:25, "It is a trap to dedicate something rashly and only later to consider one's vows.
"This is the law of the Nazirite who vows offerings to the Lord in accordance with their dedication, in addition to whatever else they can afford. They must fulfill the vows they have made, according to the law of the Nazirite."
In this chapter of the book of Numbers, the Lord provides Moses with instructions for when someone might make a vow to him. When someone wanted to dedicate themselves to the Lord by fulfilling a vow, the Lord provided this. The Quest Bible observes that the term "Nazarite" means "dedicated one" or "set apart one". Either a man or a woman could take the vow and according to Jewish tradition, the vow typically lasted for 30 days, but could, and commonly was, for longer periods of time. Samson comes to mind as an individual who was dedicated through this Nazarite vow for his lifetime by the Lord himself, "You [Samson's mother] are barren and childless, but you are going to become pregnant and give birth to a son [Samson]. Now see to it that you drink no wine or other fermented drink and that you do not eat anything unclean. You will become pregnant and have a son whose head is never to be touched by a razor because the boy is to be a Nazirite, dedicated to God from the womb. He will take the lead in delivering Israel from the hands of the Philistines." Judges 13:3-5.
The apostle Paul took this vow, along with four others, that we read of in Acts 21:20-26 to demonstrate to the Jews he was not the lawbreaker they had heard he was.
In Numbers 6 when the period of time for dedication was complete, the one who took the vow was to bring a burnt offering, a sin offering and a fellowship offering to the Lord with further instructions. It clearly was an important affair and something that was to be fulfilled once the vow was taken. Vows to the Lord are important and the regulations regarding the Nazarite vow make that very clear.
Why would one take any kind of a vow? I can think of a variety of reasons someone today might take a vow. In the heat of combat, when things get dicey, it is not unknown for some unbelievers to cry out to the Lord something on the order of, "Lord if you just get us through this I'll give my life to you" or whatever. A "foxhole" conversion. When a child is struck with a serious illness, the parents might ask for God to bring healing and if he does so they will do this or that. I suspect that within the realm of desperation vows are not uncommon. I also suspect when the outcome of something very positive becomes important a vow might be made. The book of Psalms is full of vows.
The most common vows we witness publicly today are wedding vows. When a man and woman commit themselves to one another in marriage they make a vow to one another and to God.
What I see in this Nazarite vow is that the Lord provided a form and structure for just such a time when anyone wanted to make a vow. What I also see in this is that vows are not to be taken lightly and that the Lord is not to be treated insincerely or in a disrespectful way by anyone not following through on their promises to God. I am reminded of Ecclesiastes 5:4-6, "When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it. Do not let your mouth lead you into sin." Also, Proverbs 20:25, "It is a trap to dedicate something rashly and only later to consider one's vows.
There is a place for vows to the Lord in our lives. While we do not live under the law and do not follow the guidelines for the Nazarite vow, it is still very important that we do not mock God by not fulfilling our vows to him. Just think of all of those broken vows represented by today's divorce rate. Better not to make a vow, than to make one to the Lord and not keep it. In my mind, this chapter is devoted to that thought.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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