02.21.2015 Old Testament: Num 6.3–8

To read the Bible in a year, read Numbers 5–6 on February 21, In the year of our Lord 2015

By Don Ruhl

When an Israelite man or woman decided to make a special vow to God, it was called a Nazirite vow, and it included four things,

“…he shall separate himself from wine and similar drink; he shall drink neither vinegar made from wine nor vinegar made from similar drink; neither shall he drink any grape juice, nor eat fresh grapes or raisins. All the days of his separation he shall eat nothing that is produced by the grapevine, from seed to skin. All the days of the vow of his separation no razor shall come upon his head; until the days are fulfilled for which he separated himself to the Lord, he shall be holy. Then he shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow. All the days that he separates himself to the Lord he shall not go near a dead body. He shall not make himself unclean even for his father or his mother, for his brother or his sister, when they die, because his separation to God is on his head. All the days of his separation he shall be holy to the Lord (Numbers 6.3–8). 

The Nazirite vow included these three abstentions and one affirmation:

• They had to abstain from all forms and parts of the grape.
• They could not cut their hair.
• They could not go near a dead body.
• They separated themselves to God.

Could you do those things to show God your dedication? Whether you think you could or not, the Christian has dedicated himself to God and that means abstaining from evil and embracing good. You are doing those things. Keep on doing them.