Your Practice During Lent and the Nazarite Vow -- any connections?

Numbers Chapter 6: Sanctification Through the Nazarite Vow

Numbers 6:1-27

Day 42 of self-isolation. I can start counting all the things I have not been able to do in the last six weeks, the greatest of which are be able to hug my grandchildren or even to see some of them in person, and to attend a worship service live. On the other hand, I could also count the things I have been able to do: more bible study, more project work around the house, teaching my spouse how to attack Sudoku puzzles, and losing more games of Scrabble to her. The worse of it all is that our own provincial premier is still quiet about when things will start to open up. Meanwhile thousands, nay millions, of jobs are being lost worldwide. The debate is now not so much about whether the world will change or not after all this, but how much and how. We press on. 

The Passage

This chapter begins by setting up the Nazarite Vow. It is for men and women. It is voluntary. It is a dedication to the Lord for a set period of time. Verses 3-7 indicate what such a person cannot do during that period within in which he/she is deemed to be holy (vs. 8):

·      Have no wine or strong drink; no vinegar, no grape juice, no fresh or dried grapes, anything produced by the grape vine (from seeds to skin).

·      No razor shall touch their head; hair shall be allowed to grow freely.

·      Can’t go near a dead person, including his father, mother, brother, or sister.

If someone dies suddenly next to them and touches their hair, he (becomes unclean) and must shave their hair right off on the seventh day when they become clean again. On the eighth day they go to the priest with the appropriate offerings. On that same day their head is consecrated (vs. 11).

His/her days as a Nazarite are dedicated again (vs. 12) because the former days became void as he/she was defiled by the dead person touching them.

Verse 13 takes up to the end of the period of dedication. Various offerings are taken to the priest and presented to the Lord (to vs. 17).  The Nazarite’s dedicated head of hair is shaven and put on the fire of the sacrifice (vs. 18). The priest than puts the boiled ram’s shoulder, one unleavened cake, and one unleavened wafer into the hands of the Nazarite. This is followed by waving these along with the breast and thigh of the offered animal before the Lord. At that point the Nazarite may drink wine (vs. 20).

Verse 21 tells us that when such a Nazarite vow is made, it may be accompanied by a financial or tangible offering if one can afford it.

Verses 22-26 describes the blessing that God wanted Moses to tell the sons of Aaron (the Levite priests) to share with the sons of Israel:

²³ “Speak to Aaron and to his sons, saying, ‘Thus you shall bless the sons of Israel. You shall say to them:

²⁴ The Lord bless you, and keep you;

²⁵ The Lord make His face shine on you,
And be gracious to you;

²⁶ The Lord lift up His countenance on you,
And give you peace.’

^27 “So they shall invoke My name on the sons of Israel, and I then will bless them.” 

Thoughts on the Passage

To begin with I note that this Vow of the Nazarite appears to be for both men and women although the detailed description uses the male gender throughout the chapter. It appears to be voluntary and for a set period of time.  It requires discipline to refrain from certain drink and food as well as from touching or being in contact with a dead person.

The most famous case of the Nazarite Vow was that of Samson, although in his case it was not voluntary as it was promised by his parents to the angel who told them they would have a son, and it was implemented from Samson’s birth to the point that Delilah had her way and he let her cut his hair. Now Chuck Smith reminds us to be careful. Samson’s strength did not come from his long hair. His strength came from his consecration to the Lord. When his hair was cut, that was symbolic of his cut commitment to God. And while Samson was the best-known person who took this vow, we may also want to remember that our Lord and Savior was also known as a Nazarene. Two others who had taken this Vow were John the Baptist (Luke 1:15) and the Apostle Paul (Acts 18:18). The Vow was open to women, but the only record we have of one perhaps doing so, or the equivalent, was Samson’s mother during her pregnancy (Judges 13:4).

There is one other example as found in the Mishna. (The Mishnah or Mishna is the first major written collection of the Jewish oral traditions known as the "Oral Torah". It is also the first major work of rabbinic literature.) It, according to David Guzik, “relates how Queen Helena had almost completed seven years of a Nazirite vow when she was defiled and therefore had to keep it for another seven years." (Wenham)

The whole thing reminds me of how many Christians approach Lent – giving up certain things like alcohol or desserts or whatever.

But God seems to look positively on such dedication as we read near the end of the chapter. God dictates a blessing for the sons of Israel.  What is not clear is whether this blessing was for all the sons of Israel, or those that had taken the Nazarite Vow and kept it.

At the end of the period of the consecrated life, there are offerings to be made and a ceremonial release to go through. Of course, this involves the ability to be able to pay for the what needed to be brought to the priest to undertake the ceremony. Thus, David Guzik writes:

No wonder when Paul visited Jerusalem, he was invited to pay the expenses of some Christians who had taken a Nazirite vow and were ready to conclude it with this sacrifice (Acts 21:23-24). The Nazirite vow was not something that could be entered into lightly.

What is clear is that will bless, and does bless, those who are sanctified and those who exercise discipline in living for Him.  Robert Jamieson writes this about these verses:

This passage records the solemn benediction which God appointed for dismissing the people at the close of the daily service. The repetition of the name "Lord" or "Jehovah" three times, expresses the great mystery of the Godhead--three persons, and yet one God. The expressions in the separate clauses correspond to the respective offices of the Father, to "bless and keep us"; of the Son, to be "gracious to us"; and of the Holy Ghost, to "give us peace." And because the benediction, though pronounced by the lips of a fellow man, derived its virtue, not from the priest but from God, the encouraging assurance was added, "I the Lord will bless them."

He keeps us; He makes His face shine on us; He is gracious to us; He lifts His countenance upon us; and He gives us peace.  I always get a kick out of pastors uttering this blessing as a form of benediction at the end of a service, using the introductory phrase, “May the Lord . . .”.  In my humble opinion, “the Lord does. . .”.   What an amazing “smile of approval” that is.

It would be great if you would share your thoughts or questions on this blog in the comments section below or on social media.