Wed.’s Devo - The Nazarite Vow

Read: Numbers 6:1-7:89; Mark 12:38-13:13; Psalm 49:1-20; Proverbs 10:27-28
There were two people who were Nazarites from the womb and they were Sampson and John the Baptist. Anyone else could volunteer to do a Nazarite vow if they wanted to separate themselves to the Lord for a time. The conditions of the Nazarite vow were to abstain from anything from the grape, not to shave his head and not to go near a corpse. The grape was linked to wine, so this vow was totally sobering - a time of reflection and consecration to the Lord. It is a very personal vow, not one that the nation participates in like a fast.
A Nazarite was also not to shave his head but to keep his head covered with hair. For Samson, his strength was in his hair and once it was cut he lost it. When it grew back, his strength returned. I think their hair covered their shame like the blood of Jesus covers us and removes our shame. In Jeremiah 14:4 he was speaking to Judah about the result of their sin. It has caused there to be no rain and when the plowmen saw the dry earth they were ashamed and covered their heads.
The last part of the vow was to not go near a dead person. That is a picture of not being around ungodly people who have no care for God. They are dead in their sins and not wanting to repent.
I think of a Nazarite like a monk or mystic that sets himself away from people to get serious with God.
Chapter Seven is a long list of all the sacrifices that each tribe was to bring to dedicate the altar after it had been anointed. It was a ceremonious event where each tribe, in order, brought their gifts on the day appointed for 12 days. Each tribe gave exactly the same offering because we all give the same offering to the Lord - ourselves. We can’t pay God off and get his favor with gifts.
In Mark, we see this same concept. The widow gives little in the world’s eyes, but great in God’s eyes because she gives it all. Then Jesus shifts into the future and tells them what will happen in the next few years there, but it is a parallel to what will happen in the end of days. Things would get bad and many would be martyred. He warned them not to be fooled by false teachers and not to be afraid because the Holy Spirit would give them words to say to their accusers. Jesus promised to deliver any who did not faint.
May You bless us and keep us. May you make your face shine on us and show us your favor. May you lift up your face toward us and give us peace.