Wed.’s Devo - A Nazarite Vow

Read: Numbers 6:1-7:89; Mark 12:38-13:13; Psalm 49:1-20; Proverbs 10:27-28 A person who wanted to set themselves apart to the Lord in a specials way could take a Nazarite vow. If they chose to do this they could not eat or drink anything that comes from the vine or drink any alcoholic drinks, they must not cut their hair during the time of their vow and they must not go near a dead body even if it is their next of kin. *** If someone died beside them then their hair is defiled. They were to wait seven days then shave their heads. On the eight day they must bring two turtle doves or two young pigeons to the priest. He will offer one as a sin offering and one as a burnt offering. Then he must reaffirm his vow and let his hair begin to grow and start his time of separation anew. *** When his time of separation is over, he is to bring a burnt offering, a sin offering, a peace offering a grain offering and a liquid offering to the Lord. He will then shave his head and place it on the fire beneath the peace offering. The priest would give the person some of the offering so that he could lift it up to the Lord. Whatever the person vowed during his time of separation he must be careful to do it. *** God gave Moses a special blessing to give to the people which became a popular song during Covid called “The Blessing.” (Numbers 6:24-27) *** Among the twelve tribes, they were to bring six wagons and twelve oxen. There was a wagon for every two leaders and an ox for each leader. The wagons would be used to carry all the things for the Tabernacle. Each leader of their tribe was to donate certain things on their appointed day. The offering consisted of a silver platter to be used for grain offerings , a silver basin for olive oil, a gold container for the incense, a young bull, a ram and a lamb for burnt offerings, a male goat for sin offerings, two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and fie one-year-old male lambs for the peace offerings. All of these were the dedication offering at the time the altar was anointed. *** Speaking of offerings, Jesus sat watching the people bring their offering to the Temple. He rebuked the teachers of the religious law because they loved their show of importance and piousness while they shamelessly cheated the poor widows out of their property. *** Then he pointed out how one of these widows who gave the smallest gift, gave the greatest gift to the Lord because she gave all she had. *** The disciples brought attention to the massive stones in the walls of the buildings. Jesus said that they would be completely demolished and not one stone would be left on the other. *** Later, the disciples asked him when this would happen and what signs to lead up to it. Jesus told them that many would come first claiming to be the Messiah. There would be wars and threats of war but not to panic. There would be earthquakes and famines, but this is only birth pains. When these things begin to happen, beware because they would be handed over to their local councils and beaten in the synagogues. They would stand trial which will be their opportunity to witness for Him. The Holy Spirit will tell them what to say. Families will be torn apart and betray one another. *** All of this happened just as he depicted after Jesus rose from the dead. *** Lord, may we offer ourselves daily as a living sacrifice and be set apart for service to you.