Thurs.’s Devo - The Nazarite Vow -

Read: Numbers 6:1-7:89; Mark 12:38-13:13; Psalm 49:1-20; Proverbs 10:27-28 A woman or a man could take a special vow of a Nazarite. Nazarite in the Hebrew means “a prince consecrated to the Lord.” This was their way in the Old Testament of saying they wanted their lives to be given to serve the Lord. *** They were to give up wine and other alcoholic drinks which are substitutes for joy. They were to let their hair grow long to show that their sins were covered. This was a picture of how the blood of Christ covers our sins and we are drinking from the new wine. They were not to be near a dead person which is a picture of us not associating with sin which leads to death. *** If they did come in contact with something dead, they could wait seven days, shave their heads and on the eighth day bring a sacrifice to the Lord. Eight means “new beginning.” This means they repented and will be cleansed from their sins and can begin again. They were to present a guilt offering to take the guilt away. *** When their set time of separation was over, they would bring all the offerings to the priest to offer before the Lord. The Nazarite would shave their heads and take the hair and place it on the fire beneath the peace offering. The priest would put the parts of the man’s sacrifice he saved into his hands and lift them before the Lord. These are the good deeds of this man’s life given to the Lord. After this, the Nazarite could drink wine again. *** *** This is a picture of the man presenting himself to the Lord at the end of his life and his body dying in peace. His deeds are put in the fire and his offering is what remains. The man is given back his life and may drink wine again with the Lord. Mark 14:23 says, “And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it. And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many. Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” *** On the day Moses set up the Tabernacle, all the tribes brought their offerings. Two tribes put their offerings on one wagon and they were brought in the order in which the troops marched. The list was the same for each tribe and all the prescribed offerings would be used in the ministry of the Tabernacle. *** Whenever Moses went into the Holy of Holies, God spoke to him from between the two cherubim. *** In Mark, Jesus made a comparison of the widow who gave all she had and the Pharisees who made a big production about what they gave. Jesus made it clear that what was important to God was how you give, not what you give. It is a heart matter. *** The disciples commented on the great structure of the buildings around the Temple. Jesus told him that the day would come when they would be completely demolished. When they asked him when it would happen, he answered them with when it would not happen. He told them events to come: wars and threats of wars, earthquakes, famines, trials they would testify in. But, he warned them not to worry about what to say because the Holy Spirit would give them the words to say. He encouraged them to endure to the end for they would be saved. *** May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. Math the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.