Numbers 5-8
The Nazirite Vow

Numbers 6 tells us of the Nazirite vow, a special, voluntary vow made by the children of Israel of special consecration to the LORD. The word for "nazirite" means "consecrated; devoted," which tells us this was a vow of separation. It was a very serious vow. Several things characterized this vow: abstinence from all grape products; not cutting the hair during the time of the vow; complete separation from death; and finally, special sacrifices offered at the completion of the vow.

Many great servants of God in the Bible lived or appear to have lived under such a vow. Obviously, Samson was one for life (although he didn't always live up to the vow). Samuel likely was one (1 Samuel 1:11). Based on Luke 1:15 and 7:33, it is possible John the Baptizer was one. And from Acts 18:18, some have supposed Paul took a Nazirite vow. In Acts 21, he appears to have helped certain Christians who had undergone this Jewish tradition.

W.H. Bellinger, Jr. wrote in the New International Biblical Commentary on Numbers, "The Nazirites were a living parable of the camp's dedication to God and so a special symbol of the people's holiness. They provided a positive view of holiness in the camp after the instructions in chapter 5 for removing any impurity from the camp. The NT... commends the kind of discipline of faith the vow represents."

When one becomes a Christian, they take a vow of separate to God. While a point-by-point comparison is not valid, this vow is insightful to Christians today.

For one, consecration to the LORD was open for anyone-man or woman. Jesus called, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden..." (Matthew 11:28) Paul wrote, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:28). Such total dedication is expected of all Christians today

Second, this consecration is discernable by our actions. While we have no instructions in the New Testament like those to the Israelites of old, we are called upon, as we have talked about in the past, to live holy (unique) lives (1 Peter 1:13-16; 2:5, 9; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7). Jesus called upon us to be salt to the world and a light on a hill (Matthew 5:13-14). The world is to see us and notice we are dedicated to Him.

Finally, like the Nazirite vow, our dedication to God supercedes all other obligations to others-even close loved ones. Jesus said in Matthew 10:37, "Whoever loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me."

Also, there are very serious consequences when we violate our vow of devotion to God. When we violate our personal purity, we have violated our vow to God. Fortunately for us, Jesus Christ stands as our sacrifice if we will embrace Him (1 John 1:9).

While we are not under a Nazirite vow today, those of us who are Christians are under a greater one: a vow of utter devotion to God. May God give us the strength to live it and take it seriously everyday.