08: Voluntary Devotion and Delegated Blessing (Num 6)

After the regulatory statements of previous chapters, the Lord prescribes the statute of the Nazarite vow, a voluntary commitment.

πŸ‘‰ Read Numbers 6:1-27

The Nazarite vow was made to God for a man to consecrate a certain period, for example, a month, a year, or several years, for God.

What are the three forbidden things for a Nazarite?

When the days of separation are fulfilled, he must offer (            ) offering, purification offering, (           ) offering, grain offering, and drink offering. He also must shave his head and burn his (           ) on the altar.

After that, the priest must (          ) him together with the bread and the boiled shoulder of the peace offering on his hand.

This is how the priests blessed the people. “The Lord bless you and (             ). The Lord be (            ) to you. The Lord give you (           ).”

 

Answers and Meditation

Anything from the grapevine, shaving of his head, touching the dead body

Not only wine but anything from the grapevine was forbidden. The reason is not given in the text. Commentators guess the grape was involved with pagan worship, for the grape cluster represents the abundant harvest.

Because the separation for God was on his head, he should not shave his head.

Samson, a lifetime Nazarite, had violated all of these three.

 

Burn, peace, hair


wave

His hair is lifted up to the Lord in a fire. His body is being offered to the Lord as a wave offering, and thus, he is given back to normal life. Then, he is released from the Nazarite code.

 

Protect, gracious, peace

The three blessings show an increment in their goodness.

Protection is required in their trouble.

Grace is required for their sins to be forgiven.

The Lord will proactively accomplish His kingdom peace, Shalom, the divine perfect peace.

 

This is what the Lord wants. His people love the Lord and devote their lives to the Lord voluntarily. And the priest, God’s chosen and lifetime dedicated to the Lord, bless His people in His name. And the Lord blesses His people according to the priest blesses.

Voluntary devotion and delegated blessing, what a beautiful commitment and trust for each other! Though the law and statutes are regulatory, the Lord wants our relationship with God to advance to one of mutual and full dedication and entrust. 

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