Numbers 5-6

• Click here to read
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• Thanks for the prayers.  The headache is almost gone.

• In biblical law, this is the only kind of case in which the Lord Himself renders the verdict through a spiritual procedure.
• The Israelite court was made of all-men, and God knew that men would naturally side with a man who suspected his wife of unfaithfulness. and women would have difficulty attaining a fair hearing.
• When a woman would pass the test, her husband could have full confidence in their marriage.
• Unfortunately, if she failed, her “womb” (not baby) would miscarry, becoming infertile.
  

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The Nazarite Vow:

The Nazarite vow is taken by a man or woman who has voluntarily dedicated themselves to God.  The Hebrew word nazir means “to be separated or consecrated.”  I love that we read this during Lent (some will know what that is)

1. It is voluntary
2. can be done by either men or women
3. has a specific time frame,
4. has specific requirements and restrictions
5. at its conclusion, a sacrifice is offered.

Three guidelines are given to the Nazirite:

•  abstain from wine or any fermented drink, nor was the Nazirite to drink grape juice or eat grapes or raisins, not even the seeds or skins.
• the Nazirite was not to cut his hair for the length of the vow.
• he/she was not to go near a dead body, because that would make him ceremonially unclean. Even if a member of his immediate family died, he was not to go near the corpse.

The vow ended with a purification ritual that paralleled the consecration of the priests.  The vow allows an ordinary Israelite to enjoy a brief moment of exceptional closeness to God. ❤. However, there are a few in the Bible that were dedicated by their parents for life.

Who else will be a Nazarite in the Bible?

• Samuel
• John the baptist
• Samson
• also, Paul took a temporary vow possibly (Acts 18:18)

Ohhhh now the story of Samson will totally make sense when we get there!