The Vow of the Nazarite

Introduction

I began to name this the ‘Bible Person Study’, but chose to go with the ‘Bible Character Study’. I hesitated to name it that, as I don’t want to diminish the fact that these are real people we’ll be examining. But the reason that it’s named the Bible Character Study is because we’ll be focusing on the person’s character throughout. But don’t forget that these were real people, with real lives that made real choices that had real consequences.

I. A Nazarite’s Nature

((What is their History / Background?)

A Mostly Voluntary & Temporary Vow

Described in Numbers 6.

I say mostly because:

In Num. 6, it is not a requirement, but voluntary.

Num. 6 is the only Scripture we have detailing the Nazarite vow, it’s implications and implementations

There is at least one occasion where the vow was made not of the person to keep it, but that it was in essence commanded of God - for lifetime.

But mostly it was a voluntary vow, and was for a temporary time as indicated in Num. 6:13.

Requires Abstaining from:

The Fruit of the Vine (v3-4)

This is explicit in that whether it was intoxicating or not, the one who had the vow of the Nazarite could not partake of any.

Cutting the Hair (v5)

This was an abnormal thing in society. Though more infrequent, it’s much more common in our society today.

One thing to understand is that - while today, men will wear long hair for a fashion statement, the only reason a man would have had long hair is if they didn’t care at all about God and His standards OR they had on them the vow of the Nazarite.

More on this in a moment…

Nearing the Dead (v6-7)

Notice the Scripture. It wasn’t just touching of the dead, but ‘come at’ (v6); ‘by him’ (v9).

This would have meant that they couldn’t have even attended funerals, much less touched the carcass of something or someone dead - even if it were close relation!

II. A Nazarite’s Notoriety

(What they are known for?) Rather in this case, who are known Nazarites

Notables:

Samson (Jg. 13:5)

Here we see one who had the vow upon him in an abnormal sense: It was God who declared it, it wasn’t Samson or his parents that chose it.

We also see throughout Samson’s ministry his distain for the vow:

He went down to the vineyards: Judges 14:5 “Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to Timnath, and came to the vineyards of Timnath: and, behold, a young lion roared against him.”

He came at a carcass: Judges 14:8–9 “And after a time he returned to take her, and he turned aside to see the carcase of the lion: and, behold, there was a swarm of bees and honey in the carcase of the lion. And he took thereof in his hands, and went on eating, and came to his father and mother, and he gave them, and they did eat: but he told not them that he had taken the honey out of the carcase of the lion.”

Through all that, God showed him grace.

Then of course he gets his hair cut: Judges 16:17 “That he told her all his heart, and said unto her, There hath not come a rasor upon mine head; for I have been a Nazarite unto God from my mother’s womb: if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man.”

And we all know the rest of the story…

Possibles:

Samuel (1Sam. 1:11)

1 Samuel 1:11 “And she vowed a vow, and said, O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life, and there shall no rasor come upon his head.”

This details one aspect of the Nazarite vow, yet there’s no other mention of Samuel being under the Nazarite vow for life.

Yet there is nothing regarding him violating it either.

John the Baptist (Luk. 1:15)

Luke 1:15 “For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.”

See above - same situation as Samuel, except a different aspect of the vow.

Paul (Act. 18:19; 21:21-26)

Acts 18:18 “And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.”

I don’t think this is Paul he’s speaking of, but Aquila. Either way, if this was the vow of the Nazarite, it wasn’t completed, for they had to shorn their hair at the door of the tabernacle (Num. 6:18).

Act. 21:21-26 - Paul is joining with them as they fulfil their vow and paying for their sacrifices. Paul may be taking part, but whether he was or not, Paul was wrong for doing so.

I should write a book titled ‘Paul was not Perfect’ because many people think that because Paul was ‘Paul’ that he couldn’t do any wrong. The answer is, Paul made plenty of mistakes - just like you and me! (See earlier in Act. 21 for more).

Not-ables:

Jesus (Mat. 11:19; Mar. 14:25; Joh. 11:38-44)

Jesus was a Nazarene, not a Nazarite: Matthew 2:23 “And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.”

Jesus drank of the fruit of the vine: Matthew 11:19 “The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.” Mark 14:25 “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.”

Jesus came near dead bodies: Joh. 11:38-44 (Lazarus)

Therefore, we can conclude that Jesus did not have long hair!

1 Corinthians 11:14–15 “Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.”

There’s NO indication that Jesus had a vow of a Nazarite

III. What Makes them Noteworthy

(What Lessons we can Learn from them?)

The Vow is Illustrative of Sanctification not Salvation

Salvation is by grace through faith.

Heb. 11 tells us that OT saints were justified by their faith not by their works, but rather their faith prompted their works.

Therefore this vow was something ‘over and above’. Something extra.

Sanctification - being ‘Set-Apart’ for a Purpose

There is no reason given concerning the vow of the Nazarite. The purpose was to chose to dedicate themselves wholly unto God.

So the vow was to demonstrate that God was Primary in their life

The Vow Demonstrated that God was Primary in their Life

This vow goes to the point that I always make during discipleship course in that there are people who are Christians who are not disciples.

Disciple (def) Disciplined follower of Christ.

Remember the words of Jesus: Luk. 14:26-33.

This vow was to demonstrate that God was going to be #1 in their lives - that there was nothing more important than Him.

More Important than Pleasures (v3-4)

The fruit of the vine was a pleasure to enjoy. It was present at joyous occasions - such as weddings (Joh. 2) and celebrations (Mar. 14:16-25)

The Nazarite was going to put God before earthly pleasures.

Let me ask you - are you willing to do that?

God > Pleasures

More Important than Pride (v5)

Going to the hair: Remember what Paul said: 1 Corinthians 11:14 “Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?”

Naturally, it’s a shameful thing for a man to have long hair, therefore, the one who took the vow was willing to humble themselves and bear the shame that was associated with having long hair.

Let me ask you - are you willing to bear shame for Christ?

Would you forsake your makeup and brush, let your hair go unkept & put on dirty out-of-style clothing for Him?

God > Pride

More Important than our Pain, or People (v6-7)

Lastly, to the forbidding of being around the dead. This was putting honoring God before honoring their dead. Before easing their pain at the graveside.

Let me ask you - what’s more important to you today? Is it your mother, father, brother, sister, wife, husband? Would you lay them on an altar if God required it?

God > Pain / People

It wasn’t to Get from God, but to Give to God

Some have speculated that this vow was for a dedication for some prayer request they were making - but again, there’s no indication of this.

So in other words, they weren’t doing to GET, but doing to GIVE - and there’s a great distinction between that.

When we compare it to fasting, fasting is always tied to prayer (Mat. 17:21) so fasting is something that is a sacrifice one is willing to make for their petition to be heard, whereas the Nazarite vow was solely a gift toward God!

It wasn’t to GET FROM God, but to GIVE TO God

God makes a Difference between Willful and Negligent Sin (v9-10)

Notice that God made provision for the one thing that they didn’t break by CHOICE.

They could continue the vow once this provision was made

However, God made no such provision for the other two, because the other two were solely in control of the one who made the vow.

Though there are Consequences to both (v11-12)

Both willful sin & negligent sin come with consequence.

This is the great lesson that Jesus was teaching when washing the disciples feet (Joh. 13:6-10)

Sanctification is Cause for Celebration (v13-21)

Those who are set apart for God to be used of Him is a cause to celebrate (we see this in the peace offering)

There will come a day when the days of our separation have ended and we will gather together with God to celebrate the sanctified life.

There will no sacrifice be made by man for God that a man will regret!

Sanctification is Cause for Celebration

Conclusion