No one was compelled to be a Nazirite. The Lord wants a willing people “now.” The Nazirite was one who voluntarily devoted himself to the Lord—not of necessity, but of a willing mind. Grace wrought in one’s desire to be wholly for the Lord, and then the Lord provided a way in which that devotedness could be expressed.

The special vow of a Nazirite (Num. 6) follows the unfaithfulness of the people generally in the previous chapter (Num. 5). Thus, the now makes known that whatever the general state of the people of God may be, there is an opportunity for any who desire to consecrate or separate themselves to Jehovah to do so. The saints in Macedonia gave themselves first to the Lord, and then to Paul by God’s will (II Cor. 7). Therefore, they went beyond most Christians. In God’s economy, provision went beyond most believers. In God’s economy, provision is made for the special person as well as the ordinary person. Are we content to conform to the standards of Christian living which seem to be adopted by the many? Are we desirous to do the will of God when we know what it is?

The special vow of a Nazirite requires a peculiar degree of separation. Timothy comes in this class. Paul said, “Greet Apelles, the approved in Christ” (Rom. 16:10). Are you approved in Christ? Paul also said, “But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, so that I also may be encouraged when I learn of your condition. For I have no one else of kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare. For they all seek after their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know of his proven worth…” (Phil. 2:19-22).

The Nazirite in Canaan had his vineyards: “And wine which makes man’s heart glad, So that he may make his face glisten with oil, And food which sustains man’s heart” (Ps. 104:15). But the Nazirite separated himself because of his consecration to God.

The book of Numbers follows Genesis, Exodus, and Leviticus morally. God is known in grace and faithfulness. It was all this that moved one to personal dedication according to Numbers 6; it is not otherwise today. It is important to understand that the key to Chapter 6 of Numbers is not “under the Law” but “unto the Lord.” We are all under the law—the moral law. The Israelites were under the law. The Lord God is the same in every age. He is the God of a purpose. He has a decree. He so loved us that He gave His Son for us even before the foundation of the world. We are His by Divine election before we are by regeneration and conversion. No one wants to hear that today. It is impossible to see and know the Covenant God by faith without having a desire to be devoted “unto the LORD.”

There are three things that the spiritual Nazirite must not do: 1. He must drink no wine. “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit” (Eph. 5:18). Wine typifies those earthly and worldly things that give pleasure to the heart and mind of man—the person who would be wholly for the Lord. This has no reference to a Christian’s honest and upright business, but of the source to which he turns for the pleasure of his heart. Do we look upon the world as the place where the One we love was murdered? The world did not yield Christ wine, but vinegar and gaul. Christ said, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I shall never again eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God” (Luke 22:16). He also said, “For I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes” (Luke 22:18). The kingdom has not come yet. 2. He must not shave his head. Paul said, “Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him” (I Cor. 11:14). Do we look upon the sneers and scorn of the world as our greatest treasure upon earth? It is not now “Egypt” but the “camp.” Where do we go today to worship the Lord? “So, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach” (Heb. 13:13). We go outside the camp of the religionists where there is flesh, and nothing is known about the grace of the Sovereign God of the universe. A devoted Christian must appear to be a fool in the eyes of the world and carnal believers. In a word, he lives “unto the Lord,” and he is happy to be a fool for Christ’s sake. Paul said to the Corinthians, “We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are prudent in Christ” (I Cor. 4:10). 3. He must not touch a dead body. The dead have nothing for God. When a Christian thinks, speaks, or acts according to the flesh, he is practically acknowledging the man who has been set aside at the cross.

The great truth before us is the following: It is impossible to see, and know thereby, faith without having a desire to be devoted to Him here in time. Can we say with the apostle of old, “…those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another” (Gal. 5:24-26). We have a tremendous responsibility in these last of the last days. Do we want to live “unto the Lord”?

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The NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE—UPDATED EDITION is the source of all Scripture quotations in this message, unless otherwise noted.

Copyright ã   2006

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