Numbers 6 lists the requirements for the Nazarite vow. From Scripture
we know that there were at least three important Biblical figures
that have taken the Nazarite vow. They were Samuel, Samson, and John
the Baptist. Others, such as Paul may have taken a temporary Nazarite
vow.
Acts 18:18
Paul stayed on in Corinth
for some time. Then he left the brothers and sailed for Syria,
accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. Before he sailed, he had his hair
cut off at Cenchrea because of a vow he had taken.
Lev 27:10a
Don't exchange or substitute animals, a good one for a bad one or a bad one for a good one.
Jesus was quick to demonstrate how dishonest it was to substitute sacrificial animals in the temple area for profit.
John 2:14-15
And
He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and
the money-changers sitting. And when He had made a scourge of small
cords, He drove them all out of the temple, also the sheep and the
oxen. And He poured out the money-changers' money and overthrew the
tables.
Leviticus and Deuteronomy list rules pertaining to vows of dedication.
Deut 23:21-23
If
you make a vow to the LORD your God, do not be slow to pay it, for
the LORD your God will certainly demand it of you and you will be
guilty of sin. But if you refrain from making a vow, you will not be
guilty. Whatever your lips utter you must be sure to do, because you
made your vow freely to the LORD your God with your own mouth.
Some have stiff punishment for not fulfilling a vow that has been made. Just ask Jephthah.
Judg 11:30-35
And
Jephthah made a vow to the LORD: "If you give the Ammonites into my
hands, whatever comes out of the door of my house to meet me when I
return in triumph from the Ammonites will be the LORD's, and I will
sacrifice it as a burnt offering." Then Jephthah went over to fight the
Ammonites, and the LORD gave them into his hands. He devastated twenty
towns from Aroer to the vicinity of Minnith, as far as Abel Keramim.
Thus Israel subdued Ammon. When Jephthah returned to his home in
Mizpah, who should come out to meet him but his daughter, dancing to
the sound of tambourines! She was an only child. Except for her he had
neither son nor daughter. When he saw her, he tore his clothes and
cried, "Oh! My daughter! You have made me miserable and wretched,
because I have made a vow to the LORD that I cannot break."
Lessons to be learned here???
Certain
mixtures are listed in the laws of separation as forbidden. While we
may not understand why these mixtures are forbidden, it gives us an
indication of how God feels about Believers. He says. "Be holy because I, the Lord your God am holy." That's telling us that we need to keep ourselves away from unholy living, acting, speaking, thinking, hearing, etc.
No comments:
Post a Comment