Numbers 6:1-81And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 2Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When either man or woman shall separate themselves to vow a vow of a Nazarite, to separate themselves unto the Lord: 3He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried. 4All the days of his separation shall he eat nothing that is made of the vine tree, from the kernels even to the husk. 5All the days of the vow of his separation there shall no razor come upon his head: until the days be fulfilled, in the which he separateth himself unto the Lord, he shall be holy, and shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow. 6All the days that he separateth himself unto the Lord he shall come at no dead body. 7He shall not make himself unclean for his father, or for his mother, for his brother, or for his sister, when they die: because the consecration of his God is upon his head. 8All the days of his separation he is holy unto the Lord. (Numbers 6:1‑8)
IN THE Nazarite we have one who would devote himself altogether unto the Lord in separation from the world. The Lord did not command nor compel one to do this; it was voluntary. Thus a Nazarite means a devoted or separated one.
There were some who were separated from their birth for this path of service for the Lord, such as Samson and Samuel, but above all the blessed Lord Himself. He was the only one who perfectly answered to the vow of the Nazarite. But it ought to have been true of Israel and the Church, and it ought to be true of us for the Lord bids us today to walk in separation unto Him.
Three things were required of the Nazarite: 1) he was not to drink wine nor any strong drink; 2) No razor must come upon his head; but he was to let his hair grow; and 3) he must not let himself be defiled for the dead. Thus we see that Nazariteship is not merely separation from evil, but even from that which was the best in natural things.
It isn’t that God would have us count ourselves as dead to nature or slight the creatures He Himself has made. On the contrary when the blessed Lord Himself was here on earth, though He was always grave and straitened, we believe, because of the evil that pressed about Him on every side, yet He could take the little children up in His arms and bless them. He loved the young man who came to Him in Mark 10; He could speak of the little sparrows and the lilies of the field with affection; and we ought to do the same. There are natural relationships and joys which God Himself has formed — and there is much in Scripture reminding us of our responsibilities to one another in these relationships so that we ought not to neglect our duties. Nevertheless there is the call of God and a power that lifts us above these things.
The Lord Jesus in His life on earth, though He was the Creator, and “all things were created by Him, and for Him” (Col. 1:1616For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: (Colossians 1:16)), nevertheless had to forego the enjoyment of things here below, for all was ruined and defiled by sin, and He set Himself apart for the work of redeeming all back to God. At the last Passover, the night before He went to the cross, He could say, “I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.” Matt. 26:2929But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom. (Matthew 26:29). If He had to give up the companionship of His disciples it was to accomplish their redemption. Now He is waiting in the glory for that day when He will have all His own with Him when we shall taste the joy of His love and companionship in those brighter scenes above.
ML-04/29/1973