Beyond the Ordinary

The focus continues to be on purity and distinction from the unbelieving nations around them.  Many of these nations practiced self-mutilation as well as mutilation of their children.  They also engaged in sexual practices deemed inappropriate by God.  Israel is warned to avoid these practices.

The Nazirite Vow indicated a distinct separation, above and beyond what was expected of the average Israelite.  The Nazirite was totally devoted to God and His work during the period of his vow and often used that time for deeper study and frequent service.  The specific marks of a Nazirite were:
1.   No consumption of the “fruit of the vine” – grapes in any form.
2.   No cutting of the hair.
3.   No contact with a dead body.
The vow had a specific ceremony to signify it’s completion.  File these marks in the back of your mind – they will help give greater understanding to the accounts of Samson and John the Baptist, both of whom were Nazirites.

In the vows of dedication, it seemed to me that basically they couldn’t vow to give something to the Lord that was already His.  For instance, the firstborn of an animal was already intended to be used for sacrifices – vowing to dedicate it was redundant, and not really a vow at all.  It will require further study (and we may never know), but reading about this vow brought to mind the account of Ananias and Sapphira found in Acts 5 – a couple who sold a piece of property, vowing to give the proceeds to the Lord, but held back a portion of it.  When confronted with their lie (not giving all they had claimed), they were struck dead.