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Numbers 6:1-8

The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 6:1-8

The Pulpit Commentary · Joseph S. Exell and contributors · Public domain

THE TEMPORARY VOW OF THE NAZARITE SYMBOLICAL OF THE LIFELONG VOW OF THE CHRISTIAN

Though the Israelites had a priesthood, they were themselves "a kingdom of priests." Individual responsibility toward God was pressed upon their consciences in many ways; e.g; , etc. And private persons might aspire to the honour of an especial priestly consecration. Since temporary vows were acceptable to God under the old covenant, they may be under the new covenant, if taken for a limited time and for Christian ends; e.g. celibacy or abstinence (cf. ; ). But a higher form of vow is that of entire consecration for life, that we may be daily led by the Spirit of God, and live the life of faith on the Son of God. Our Nazarite state is to be lifelong. None can disallow the Christian's vow to Christ (cf. with ). The consecration which we avow must be marked by three facts, of which we see symbols in this chapter—

I. SELF-DENIAL (, );

II. VISIBLE PROFESSION ();

III. PERSONAL PURITY ().

I. The priests had, when "on duty," to exercise the self-denial required of the Nazarite (Le ). The kind of self-denial demanded is a significant testimony in favour of total abstinence (see Milton's words in ‘Samson Agonistes:' "Oh, madness, to think use of strongest wines," etc.). Self-denial, in a wider sense, at any rate, always required of us, because we are always "on duty" (; : ).

II. The Nazarites' locks marked their separation. Our consecration must be marked not by tonsures or cowls, but by verbal avowals (, ) and good works (; ), which shall excel those of men who make no profession to the supernatural life of the disciples of Christ (cf. , ).

III. We are "called to be saints," personally pure and separated from the world and its dead works (; ). Christ's claims on us are paramount (, ) and perpetual (). We cannot violate our pledges and go on as though our relations to Christ were unchanged, but must renew our vows (; , ). When the period of the vow ended, the restraints were removed, but the honour remained. So will it be with us at death (, etc.).—P.

HOMILIES BY D. YOUNG

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