Christ in all the scriptures Separation

 Christ in all the scriptures

Separation  Numbers 6

"Speak 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"-Numbers 1v2.

There need be no confusion between the terms "Nazarene" relating to Jesus' earthly home, and "Nazarite" which refers to the singular devotion of some within Judaism.  Jesus was not a Nazarite in the ceremonial sense, for He did drink of the fruit of the vine, and He touched at least one dead body, and He touched a leper which would make Him ceremonially unclean.  Modern pictures of Him with uncut hair are imaginary, and so from a purely practical point of view He was not a Nazarite.  However, in the course of this study we shall find that in the moral and spiritual sense He was indeed a Nazarite in His total life devotion to God.

The chapter abounds with the concept of "separation unto the Lord", which is the meaning of the term Nazarite.  The Hebrew word Nazir means those who are separate, apart, different.  This separation on the part of some (whether of man or woman) was not an attempt to be awkward, but was in fact a unique separation to the Lord by means of symbolic personal denials.  This much is clear throughout the chapter...6v2 "...to separate themselves unto the Lord"; see also 6v3v4v5v6v8v12v13v18v21.  The Nazarite was a kind of ascetic among the Hebrews.  This was not a demand on everyone, but it was the voluntary exercise of a few, which was appreciated by the Lord.  The word is used in Genesis 49v26 of Joseph who was separate (nazir) from his brethren; also in Leviticus 25v5 and v11of an undressed (nazir) vine in the year of Jubilee.  Samson, the strong man in Israel was a Nazarite-Judges 13v5v7 and 16v17.  There were Nazarites in Jerusalem described by the Lord as "purer than snow, whiter than milk, more ruddy than rubies"-Lamentations 4v7.  In Amos 2v11 the Lord said "I raised up of your sons for prophets, and your young men for Nazarites"-The Nazarites were held by the Lord in the same regard as prophets.  The Apostle Paul took the vow of a Nazarite it is thought from his comments in Acts 18v18.  He did this to appeal to the Jews with the gospel.  There were four men in Jerusalem when Paul was there, shortly before his arrest in Acts 21v21 and 24 who were practising Nazarites.  It was a very special symbolic devotion to the Lord.

This involved abstinence in three areas, all of which were legitimate practices.  We are not talking here of abstinence from sinful practices, but from perfectly normal things.  It was quite in order for the Israelite to enjoy the fruit of the vine; for a man to cut his hair and trim his beard, or a woman to grow her hair long which is her glory.  It would be normal practice if a family member died for them to embalm the body for burial.  The Nazarite vow was to separate from even the legitimate things in life to focus solely upon the Lord.  Attempts have been made to apply these things to the present day, mostly without profit.  The best modern application, if any one wants to separate themselves to the Lord, is to deny themselves something legitimate in their life to devote more to the Lord.  Only the individual can decide that, it is a personal vow to the Lord.  Beyond that is to claim lordship over another person's conscience, of which we suffer too much these days; so-called leaders and teachers seeking to impose their will on the rest of us.  The business of making a vow to the Lord is foreign to our western thinking, but it may be worthwhile the effort as anything that improves our devotion to God is a delight to Him.

There are a couple of cases in point in scripture: Peter told Ananias and Sapphira that they had no need to sell their land, which the Lord had given them.  They sinned by lying about the distribution of the proceeds (Acts 5); Paul had a right to get married as an apostle, but he chose not to for reasons of personal devotion.   As in the chapter before us, having made a vow to the Lord, He will have a say in how it should be enacted, and also state what must be done if the vow is broken.  We have, of course, the perfect example of One who was totally devoted to God in life, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 7v26, "For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens".  This is the Impeccability of Christ, He was sinless in every aspect of His life.  He was holy (Godward), harmless (manward), undefiled (self-ward).  He came in "the likeness of sinful flesh", but He was sinless, He was separate from sinners.  The life that He lived was free from any taint of sin, of thought or deed or attitude.  In addition to that He gave up legitimate things in devotion to God.  He was born in another man's stable, He gave up the right to own a home in His service for God.  He had no form of travel yet He journeyed hundreds of miles.  He owned no money or possessions.  He sailed in another man's boat.  He rode into Jerusalem on a borrowed colt of an ass  He instituted His memorial supper in the upper room of another.  He was buried in a borrowed tomb.  All this to appeal to the poorest of people in devotion to His God.  The phrase "He gave Himself" describes it perfectly: He gave of His time, His energy, His thoughts, His powers to the needs of others.  He gave up what was legitimately His in devotion to God for our salvation.

We are all called to separation from sin and self, and from a world system that is anti-God. The word "church", to which all believers belong, is ekklesia which means the called out ones, those who are separated, apart from all that is evil.  There are those among us who make special vows in life to deny themselves even things are are legitimate, and God appreciates their devotion.

The chapter ends with the Lord's blessing on all Israel-6v24-26 "The Lord bless thee and keep thee: the Lord make His face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: the Lord lift up His countenance upon thee and give thee peace".  This is a general blessing to all, and it would be particularly relevant to the Nazarites.  Whatever loss we occur in time is more than compensated by His nearness now, and will be rewarded richly in eternity.