THROUGH THE BIBLE - Numbers..

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com. That's cornerstonerbc.com. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When either a man or a woman makes a special vow, the vow of a Nazirite, to separate himself to the Lord, he shall separate himself from wine and strong drink. He shall drink no vinegar made from wine or strong drink, and shall not drink any juice or grapes or eat grapes, fresh or dried.

All the days of his separation, he shall eat nothing that is produced by the grapevine, not even the seeds or the skins. And the days of his vow of separation, no razor shall touch his head until the time is completed for which he separates himself to the Lord, he shall be holy. He shall let the locks of hair of his head grow long. Verse six. And all the days that he separates himself to the Lord, he shall not go near a dead body.

Not even for his father or for his mother, for his brother or sister. If they die, shall he make himself unclean because his separation to God is on his head. All the days of his separation, he is holy to the Lord. And if any man dies very suddenly beside him and he defiles his consecrated head, then he shall shave his head on the day of his cleansing. On the seventh day, he shall shave it.

On the eighth day, he shall bring two turtle doves or two pigeons. to the priest to this entrance of the tent of meeting. And the priest shall offer one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering and make atonement for him because he sinned by reason of the dead body. And he shall consecrate his head that same day and separate himself to the Lord for the days of his separation and bring a male lamb a year old for a guilt offering. But the previous period shall be void, because his separation was defiled.

And this is the law for the Nazarite when the time of his separation has been completed. He shall be brought to the entrance of the tent of meeting, and he shall bring his gift to the Lord. One male lamb, a year old, without blemish, for a burnt offering, and one ewe lamb, a year old, without blemish, as a sin offering, and one ram without blemish, as a peace offering, and a basket of unleavened bread, loaves of fine flour mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers smeared with oil. and their grain offering, and their drink offering. And the priest shall bring them before the Lord, and offer his sin offering and his burnt offering, and he shall offer the ram as a sacrifice of peace offering to the Lord, with the basket of unleavened bread."

The priest shall offer also its grain offering and its drink offering. And the Nazarite shall shave his consecrated head at the entrance of the tent of meeting and shall take the hair from his consecrated head and put it on the fire that is under the sacrifice of the peace offering. And the priest shall take the shoulder of the ram when it is boiled, and one unleavened loaf out of the basket, and one unleavened wafer, and shall put them on the hands of the Nazarite after he has shaved the hair of his consecration. And the priest shall wave them for a wave offering before the Lord. They are a holy portion for the priest, together with the breast that is waived and the thigh that is contributed.

And after that, the Nazarite may drink wine. This is the law of the Nazarite. But if he vows an offering to the Lord above his Nazarite vow, as he can afford, in exact accordance with the vow that he takes, then he shall do in addition to the law of the Nazarite. The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel. You shall say to them, The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them. Amen. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord remains forever.

Well, Church, we're continuing through our reading through the book of Numbers, which we have done so for the last six weeks by God's grace. So we now know and are well familiar with the context of this book. We know where the people of Israel are. They've been rescued from the bondage in slavery in Egypt by the Lord through miraculous means and through his mighty strong arm. And they've been brought over into the base of Sinai in the Sinai wilderness.

That's where they are right now. They've received from the Lord through Moses the law. God has covenanted with them, and they have covenanted with God. They have agreed, and they have covenanted with God to obey the law of God. They've obligated themselves that everything that is written, everything that God has given them through the law, that they will obey.

And God will be their God, they will be His people, and the greatest privilege known to mankind was experienced by these people, and that is that God will dwell among them. that he would be found in their midst. But beloved, we know, because we've studied through the book of Leviticus and now through a portion of the book of Numbers, we know already that with that great privilege comes tremendous responsibility upon the people of God there at the base of Mount Sinai. Because the epitome of all that is good The epitome of all that is pure, all that is holy, all that is clean, who is God Himself, dwells in their midst. It is His manifest glory among them.

And therefore, not even a hint of defilement should be before His perfectly pure eyes. Israel was to be devoted to holiness. Israel was to be devoted to purity. There was to be an utmost concern to remain clean and to preserve purity in the camp before the Lord, and thus why we're given in the book of Leviticus a series of cleanliness and purity laws for them to obey. Now over and over again we've said on many occasions when we referred to the purity and the cleanliness laws, we've said over and over again that Yahweh, although they are physical things that the people of Israel ought to do, that Yahweh is far more concerned with the heart.

than he is with their outward appearances. Yes, they are to be obedient to the point of actually doing the activities that Yahweh said, and to remain clean on the outside. But this was all typological to his concern for these people to be pure and holy on the inside. That they would be pure from the corruption of sin, which is what defiles the camp and the tabernacle of God. That was Yahweh's main concern, that his people would be circumcised not only in the flesh, but circumcised in the heart, that their heart would be completely and totally devoted to Yahweh.

And if that's the case, beloved, obedience would not become an inconvenience to the people of God. obedience in this way to Yahweh from a heart that is circumcised, a heart that loves Him, is not burdensome, but rather it is a privilege, it's a joy to serve and to obey Yahweh in this way, especially in light of the blessings that they've seen already from His hand in rescuing them from the land of Egypt and bringing them and covenanting with Him to be their God and they His people and for Him to dwell among them. So this true love for Yahweh, true gratitude from the heart, ought to produce from within one's heart a true devotion to Him. Because now they recognize the mercy of God, a mercy where He has not given them what they deserve. And they've recognized the grace of God where He's flooding them with blessing that they do not deserve.

And so it should create within them a devotion, a consecration, a giving over to God from the very heart. And beloved, if that consecration and that devotion is ought to be over and above the stipulations or the requirements that have been given to them. And so in chapter six, what we have before us is what is known as a Nazarite vow. And this would be a way that the people of Israel, those who were circumcised of heart, those who loved Yahweh, those who were committed to Him, that they were able to voluntarily express their love and devotion to God by consecrating themselves for a period of time to His service. That's what Nazarite actually means.

It comes from the root word Nazir, which means to consecrate or to set apart. And in the context of this passage, we know or will soon see, they're actually setting themselves apart from or separating themselves from something and separating themselves unto something. The unto something is unto God. They're committing their hearts and their lives and their services to Yahweh. Now, the vow is a promise.

It's a promise committed by a person to do something. In this case, it's to serve the Lord. It's voluntary, so it's not forced upon them. and it's normally for a set period of time. Now, there are examples in Scripture where that's not the case, where we look at, for example, Samson, and we look at Samuel, where it's a lifelong consecration to the Lord.

John the Baptist may have been also consecrated this way as a Nazarite, but also we see in Scripture, for example, in Acts chapter 18 in Corinth, where Paul also had undertaken a vow, very likely a Nazarite vow, and he comes to an end when he goes back to Jerusalem. So it is a devotion and a consecration to Yahweh to serve Him during the time that they're under vow. Now, vows in general have already been addressed in the Pentateuch, verse 5. You might remember it is back in Leviticus chapter 27. Our brother took us through that passage some two months ago.

And back then he did say that a vow is someone committing themselves or something to God. To God. And if someone makes a vow, they ought to keep the vow. But here in our passage in verse 2, we're told this is a special vow. A vow of a Nazarite.

It's a special vow. Because although we see facets of this vow elsewhere, for example, in the priesthood, the libidical priesthood, do certain things and they live a certain way, as we'll see. This was a special vow for one who in and of themselves volunteered to consecrate him or herself, both men and women were able to do this, to the Lord for a particular period of time. Now we also need to be clear, these vows were over and above the requirements or the stipulations of the law of God. The stipulations of the law were given to all the people of Israel.

They all were under the obligation to obey the law, the covenant that God had made with them, all of them. There was no exceptions. But the vow that is made here by a Nazarite vow is mandated only for the one or the vow maker to obey. We have to remember that. And so, therefore, to violate the vow would make one guilty of sin.

In other words, they're not forced to make the vow. But if they do make a vow, they'd better keep it. The book of Ecclesiastes is very clear. It tells us, don't make one if you can't keep it. But if you make one, if you make a promise, if you make a vow, then you are required to keep it.

And the Lord is very serious for his people to keep their word in the vows in particular. And we see this in this passage. Now, to give you an idea, church, think of the Levites. They had privileges, great privileges. Their lives were actually dedicated to serving the Lord, serving Yahweh in the temple space.

But a male born into that tribe, the tribe of Levi, had no real say in the matter. If you're born in the tribe of Levi and in the clan of Aaron, then you would become a priest. Now, if you weren't born in the clan of Aaron or his descendants, then you were a Levi, and as a Levi, you would assist the priests and you would assist them in their functioning and the servicing of the tabernacle. And we heard a few weeks ago how that works, how some would disassemble, some were in charge of the furnishings on the inside and so forth. So that was their responsibility, that was their function.

It was given to them because they were born into a particular tribe. Now the Levites were called to a higher level of holiness, a higher level of set of partners, if you will. They were intimate with Yahweh, they were closer, they were in the tabernacle serving the Lord, in the tabernacle, so they had stricter requirements to observe than the lay people. Now you would hope they were doing these things, or their services, with the right heart. But it was mandated upon them nonetheless.

It was a law for them. But the lay person who's engaging in a Nazarite vow that we've just read about here in chapter six, this person makes a promise to God to dedicate a portion of his life in complete consecration, set apartness for the Lord, to be devoted to God fully. And it's not because he had to do it, but because he wanted to do it. And there's a difference. Let's face it, it wasn't as though there were any personal, physical benefits to this.

In fact, they needed to give up some things in order to do this. We read about that. Not eating or drinking anything from the fruit of the vine, we're told, whether it's wine or vinegar or even the fruit themselves. They can't eat the grapes. Now, the Bible speaks much about the fruit of the vine and the product of the vine, and it speaks of gladness and joy being symbolised in that fruit.

in moderation, of course. But under the vow, you could not have any of the fruit of the vine, whether it's crushed or whether it's fresh or dried. Cutting your hair was completely forbidden until the vow was over, and it was burnt in the fire on the altar of God. No doubt they easily recognized someone who'd been under a Nazarite vow because their hair would just continue to grow. They would be able to see that person.

What about burying the dead? We're told the person whose undervow cannot engage in the burial of even their mother, or their father, or their sister, or their brother, even those closest to them, just like the high priest. But this is the difference. The high priest enters into the most holy place once a year. And death is the result of sin that came into the world.

Sin is trespassing God's law. It's rebellion against God. So there must not be death before God. And this is why the high priest, when he enters into the holy of holies once a year, he must not be contaminated with death. But here we have the Nazarite who cannot, cannot bury his mother or father or get in contact with the dead.

And he doesn't enter into the most holy place. He'd be defiled before the Lord. And we're told if that be the case, and he was made defiled, then the whole time he's been under vows, now void, and he needs to start all over again. What about the cost involved? It's pretty expensive.

Read from verse 13 onwards. That's all the necessary sacrifices and offerings that the Nazarite needs to offer to Yahweh when the vow is completed. There's a great responsibility. There's great sacrifice. There's a great cost.

It doesn't sound too appealing from a surface level, does it? So why? Why give up so much? Why commit so much cost when you don't have to? You're not a Levite.

You're not called to this level of devotion and holiness according to the law of God. Why give up your privileges and your pleasures? Why give up what's rightfully yours in order to commit this level, this high level of consecration and devotion to God? Well, I think the answer is simple. Because people who know, a person who truly knows Yahweh, a person who just doesn't know of Him but has come to recognise His goodness and has come to taste of Him, to taste and see that He is indeed good.

A person like that, whether it's a male or a female, is prepared not only to give up some of their rights, but all of them, in order to serve Him and to enjoy the intimate communion with Him. The things of this world, even the good and lawful things, are seen for what they are. And they don't compare to the glorious blessings of being fully devoted to the service of God. To have him constantly in their minds and in their hearts. to have a heart that is constantly concerned with his service.

Eyes taken off the creature comforts of this world and to be placed upon him is more blessed than anything this world has to offer. And these people knew it. I'm convinced. A person who engages in a Nazarite vow was a person who knew without a shadow of a doubt that Yahweh is the greatest treasure. God is the one who is the treasure of the soul and the heart.

And to give up so much, even potentially one's own family, in order to set apart one's heart and service and devotion to God is not deemed a sacrifice or a burden, but a privilege. I suspect if he or she, those who engaged in this Nazarite vow were asked, why? Why do you do it? I suspect that answer, I can't think of a better thing to do with my life than to serve God. It may seem like giving a lot up.

But if you've tasted and seen that the Lord is indeed good, you constantly want more of him. That's where your soul finds fulfillment. That's where your soul finds true rest. And this is an eternal truth, brothers and sisters, that applies for us also. Have you ever asked yourself, How it is that Jesus is able to demand of his disciples, by implication, every believer is a disciple.

How he's able to demand of them to be prepared to give up everything in order to follow after him. Even to the point where he says, if you're not prepared to give up everything, you're not worthy of me. Luke 14. Beloved, that's an impossible demand. That's an impossible demand until you come to recognise that the things you're turning your back on in this world, even the good things, don't compare to Him and they don't compare to the things that He has prepared for those who love Him.

Devotion and service of Him is not a burden but a joy. You ought to be a joy. That's why Jesus says, my yoke is easy and my burden is light. That's the only way you can make sense of Jesus's words. I believe those who voluntarily engaged in a Nazarite vow have tasted of God's goodness and they wanted nothing more than to be blessed with more of Yahweh.

They wanted to be with him. They wanted to serve him. They wanted their focus and their attention and their heart to be engaged in him by faith. And brothers and sisters, lest you or I make the devastating error of thinking that their work or their performance somehow earned the blessing of God, we have the verses that come in verse 22 onwards. Glorious text.

So much can be said, but I'm only going to make one point. Verse 22, the Lord spoke to Moses saying, speak to Aaron and his son saying, thus you shall bless the people of Israel. You shall say to them, the Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel and I, I, I will bless them. The Lord's intention. The Lord's intention through these words is to bless His people. Not only those who have taken Nazarite vows. You realize that?

It's all the people of Israel He's speaking. In other words, all of God's people. His intention is to bless His own people. And He blesses His people how? Through His abundant grace.

Verse 25 tells us that He is to be gracious on you, beloved. We know what grace is. Grace is to be given something you do not deserve. And so the blessings from verses 22 through 27 may seem misplaced at first. What are they doing here?

You have a whole big section on the Nazarite bounding. You have the Aaronic blessing upon the people of Israel. So what's it doing there? I think it's not misplaced at all. Of course, this is inspired writ.

But I also believe it's there for a reason. And I think it's there so that people can see. that we would be able to see that the blessings of God, all the blessings of God upon the people of God comes through grace. It's undeserving by his people. It's all through his grace.

The Lord bless you, he says. The Lord shine his face on you and be gracious to you. And then he says, I will bless you. He's the one who blesses and he blesses through his grace because the people aren't deserving. That means that even those who, by their own volition, voluntarily give up the world and commit to themselves to a life of consecrated service to God, a life of devotion to the Lord, even they can't earn favor with God.

They need his grace. How do we know this? Well, look at the facts. If the person engaging in a Nazarite vow becomes defiled, you remember what we read earlier, he needs to start all over again. He needs to offer the sacrifices, he needs to cut his hair, and he needs to start all over again.

All good, we understand that point. Because the sacrifices that need to be offered are sin sacrifices and others, and we can get that. But what if he makes it all the way to the end? Well, what if he makes it all the way to the end undefiled? and still law-keeping according to the Nazarite vow, the law of the Nazarite vow.

What happens then? Does it make him holy? Does it make him righteous before the Lord? His intentions were noble, but do his efforts make him holy? That's the question.

Do his efforts make him holy? Do his efforts make him righteous before God? And the answer to that question The answer to that question is found in the text. And it's found in the text telling us what needs to be done once the vow is completed. Verse 13.

And this is the law for the Nazarite when the time of his separation has completed. So, verse 13 on through to verse 20. Verse 13 tells us it's an introduction of what needs to take place. The vow has been completed. His days of consecration and total devotion to God have been fulfilled.

He hasn't been defiled. Time hasn't had to start again. He's done. So what does he need to do? Then we can continue to read.

I'm not going to read it all for the sake of time. But I want you to run your eyes down to verse 16. And the priest shall bring them. What is he talking about? Previously speaking about lambs.

He shall bring lambs before the Lord and offer his what? Sin. Sacrifice. Or sin offering. Okay, we can understand a fellowship offering that comes next or a peace offering as it is in the ESV.

We understand that point. But why a sin offering? He's not defiled. He hasn't been corrupted. He hasn't touched a dead person.

He hasn't cut his hair. He hasn't eaten any grapes. So why a sin offering? Beloved, this is a tremendous picture. Even the best of men in their most righteous activities, with all the good intentions in the world to separate themselves and to be holy and consecrate themselves to the Lord.

with all those good intentions and all the work and all the efforts they can muster. And they still need a sin sacrifice. They still need atonement for sins. A sin sacrifice is still required. A blood atonement is still required because there is no avoiding the fact that Despite all their efforts, all your efforts and mine, we are all still sinners and in need of what we don't deserve, grace.

And the blessings pronounced in verse 22 through 27, blessings that conclude with Yahweh saying, I will bless them, are indeed not based on the work or the performance of the people engaging in a Nazarite vow or anyone in Israel. And beloved, God's grace upon us if we've come to know Christ in a salvific way is not predicated in any way, shape or form on what you have done or what I have done, any of our work or our performance. It's not predicated on our pursuits or our energies. It's not predicated on our willpower because we want to live holy lives and be devoted to God. We do, and we should strive to enter the kingdom.

We should strive with everything the Lord has given us to pursue Christ and pursue holiness and pursue the law of God that He has given us. We should pursue these things because of a desire that we have in us, a desire that He has placed in us through saving faith, but this is by grace alone. It is by his grace alone. He doesn't look upon our efforts and say, I'm going to bless you. He didn't do it here.

Israel, if he was blessed, it was by his grace because they were undeserving. Then Nazarite, with all his efforts, the one who engages in Nazarite vow, with all his efforts and energies, Yet he still needs a sin sacrifice. Still needs atonement for his sins or her sins. Still, before the Lord, the sinful heart needs to be dealt with. And that sin sacrifice, that lamb that is slain, that blood that is on the altar, we know.

It typifies, it typifies the Lord Jesus Christ. That blood is not the sacrifice God has accepted. It's because God, who has eternal eyes, knows that His Son will come into the world. And His Son, who is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, will be the one who lives a perfectly consecrated life. to the Father, in perfect obedience to the Father.

He knew no sin, perfectly righteous, perfectly faultless in all his activities, and his heart was completely given over and devoted to the Father. He has come to do the will of the Father. Did you know? and he did it perfectly and he laid down his life upon that cross and shed his blood that the blood that that this lamb typifies in the old testament all the sacrifices typify and then he has given atonement forgiveness of sin for those who have come to trust in him embrace him by faith no matter how much you try in and of yourself you won't get there you haven't got enough money to pay for the salvation you haven't got anything to warrant favour in the eyes of God. It requires a sacrifice and not any sacrifice, the once and for all sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Apart from him there can be no forgiveness of sins. Let's pray.