Bible Pathway - Feb. 14, 2011
Read Numbers 5
Highlights:
Read the laws of cleansing, recompense, jealousy; the Nazarite vow; why the threefold blessing of the Lord! The Lord bestows an abundant blessing on all who dedicate their lives inwardly and outwardly to Him.
Taking the vow of a Nazarite meant separating oneself to God for a specific period of time — a month to a lifetime. When either man or woman shall separate themselves to vow a vow of a Nazarite, to separate themselves unto the Lord. . . . All the days of his separation he is holy unto the Lord (Num. 6:2-8).
During that period of time, the Nazarite was not to go near or touch a dead body or drink wine. Numerous times God has warned: Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise (Prov. 20:1). He that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich (21:17). Look not thou upon the wine, when it is red (alcoholic). . . . At the last it biteth like a serpent (23:31-32). It is not for kings to drink (alcoholic) wine; nor for princes strong drink (31:4). The Nazarite willingly gave up physical satisfaction to be devoted to the Lord. He did not sacrifice merely his personal pleasures but his total being. The Nazarite's personal consecration to God was to serve Him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind (I Chr. 28:9) at all times.
The opposite of a Nazarite can be found in the following expressions of a self-absorbed life: Pride, exalted sense of self-worth due to appearance or abilities; independence, refusing to submit to authority; discouragement, expressing a negative attitude; anger and impatience, resentment and retaliation when others excel or things don't go one's way; self-will, having a stubborn and unteachable spirit; love of praise, seeking to be noticed; and deceit, evading and covering up the truth or exaggerating. All of these are signs of spiritual deadness (lack of love for God) or not possessing inward light which results in an indifference to the written Word of God and His will for one's life.
The Christian should, like the Nazarite, desire to go beyond being a Christian in name only, but recognizing the value of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Christians should also be willing to give up anything that keeps them from being their best to serve and worship the Lord.
Hold your heart open to the searchlight of God as you read His Word and pray: Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting (Ps. 139:23-24).
Thought for Today:
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord (II Cor. 3:18).
Christ Revealed:
Nazarite is the transliteration of a Hebrew term meaning "dedication by separation" (Num. 6:1-8). Jesus dedicated Himself to do only the will of His Father even unto death: Thy will be done (Matt. 26:39,42).
Word Studies:
5:7 recompense take restitution; 5:13 neither . . . be taken with the manner not caught in the act; 6:3 moist fresh; 6:4 vine tree grapevine; 6:6 come at to near.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for International Radio Broadcasts in memory of Henry Rogers • Assistant to the Executive Director of the IBRA in our Washington DC Branch: Terry Hall • Staff: Rita Guerra • Government Officials: Rep. Gresham Barrett (SC), Sen. Judd Gregg (NH), Rep. Richard Neal (MA), and Rep. John Hall (NY) • Country: Tajikistan (6 million) southeast central Asia • Major languages: Tajik and Russian • Almost entirely Muslim • 82% Muslim; 4% Russian Orthodox • Prayer Suggestion: When discouraged over material or financial loss, praise the Lord for preparing and providing an eternal home (John 14:1-3).
Optional Reading: Luke 1
Memory Verse for the Week: Exodus 20:4
