“The Lord said to Moses, ‘Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘If a man or woman wants to make a special vow, a vow of dedication to the Lord as a Nazirite, they must abstain from wine and other fermented drink and must not drink vinegar made from wine or other fermented drink. They must not drink grape juice or eat grapes or raisins.”
- Numbers 6:1-3 -

In Numbers chapter 6, we see the rules set out for someone who wants to consecrate his or her life to the Lord in a special way for a short time. Nothing is said about their positive engagement with God, but only about things that they must not do. They should not drink wine or consume any product of the vine; they must not cut their hair nor have any contact with dead bodies. They are voluntarily taking upon themselves some conditions of the priesthood.

In Judges we meet Samson, who is a life-long Nazirite. His zeal we can respect, but his morality we should not emulate. John the Baptist also seems to have some of the Nazirite characteristics. Jesus, in contrast, seems almost to be the opposite of everything a Nazirite was. He drank and made wine. He touched dead bodies and gave them life. He was not polluted by anything and had no need of a sin offering. It is the Nazarene and not the Nazarite who saves and whose example we follow.

Prayer: Father, it is in the daily grind of life, that I let you down. Forgive my relational imperfections, my pettiness, my confused priorities. I offer myself anew to you today.

(From Encounter with God)