Nazariteship. The law of the Nazarite is given in Numbers 6, as one who would take a vow of separation to God; "When either man or woman shall separate themselves to vow a vow of a Nazarite, to separate themselves unto Jehovah …" (Num. 6:2). The usual case was a temporary vow of Nazariteship that would last only a short time, unless the vow was inadvertently broken, in which case the term would restart. In the case of Samson we get the first of a new kind of Nazarite: one who was designated by the Lord as "a Nazarite of God from the womb" (Judges 13:5). This was a new instrument of deliverance to Israel, suited to the desperate state of the people. We see the perpetual Nazarite in times of failure: Samson, Samuel, John the Baptist, and Christ Himself, though without the outward signs. The Nazarite's separation consisted of three prohibitions:

1. No wine or strong drink (Num. 6:3-4). Numbers speaks of even dried grapes, and the kernels and husks. Anything that was connected with the fruit of the vine was to be avoided. Wine speaks of natural joy; that "cheers God and Man" (Judges 9:13). Because of sin, God is separated from man. The Nazarite was to deny himself those natural, social joys of life because he was completely devoted to the Lord. Perhaps an example of this is seen at the marriage at Cana: Jesus said to his mother, "What have I to do with thee, woman? mine hour has not yet come" (John 2:6). Until the kingdom, natural joy was set aside. At the last Passover, a moment where natural joy would have been a great comfort to Him as a man, Christ would not drink of the fruit of the vine. But in the kingdom, when evil is put down; "until that day when I drink it [this fruit of the vine] new with you in the kingdom of my Father" (Matt. 26:29). So with the Nazarite when his vow was completed: "and afterwards the Nazarite may drink wine". The Christian is to guard his natural relations (2 Cor. 5:16).
2. No razor upon the head (Num. 6:5). Long hair is a sign of subjection and dependence (1 Cor. 11:1-16). For a man to have long hair is a dishonor, because God has given man the place of headship. Long hair says, "I do not decide for myself, but defer to another". If the long hair pertains to a woman, for a man to adopt it is a personal dishonor to himself. Yet the Nazarite was to do this in self-denial and devotion to God. "The Nazarite proclaimed openly, that he had abandoned his dignity and personal rights as a man, in order to devote himself to the service of God."¹ As we learn with Samson, what was outwardly a sign of weakness was really the key to his strength, for "when I am weak, then am I strong" (2 Cor. 12:10).
3. No defilement by a dead body (Num. 6:6-7). The Nazarite was not to be defiled by the dead, even in the case of father, mother, brother, or sister. Death is the consequence, or wages, of sin (Rom. 6:23). Physical death is a type of moral death: the spiritual condition of the unbeliever. Contact with the world is defiling, and the Nazarite was not to allow even the closest natural ties to hinder his separation to the Lord. The Lord Jesus could say, "Who is my mother and who are my brethren?" (Matt. 12:48).

In Numbers 6 there are provisions for accidental contact with death, which required an atonement and a trespass offering. If he defiled himself, he was to shave his head: a public acknowledgment of his failure. To continue with the outward appearance of devotion to God when communion has been broken is a serious thing.

 

When a vow of separation was completed, a peace offering was made, and the hair was cut and put on the fire (Num. 6:18). It speaks of how, in a coming day, all our energy of devotion will be transferred into the energy of praise and communion! Our devotion to Christ can never be an object to admire; it is consumed. As a type of Christ, the true Nazarite, it speaks of Him returning to the Father having completed the path of obedience and devotion, sealed with the work of Calvary.

 

Separation to and From.

Separation is always looked at as to something and from something. We are to be separate unto the Lord first (Num. 6:2), and then from the world and defilement (Num. 6:3). The order is important. We can fall into a legal frame of mind if we forget that separation is first positive, then negative. In fact, the negative aspect will follow almost automatically when the heart is right. However, God still does speak extensively about the negative side of separation because our consciences need to be exercised.

 

 

Samson, the Nazarite. Samson, the first instance of a Nazarite from the womb, was a humiliating failure. We see him feasting, which likely involved drinking wine (Judges 14:10), touching a dead body (Judges 14:9), and finally having his hair cut (Judges 16:17). Though he long maintained the sign of a Nazarite (long hair), yet his continual and worsening failures in separation led him into a place where, at last, the physical sign was removed to align with his true moral state.