Tag Archives: God

Dedicated to the Lord: The Nazarite Vow

Posted on by under Article, Christian Living

Introduction

As we reflect on Veterans Day, we honor those dedicated to their country. This moment invites us to consider a deeper question: Are you dedicated to the Lord? The biblical Nazarite was a powerful example of such dedication. While Jesus was called a Nazarene because of Nazareth (see Matthew 2:23), the Nazarite vow was something entirely different—a voluntary commitment to God, marked by extraordinary devotion. As we seek to grow closer to Christ, let us explore what the Nazarite vow entailed and challenge ourselves to examine our own dedication.

The Nazarite Vow

The Nazarite vow, described in Numbers 6:1-8, was open to both men and women. It was a special, difficult vow—an act of consecration between an individual and God, not a family or tribe. Unlike other Old Testament laws found in Leviticus or Exodus, this vow focused on personal commitment. The Hebrew word nazir means “dedicate,” and appears about ten times in the context regarding a separation or dedication. The vow was a way for an individual to set themselves apart for God for a specific period, giving what was most precious—their “self”—to the Lord.

Three-Fold Stipulations

  1. Abstain from wine and strong drink: This went beyond what was required even of priests.
  2. No razor shall pass over the head: During the vow, the individual would not cut their hair.
  3. Avoid contact with the dead: Even accidental defilement required the person to shave their head and begin the vow anew (see Numbers 6:9-12). This underscores the seriousness of the commitment.

Completion of the vow involved several offerings—a male lamb, an ewe lamb, a ram, a basket of cakes, and the shaving of the dedicated hair, which was burned on the altar. Afterward, the Nazarite was welcomed back into fellowship and could once again partake of the grapevine.

Notable Nazarites

Only three individuals are thought to have been Nazarites from birth:

  • Samson (Judges 13:2-5)
  • John the Baptist (Luke 1:15)
  • Samuel (1 Samuel 1:11)

Historical sources like Josephus and Eusebius note that Nazarite vows were popular in the first century AD, and that figures such as John the Baptist and James (the brother of Jesus) were Nazarites. Even Paul is believed to have taken a Nazarite vow (Acts 18:18; 21:23), sometimes helping others complete theirs due to the expense involved.

How Dedicated Are We?

While Christians are not under the law of Moses and there is no direct equivalent to the Nazarite vow in the New Testament, believers are still called to be dedicated to the Lord—set apart and made holy. The term “saints” means “holy ones,” those who have been set apart (Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 1 Peter 1:16; 1 Peter 2:9; Galatians 2:20). This dedication is about going beyond a regular relationship with God, giving ourselves to Him fully, and living for Christ.

The Nazarite vow was voluntary, not commanded (Numbers 6:2), much like fasting in the New Testament (Matthew 6:16-18). Both are ways to show dedication to God that go above and beyond what is required. Every week, we have opportunities to demonstrate our dedication.

Conclusion

The Nazarite vow was a difficult, extra step of dedication to the Lord, requiring the individual to remain undefiled. In a sense, becoming a Christian is a similar vow—a commitment to remain set apart and holy (1 John 2:15-17). As we reflect, let’s ask ourselves: Does our dedication need to be ramped up? The invitation is open to deepen our commitment and grow closer to Him.

There is a God

Posted on by under Christian Evidences
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In my earlier days in the church there was an old hymn, number 728b in most of the older song books, that is still one of my favorite hymns.  The chorus states that there is a God and that He is alive!  Indeed, the existence of God is one of the central tenants of any religion.  As more and more people in our world and in our nation have questioned the existence of an all-knowing, all-powerful being, just what are we to think?  Is there really a God?

The short answer is yes, there is a God.  He is the God we read about in the Bible.  However, since many skeptics that we are likely to encounter do not believe the Bible, let us rather look to science and logic in this moment for our proof.

Science has shown two major issues with regards to what we can see.  The first is that matter, stuff, is not eternal.  Matter has not always been here.  Matter has a born-on date.  If that is the case, then where did matter (all that we can see, touch, taste, and smell) come from?  This is one thing that science cannot explain.  Secondly, if there was once nothing (no matter), how is it that there now is something (the world that we live in)?  Matter does not just spontaneously appear.  Cars and houses do not magically appear out of nowhere.  They must be designed and built by someone.  Scripture has an answer for this.  The Bible states, “For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God” (Hebrews 3:4, NKJV).

In looking at these two scientific facts, let us reason logically about what this means.  If there once was nothing, why isn’t there nothing now?  Since there is something now (the universe), just how did that come into being?  There had to have been a cause.  Since matter is not eternal, there had to be a beginning of its existence.  Everything that begins to exist must have a cause.  The universe began to exist at some point in the past.  Therefore, the universe must have had a cause.  That cause has to be a superior being who has always existed.  Matter is not eternal, but the mind of God is.

Science and logic tell us that there must be a God.  Therefore, it is incumbent upon us that we seek Him out and learn about Him.  We cannot find God through our feelings or by a blind leap in the dark.  That would not be logical nor scientific.  We must follow the evidence and go where it leads.  Surely, a God who created us and all things would want to communicate with us.  He has.  “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds” (Hebrews 1:1-2).  Let us not refuse Him who has spoken to us from heaven (Hebrews 12:25).

Does Integrity Still Matter?

Posted on by under Christian Living, Current Events
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            There was a time when a man’s word was his bond.  He would never think of violating that standard to go back on what he had said.  Those days seem to be long in the dust.  As what may be the longest political campaign for the presidency of these United States begins, one wonders where integrity has gone.  Our current batch of politicians will seemingly say anything in order to procure votes for themselves or for their particular brand.  One day they will hurl an endless barrage of insults against their opponents only to clap them on the back the next day when they have dropped out and endorsed the mudslinger.  Additionally, there are calls to prosecute and lock up opponents when those making the accusations are equally guilty of said offense.  Where is the integrity?  Where is the honesty?  Is it okay to be a total hypocrite and accept what ‘our guy’ is doing and attack ‘their guy’ for the same?

            We may wonder what God would think about all this.  If we consult His word, however, we wouldn’t have to wonder for long.  The principles are there in the Old Testament writings.  Integrity, honesty, and righteousness are all to be desired.  David wrote, “The LORD judges the peoples; vindicate me, O LORD, for the righteousness and blamelessness that are mine. Let the evil of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous; he who probes the mind and conscience is God the righteous” (Psalm 7:9-10).  Solomon also penned these words, “The integrity of the upright guides them; The deviousness of the treacherous leads them to ruin” (Proverbs 11:3).  God is not pleased when we abandon what He says is right or wrong because we think that it will earn us money, fame, or power.  “Better is the poor who walks in his integrity Than one who is perverse in his lips, and is a fool” (Proverbs 19:1).

            Our political system has become so convoluted that we just accept that this is the way it is.  We expect our leaders to lie to us and stretch the truth.  We expect them to promise us what we know in reality they cannot deliver.  They too know that they cannot deliver while they are making the promises.  We’ve come a long way from letting our ‘yes’ mean yes and our ‘no’ mean no.  Then we sit back and wonder why we don’t have any better candidates to choose from.  What honest person in their right mind would want to dive into this polluted pool?

            So what’s the answer?  What should we do?  Jesus never taught us to worry about politics per se.  To overcome the worries that we might have Jesus says that we must seek first His kingdom and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33).  We need to focus on doing what is right.  Upholding and defending those who practice iniquity just because they are on our side of the political aisle is not the righteousness of God.  We need to pray for our leaders and hope that they will do what is right, no matter what letter is behind their name. ”Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:1-4).

    Before you say that you cannot pray for our leaders because of how evil they might be, just keep in mind that when Paul penned the words above to pray for the authorities Nero was Emperor of Rome.  If Paul could pray for that guy, we can pray for our leaders now.  God wants for all men to be saved.  Let us direct our energy towards that endeavor instead.

As Daniel Purposed in His Heart

Posted on by under Christian Living

            Do you remember what it was like to be a teenager, and to have to face the constant peer pressure of those who were around you?  Just imagine what it would be like to have to spend those years in a foreign country, where you might have very little say over what you could or could not do.  Imagine how difficult that would be in our youthful years.

            This was the case with Daniel and his friends, who were taken captive by the Babylonians in 606 – 605 BC, when they were likely only about 14 or 15 years old.  Yet, even in a foreign land as a captive, Daniel had a resolve to not defile himself.  Notice what is recorded about him, “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself” (Daniel 1:8).  In this verse, Daniel resolves not to defile himself with the king’s food or wine.

            Daniel’s decision to abstain from the king’s food and wine was not just a matter of personal preference.  It was a matter of faith.  Daniel was committed to following the Mosaic Law, which prohibited the eating of certain food (Leviticus 11).  This could not have been an easy decision, but Daniel purposed in his heart ahead of time, before the temptations would have come, to do the Lord’s will.  Daniel was in a foreign land surrounded by others who did not share his beliefs.  The peer pressure would have been great to go along to get along.  However, Daniel remained faithful, and God rewarded him for it (Daniel 1:9, 17).

            Daniel’s resolve is a great example for us to remember to stand up for what God wants, even when it may be difficult – even when surrounded by non-believers.  When we purpose in our hearts to do what is right, we will be less likely to compromise godly values and beliefs, no matter what it costs us.  Remember, it is more important to be Christlike than to be popular.

The Lord and Me, We Have a Deal

Posted on by under Article, Doctrine
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            Perhaps you have tried to share the gospel with someone or encouraged them to come to the worship service of the church, only to have them quote the title above as if they are separate from God’s requirements.  Don’t get me wrong, we can have a covenant relationship with the Lord, but that relationship can only be had according to His stipulations and requirements.  Let’s explore . . .

            In the Old Testament covenant that God made with the nation of Israel, God gave all of the stipulations and requirements to Moses on Mt. Sinai.  Moses then relayed the information to the children of Israel.  “So Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD and all the judgments. And all the people answered with one voice and said, ‘All the words which the LORD has said we will do’” (Exodus 24:3 emphasis added).   Notice the ‘all’ that they said they would do.  The covenant was not negotiable.  The Lord set the stipulations and the people could either accept it or refuse it.  They couldn’t say that they had a special or different deal with the Lord.  Part of those stipulations were that they had to keep three specific feast days to the Lord (Exodus 23:14).  They couldn’t just decide to roll those three into one day for convenience.  The covenant was unilateral and non-negotiable.

            In the New Testament there is a new covenant.  Jeremiah prophesied that this new covenant was coming (Jer. 31:31-34).  The new covenant is the agreement that we can have with the Lord today, however, this deal is also based upon the commandments and stipulations of the Lord.  We can either accept the deal or deny it.  We do not get to negotiate our own deal individually.  Jesus basically says that if we follow Him, we can have the remission of our sins and live with Him forever (Mark 16:16; Mat. 28:19-20; Acts 2:38).  Notice especially in the Matthew passage that in order to be a disciple of Christ that one must be baptized and taught to observe all things that Jesus has commanded.

   Both the Hebrew and Greek words that are used for covenant in the Bible mean a contract or agreement of some kind.  So, we can have an agreement with God.  That agreement or covenant relationship can only be had, however, if we will accept all that God has told us to do.  God’s salvation is not a buffet where we get to pick and choose.  We must do all that He commands us to do!

God’s Family

Posted on by under Christian Living, Doctrine

Pontus_Greek_family     If we are like most people, somewhere amongst all of our belongings there is a family photo album or two. From time to time we like to take out that photo album and relive the memory of lost loved ones or special times and events in our life. Maybe we gather around with others in our family and share stories from the past. Family is important and makes us feel like we belong to a group with a common background, common experiences, and a shared heritage. Just imagine for a moment what it would be like if God had a family photo album. Whose pictures would be in that album?

     We see that family was important to Jesus, but maybe not in the way that we think. There was an occasion where Jesus was teaching His disciples, and while He was still speaking to them He was told that his physical mother and brothers were waiting outside to speak with Him (Mark 3:31-2). Then Jesus said, “’Who is My mother, or My brothers?’  And He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him, and said, ‘Here are My mother and My brothers!  For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother’” (Mark 3:33-35 NKJV). Jesus stated that His spiritual family was more important to Him than His physical family.

     If we want to be a part of God’s family, if we want for our pictures to be in His “photo album,” then we need to do what Jesus says to do. Notice He said “whoever does the will of God” is His family. It is important then, that we do the will of God. Compare this to what Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Matthew 7:21). It is not enough for us to just call Him Lord, we must be willing to do the will of the Father to be in the family of God and to enter into the kingdom of heaven. Have you obeyed God’s will? Is your picture in God’s photo album? We invite you to come and see what God’s word has to say about the will of the Lord, so that all of us can be in God’s family!

Instant Messaging

Posted on by under Christian Living

Texting     Have you ever prayed for God to take care of some problem that you had, and then wondered what the answer to that prayer would be? It is especially difficult for us as Americans to be patient in waiting for a response. We are so accustomed to fast food, microwave ovens, and instant messaging that we expect immediate results. Additionally, it may be that the answer to our prayer is “not now,” and so we have to wait awhile for the result. This is a normal situation, but during the time of Hezekiah, he received an instant response to one of his prayers.

     As 2 Kings 20 opens Hezekiah is sick to the point of death. Isaiah the prophet comes to him to instruct him to put his house in order, for he will soon die. This leads to Hezekiah’s prayer, and the text tells us that he prayed with such fervor that he wept bitterly (2 Kings 20:2). His prayer was heard and his tears were seen by the Lord. Before Isaiah could even exit Hezekiah’s house, he was told to return to Hezekiah with an updated message (2 Kings 20:4-5). Hezekiah was not going to die yet. Instead the Lord granted him another 15 years on this earth. God was prepared for Hezekiah’s prayer, because God knows all things even before they occur.

     Likewise when we pray to the Lord, He already knows what it is that we will say and what it is that we need (Matthew 6:8). Still, He wants for us to come to Him in prayer. We are no different than Hezekiah in that respect. God knew that He would heal Hezekiah, but yet He waited for Hezekiah’s prayer. God has the power to answer all our prayers in an instant. Whether the answer comes instantly or over the course of time, our part is to pray with the earnest expectation that God will hear and answer our prayers (James 1:6-8).

The Apple of God’s Eye

Posted on by under Christian Living, Love of God

Apple of His Eye     There is an old Stevie Wonder song where he sings about someone being the apple of his eye. The descriptive “apple of his eye” is used to denote that person who is most precious to him. The one that he cannot do without. We might consider how we look at God, and whether He is the apple of our eye, but instead let us consider who or what is the apple of God’s eye.

     In the book of Zechariah, God was encouraging His people, who had returned from exile and were in the process of rebuilding the temple. As they were building, they were concerned with the lack of walls around the city for protection. To ease their minds, God instructed them through the prophet, “For thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘He sent Me after glory, to the nations which plunder you; for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye.  For surely I will shake My hand against them, and they shall become spoil for their servants. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent Me’” (Zechariah 2:8-9 NKJV). God was basically telling them that He would protect them from their enemies, for they are the apple of His eye. This means that God’s people are precious in His sight.

     Over 600 years later, God would also give comfort to His people who were suffering under the persecution of the Roman Empire. At that time John wrote the book of Revelation to the church in order to encourage them to hang in there in the face of persecution and death. God was going to deal with the Roman Empire, because when they went after His people, the apple of His eye, they were basically going after Him.

     We as God’s people are still precious to Him today. It is you and me as Christians, the members of His church, who are special in His sight. We are the apple of His eye. Thinking about this and thinking about how He has cared for His people and continues to care for His people should give us pause in how we deal with our brothers and sisters in the Lord. Are we treating our Christian family as the apple of God’s eye? In light of the fact that God is greatly displeased when any of His children are mistreated, we should all consider how we are treating one another and realize that all of His children are precious in His sight.

But If Not . . .

Posted on by under Culture

OXYGEN Volume 10     Back in the days of Daniel, when the children of Israel were exiled in Babylon, King Nebuchadnezzar decided to have a 90 foot tall golden statue constructed. The king then commanded that at the proper time all were to bow down and worship this golden image. There were those among the exiles, however, who were faithful to God and would not bow down to the image even though the penalty was death in a fiery furnace (Daniel 3:1-12). These three men, Meshach, Shadrach, and Abed-Nego, were not going to violate their worship to the one true God by bowing down and paying homage to the image Nebuchadnezzar created. Did they not know that this would cost them their physical lives?

     Meshach, Shadrach, and Abed-Nego knew full well what the penalty was for refusing to bow to the statue, and yet they remained unconcerned. They responded to the king that they need not be worried over the circumstances of their refusal, because their God was able to deliver them (Daniel 3:17). They knew that God had the power to save them from the physical death in the fiery furnace. Then they uttered three words that demonstrated their great faith in the Almighty God, “but if not” (Daniel 3:18). Even if God decided to not save them from the physical trial, they knew that God could still deliver them spiritually.

     How is our faith in times of trouble or trial? Do we have the faith to stand with the one true God, or do we see our trials as too difficult and give in to the rest of the world? Do we take the path of least resistance to avoid trial or persecution? Let us look to these three young men as examples of how we should approach physical trials. God has the power to deliver us from all sorts of physical trials. But if not, He is still the only one who can deliver our souls from everlasting destruction.

Why Was God Pleased to Injure Christ?

Posted on by under Love of God

nails     During this time of the year when many people are thinking about the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, many might read from Isaiah 53, which predicts the Christ’s ordeal on the cross. Have you ever read that account, however, and wondered about just what it says? In verse 4 we read that Christ was, “Smitten by God, and afflicted” (Isaiah 53:4, NKJV). Later it declares, “And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6). “He was cut off from the land of the living; For the transgressions of My people He was stricken” (Isaiah 53:8). On and on we read within Isaiah’s prophecy about how Jesus was going to be mistreated by mankind. But then we read the statement, “Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief” (Isaiah 53:10, emphasis added). Just how could this bloody sacrifice of His one and only unique Son be pleasing to God?

     There are many events recorded in the Bible, with which God was not pleased. He was not pleased with the idolatry of the Israelites. Whether at the base of Mount Sinai during their exodus from Egypt, in the high places during the time of the divided kingdom, or in the temple during the reign of Manasseh, God was not pleased with idolatry. There were times when the Israelites did not offer their best in sacrifice to God, but instead brought the lame and sick as a sacrifice (Malachi 1:8; 3:8-9). In this God was not pleased, because their heart was not in what they were doing, and they were not showing God the proper respect. “Therefore, when He [Jesus] came into the world, He said: ‘Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me. In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure’” (Hebrews 10:5-6). Here Jesus is saying to the Father that the Father did not desire or have pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices.

     So what are we to make of this? God did not have pleasure or desire for burnt offerings and sacrifices, which He commanded, but it pleased the Lord to bruise Christ. Even though God commanded the children of Israel to make burnt offerings and sacrifices, He did not take pleasure in them. Their sacrifices represented failure on their part to keep His law. They were required because of the sins of the people. They were necessary because mankind will always fall short. God takes no pleasure in man’s sin. This is why God through the prophet Samuel says, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice” (1 Samuel 15:22). God would rather that man obey Him than to make the best animal sacrifice he could offer. God also did not have pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices because they could not get the job done. Just before stating that God has no desire for nor pleasure in those offerings, the Hebrew account tells us plainly, “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins” (Hebrews 10:4). Those animal sacrifices could not take sin away and could not make those who offered them perfect with regards to the conscience (Hebrews 9:9; 10:1-3). There was still a remembrance of those sins, and so year after year the High Priest would enter the Most Holy Place with the blood of the sacrifice (Hebrews 9:7). God was not pleased because the reconciliation between God and man was not complete.

     By contrast then, God was pleased with the sacrifice of Christ. Because of what Jesus did for mankind by dying on the cross as our perfect offering, there is a cleansing of the conscience and the sins of man are remembered no more (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 8:12). The sacrifice of Jesus was perfect and complete. There no longer remains a need for another sacrifice, because Jesus offered Himself for us once for all (Hebrews 9:11-15). Because of the redemptive work of Christ, man and God are reconciled to one another (Ephesians 2:16). In this the Lord is pleased. This is how God can say that He was pleased to bruise Jesus for our transgressions. It is not that He was pleased by Christ having to endure the cross and the pain and the shame. But God was pleased in the result in that mankind has a path back to the Father. Will you follow God’s Path to Salvation? Will you take the only way that we can go to find eternal life (John 14:6)? God has done His part by offering His one and only unique Son for our behalf (John 3:16). In this He was pleased. Will you do your part to accept His sacrifice and apply the blood to cover your sins through simple obedience to the Gospel? If you want to be pleasing to God, you will.