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Monday, November 20, 2017

JEHOVAH Make HIS FACE Shine On You And Be Gracious To You!





Numbers 6:1-27 NIV







The Nazirite









1The LORD Said to Moses, 




2“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, 3they 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. 4As long as they remain under their Nazirite vow, they must not eat anything that comes from the grapevine, not even the seeds or skins.






5“ ‘During the entire period of their Nazirite vow, no razor may be used on their head. They must be holy until the period of their dedication To The LORD is over; they must let their hair grow long.







6“ ‘Throughout the period of their dedication To The LORD, the Nazirite must not go near a dead body. 7Even if their own father or mother or brother or sister dies, they must not make themselves ceremonially unclean on account of them, because the symbol of their dedication To GOD is on their head. 8Throughout the period of their dedication, they are consecrated To The LORD.




                                                         (Samson , the Nazarite)




9“ ‘If someone dies suddenly in the Nazirite’s presence, thus defiling the hair that symbolizes their dedication, they must shave their head on the seventh day—the day of their cleansing. 10Then on the eighth day they must bring two doves or two young pigeons to the priest at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 11The priest is to offer one as a sin offeringa and the other as a burnt offering to make atonement for the Nazirite because they sinned by being in the presence of the dead body. That same day they are to consecrate their head again. 12They must rededicate themselves To The LORD for the same period of dedication and must bring a year-old male lamb as a guilt offering. The previous days do not count, because they became defiled during their period of dedication.



13“ ‘Now this is the law of the Nazirite when the period of their dedication is over. They are to be brought to the entrance to the tent of meeting. 14There they are to present their offerings To The LORD: a year-old male lamb without defect for a burnt offering, a year-old ewe lamb without defect for a sin offering, a ram without defect for a fellowship offering, 







15together with their grain offerings and drink offerings, and a basket of bread made with the finest flour and without yeast—thick loaves with olive oil mixed in, and thin loaves brushed with olive oil.



16“ ‘The priest is to present all these Before The LORD and make the sin offering and the burnt offering.17He is to present the basket of unleavened bread and is to sacrifice the ram as a fellowship offering To The LORD, together with its grain offering and drink offering.



18“ ‘Then at the entrance to the tent of meeting, the Nazirite must shave off the hair that symbolizes their dedication. They are to take the hair and put it in the fire that is under the sacrifice of the fellowship offering.



19“ ‘After the Nazirite has shaved off the hair that symbolizes their dedication, the priest is to place in their hands a boiled shoulder of the ram, and one thick loaf and one thin loaf from the basket, both made without yeast. 20The priest shall then wave these Before The LORD as a wave offering; they are holy and belong to the priest, together with the breast that was waved and the thigh that was presented.



 After that, the Nazirite may drink wine.



21“ ‘This is the law of the Nazirite who vows offerings To The LORD in accordance with their dedication, in addition to whatever else they can afford. They must fulfill the vows they have made, according to the law of the Nazirite.’ ”








The Priestly Blessing







22The LORD Said To Moses,  


23“Tell Aaron and his sons, 


‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. 

Say to them:




24 “The LORD Bless you
And Keep you;

25The LORD Make HIS Face Shine On you
And Be Gracious To you;

26The LORD Turn HIS Face Toward you
And Give you peace.” ’



27“So they will put MY Name on the Israelites, and I 

WILL Bless them.”








The Nazirite Vow






The word Nazarite signifies separation. Some were appointed of GOD, before their birth, to be Nazarites all their days, as Samson and John the Baptist. But, in general, it was a vow of separation from the world and devotedness to the services of religion, for a limited time, and under certain rules, which any person might make if they pleased. A Nazarite is spoken of as well known; but his obligation is brought to a greater certainty than before. That the fancies of superstitious men might not multiply the restraints endlessly, GOD Gives them rules. They must not drink wine or strong drink, nor eat grapes. Those who separate themselves to GOD, must not gratify the desires of the body, but keep it under.


Let all Christians be very moderate in the use of wine and strong drink; for if the love of these once gets the mastery of a man, he becomes an easy prey to Satan. The Nazarites were to eat nothing that came of the vine; this may teach the utmost care to avoid sin, and all that borders upon it, and leads to it, or may be a temptation to us.


They must not cut their hair. They must neither poll their heads, nor shave their beards; this was the mark of Samson being a Nazarite. This signified neglect of the body, and of the ease and ornament of it. Those who separate themselves To GOD, must keep their consciences pure from dead works, and not touch unclean things. All the days of their separation they must be holy To The LORD. This was the meaning of those outward observances, and without this they were of no account. No penalty or sacrifice was appointed for those who willfully broke their vow of being Nazarites; they must answer another day for such profane trifling With JEHOVAH their GOD; but those were to be relieved who did not sin willfully.


Such a difference there is between rules of man's invention and those directed in Scripture, Let us not forget that The LORD JESUS Is not only our Surety, but also our Example. For HIS Sake we must renounce worldly pleasures, abstain from fleshy lusts, be separate from sinners, make open profession of our faith, and be spiritually-minded, and devoted To GOD'S Service, and desirous to be an example all around us.


The priests were solemnly to bless the people in the Name of JEHOVAH. To be under the almighty protection of GOD our SAVIOR; to enjoy HIS Favor as the smile of A Loving FATHER, or as the cheering beams of the sun; while HE Mercifully Forgives our sins, Supplies our wants, Consoles the heart, and Prepares us by HIS Grace for eternal Glory; these things form the substance of this blessing, and the sum total of all blessings. In so rich a list of mercies worldly joys are not worthy to be mentioned.



 Here is a form of prayer.



“JEHOVAH Bless you
And Keep you;
JEHOVAH Make HIS Face Shine On you
And Be Gracious To you;
JEHOVAH Turn HIS Face Toward you
And Give you peace.”






Amen.






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