Nazirites

The name has nothing to do with Jesus’ hometown, Nazareth. Rather, they were a specially dedicated group of people who took vows not to touch wine or any grape products, not to cut their hair (either head or beard), and not to touch a dead body.

Numbers 6 describes the Nazirite rules in detail. One could choose to be a Nazirite for a period of a month or a lifetime.

Whatever the time frame, the vows were taken with great seriousness. Although the Nazirites took vows that made them “separate . . . to the LORD,” they did not live apart from other Israelites.

Three Nazirites are significant: Samson, the strongman judge of Israel; Samuel, the judge who crowned Israel’s first two kings; and John the Baptist, the only Nazirite in the New Testament.

Samson’s long hair played a key role in the story of his capture by the Philistines.

See 499 (Samson).

DAILY DEVOTIONAL

True Worship that Pleases the Lord

Timothy Keller

A little boy left his toys out and went in to practice the piano, using hymns for his lesson. When his mother called him to pick up his toys, he said, “I ca n’t eat; “I’m singing praise to Jesus.” His mother responded: “There's no use singing God's praises when you're being disobedient.”

DAILY DEVOTIONAL

From Heavenly Greatness to Inexhaustible Love

Timothy Keller

The number of stars is still uncountable by human science, yet God knows them by name (verse 4; cf. Isaiah 40:26). Job speaks of the creation, when “the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy” (Job 38:7).

DAILY DEVOTIONAL

The Gift of Himself

David Jeremiah

Long ago, there ruled a wise and good king in Persia who loved his people and often dressed in the clothes of a working man or a beggar so he could visit the poor and learn about their hardships.

DAILY DEVOTIONAL

Healing Time

J. Stephen Lang

1868: On this date a political leader who grew up poor, had no formal education and was illiterate until his wife taught him to read and write, issued Proclamation 179 “granting full pardon and amnesty for the offense of treason against the United States during the late Civil War.”

DAILY DEVOTIONAL

A Personal Promise

Charles Stanley

Jesus came to earth with the view of offering you salvation. He wanted you to have a restored relationship with the Father, a relationship that was so close, so intimate, that you would have your special place in the Father’s house (John 14:1–4).