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The Nazirite vow was instituted by God to form a small group
who would serve God, besides the Levites and priests. The special rules resulted in publicly-noticeable
behavior – longer hair, abstaining from all grape products, and not touching
dead bodies – which were designed to keep the Nazirite’s life holy and clean. I think of Samson, however, and know that he
may have followed the external rules,
but his life was anything by holy.
The sidebar in my Bible says that religious leaders in Jesus’
day didn’t like the fact that He could expose the inner person. After all,
they’d become adept at “decorating the exterior
of life … and camouflaging the interior
of life where the scenery was spoiled.”
Others, it said, “were drawn to Him because they sensed an
overriding safety in being transparent with Him. Instead of heaping shame upon them as others
did, He gave grace …and grace meant
a new start.”
For a Nazirite, sin –whether accidental or intentional,
meant starting all over and striving again for holiness. I’m glad
that I’ve got grace instead.
Father, there is no hiding sin from You. Thank You for offering us grace that leads us
to confess and receive forgiveness.
Thank You for the freedom that confession brings and for the grace You offer
us.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
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