Numbers 6  

Verses 1-21 give the instructions for taking a "Nazarite vow".   This is a vow of separation to the Lord.  When a man or a woman made this "special vow" they had to abstain from anything that came from grapes.. no wine..no raisins.. no grapes of any kind at all. They also abstained from using a razor.. so that their hair would grow long.  They were not able to go near anyone who died.. not even their parents or siblings.  There is a whole long list of sacrifices that would need to be offered if they were accidentally exposed to a dead person.. like if someone fell over beside them and died.  There is also a long list of offerings to be given at the end of the time when the vow ended. Including shaving their head and burning the hair. 

It sounds very complicated... and it doesn't talk about any benefit for the person making this vow.  Yet, look at the life of Sampson.. or the life of Samuel.. both brought up to be Nazarites.. not by their own choice but by the command of the Lord. They were both called to be separate.. and to have a special place in the history of Israel. 

As believers in Jesus Christ... Paul writes that we should be "separate" 2 Corinthians 6:17 "Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you."  This is a quote from Isaiah 52:11 which talks about the Lord bringing deliverance and redemption to His people.  He wants us to come out from what is unclean and impure. He wants to be able to be in His holy Presence which is impossible when we are living in the world.. contaminated with the sins of worldly living. 

Then the Lord commands Aaron and his sons to offer a prayer for the people of Israel.. to "bless them".. to set them apart for Himself... 

"The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you;  The Lord lift up His countenance on you and give you peace. "  This prayer would "invoke" His name on the people. It would put His name upon them.. to charge them; to preserve them; to regard them; to appoint them or set a sign on them.  This prayer would set a hedge around the people of Israel.. the Lord Himself would guard, protect and attend to them.. His gracious presence would grant them favor as He stooped down in kindness.. His "face"would "shine" upon them.. providing light in the darkness..  His presence would be in front of them, behind them, shining down with peace.. with health and safety and rest.. and joy would fill them as they dwelt with Him.  This is a prayer we need to pray for all of us.. 

Father, we pray for others this great prayer.. for we all need Your blessing.. Your Light.. Your Presence and Your peace. May it be so! Amen.