Mis-Give What Belongs to God

The Nazirite vow.  The Nazirite lifestyle. Generally done by individual choice (See Numbers 6) and according to the Mishnah, (Ancient written collection of the Jewish oral traditions) it states the vow lasted for at least 30 days.  Scholars believe this may be what Acts 18:18 is referring to when Paul was “in Cenchrea he had his hair cut, for he was keeping a vow.”

However, two Old Testament guys, Samuel (1 Samuel 1:11) and Samson (Judges 13:1-5) were presented to God by their parents with evidence of Nazirite elements—tying them to a lifetime of service to God.   In the New Testament—John the Baptist (Luke 1:13-17).

We are most familiar with the Nazirite, Samson.  He was conceived within Nazirite conditions and raised a Nazirite, set apart from birth.  He was to abstain from anything grapes. Have no contact with a corpse and not cut his hair (Numbers 6:3-5). At the end of the vow, he was to offer his long hair at the temple as a sacrifice to God (v18). All this was to be a lifestyle for him (not just the mindset of a weekend fast) “the boy shall be a Nazirite to God” (Judges 13:7).

He knew.  Samson knew better than his behavior.  He ate honey from a carcass (and gave some to his folks). THEN hung around Delilah from the Valley of Sorek (which means, the Valley of the Vine). RICH vines, producing purple grapes. Samson, a Nazirite—WHAT is he doing messing around the Valley of Vines!

DUDE!

We do see God bless him with strength. Mighty strength. However. Samson, seduced by Delilah’s sweet voice, offered his hair to her (rather than God) by telling her the secret to his strength. She had it cut off. His vow was fully broken.  He sacrificed improperly. Which led to his lack of strength and ultimately his death. (You can read his whole story in Judges 13-16).

Just like the Nazirite vow, we too, as Christ followers, the redeemed, are called to a set apart lifestyle—a holy people consecrated to God, calling us to a holy life (1 Pet 1:15; 2:9-12).  Being set apart does not (NOT) mean playing with the line drawn in the sand (or playing in the vineyard) and seeing how close we can get without crossing it, touching, or sampling it.  Or playing with our calling like a toy and tossing it around.

Oswald Chambers wrote, “The first thing we realize when we come to Jesus is that He pays no attention to what we prefer. We have the idea that we can choose what to consecrate to God” (My Utmost for His Highest). God is holy and sovereign, He is “other.”  The lifestyle of being “set apart” (consecrated) is just that, set apart, all in, to—other. REGARDLESS of what the world does, what the world says. Regardless of seducing voices. Voices that offer options, choices, and redirected desires that are contrary to God, and His word. 

Peter wrote, “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8, NLT). Peter is painting an ugly picture of an adversary with an extremely malicious intent on devastating and destroying lives. Devour means to swallow (to gulp down) yet conveys also to assimilate, absorb, to overwhelm—to take in and incorporate as one’s own. “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy!”

May we be ever so careful and learn from Samson. Be alert, our behavior match what we know, discern voices and not mis-give and mis-live what belongs to—God.

Side note: Additional “mis-giving” – When the Israelites gathered their gold ear rings to help Aaron with the golden calf.  Later, they were instructed to bring their gold to help build the Tabernacle (God’s dwelling place).  Wonder how that felt when some were empty handed due to their mis-giving.  (See Exodus 32 and 35).  Mis-giving what belongs to God. 

Point to ponder.

In Him, DeDe (“Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love & good deeds” – Hebrews 10:24).