The Law of the Nazirite
No entry exists in Forerunner Commentary for Numbers 6:3.
Numbers 6:1-8
The grape symbolized abundance, and pleasure. "Wine cheers the heart of God and man." And, a Nazarite was told to forego or sacrifice both of these things—abundance and pleasure—in order to devote himself to God. He was strictly set in one thing: To do God's bidding, whatever it may be. He was supposed to not even touch these things. They are to be far away from him. Alcohol, while quite pleasurable, also intoxicates. It affects decision making. Scripture says in Proverbs 20:1 that wine is a mocker. It makes people think and do silly and stupid things. It causes brawling. God wants His servants, especially those who have dedicated themselves to Him, to be clear-headed.
And so the stipulation about grapes and alcoholic drinks seems to point to sacrifice, commitment, right thinking, and wisdom. That is what God wants these people to show.
Secondly, a Nazarite must not cut their hair for the entire period of the vow. Long hair is a sign of submission. I Corinthians 11:10, 15 says that person who has long hair is under authority. It means that they have submitted to someone. In this case, a Nazarite submits himself totally to God. And so, the long hair that they wore told everyone that they have put their other matters aside in order to serve God. So, this symbolizes submission, humility, service, and separation.
The third thing was that they were not to touch a carcass—human or animal. A dead body was ceremonially unclean to any Israelite, but especially to a Nazarite. A dead body represents—death! And by extension, it represents the sin that caused the death. And sin is the manner in which we are cut off from God. That is exactly the opposite of what the vow is supposed to do. The vow was separating one's self to God, not from Him.
And so, to touch a dead body was to repudiate the entire vow. It was as if it was saying, "I love death. I love sin. I am willing to fellowship with these things rather than keeping myself pure and undefiled." So, this one symbolizes purity, life, dedication, and union with God.
Other Forerunner Commentary entries containing Numbers 6:3:
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