Times for Special Devotion

A Nazirite was a consecrated and separated person who took special vows of abstention as an act of devotion to the Lord. The laws in this chapter prohibit such a person from drinking wine, intoxicating drink, vinegar, and eating raisins. The hair could not be cut during the entire period of separation from God. The third prohibition was to avoid ceremonial uncleanness through contact with a dead body. The vow was open to men and women, was for a temporary period of time, and was an act of commitment or devotion performed by a layperson in Israel. Samson was the best known of the Nazirites (Judg. 13:2-5). The prophet Amos castigates his contemporaries for making the Nazirites drink wine and commanding the prophets to be silent.

To serve God by abstaining even from legitimate things in the Christian’s privilege today as well. As the hymn writer says, “Have done with lesser things, give your heart and soul and mind and strength to serve the King of Kings.”

Taken from The Devotional Daily Bible