Page 5 - October 2025 - Truth & Tidings

an obvious mark of separation. their avoidance of death. The Israelite was
What is our lesson? A separated person careful to avoid contact with death, but in
is one of sobriety and self-control. Titus 2 some circumstances, it was necessary and
gives instructions to all age groups per- required the ceremonial cleansing of the
taining to their social lifestyle. Paul tells Red Heifer ritual (Num 19). The Nazarite
Titus they must strive for clear thinking. was hypervigilant not to be contaminated
The easiest way for any person to lack by death to prevent needing to restart the
clear thinking is to ingest alcohol or drugs, timeframe of their vow; the text assumes
legal or not. The proverb says “wine is that contact with death for the Nazarite is
a mocker, strong drink is raging” when always accidental (vv9-12). Contamina-
describing the character of impairing tion by death was a serious matter, not
substances (20:1). We show our separation merely to avoid resulting illness through
by a character of sobriety and self-control. contacting a dead body, but because sin
The Hair is linked with death. Death came by sin
The second way that a Nazarite was through Adam (Rom 5:12), “sin ... bringeth
identifiable was by their hair. They were to forth death” (Jas 1:15), and “the wages of
allow the locks of their head to grow long. sin is death” (Rom 6:23), fulfilling what
The famous Nazarite, Samson, was known God said when He told Adam, “In the day
for his long hair, which was linked to his of thine eating of it – dying thou dost die”
power (Jdg 16:17). Again, recall that the (Gen 2:17 YLT).
vow of a Nazarite could be taken by either What is our lesson? A separated person
a male or a female. Contemplating males must avoid sin and, when contaminated,
and females and long hair, we consider 1 confess their sin. The believer has died to
Corinthians 11:14-15, where Paul argues sin (Rom 6:2), yet the flesh still tempts.
from nature that men ought to have short We do not need to respond to the flesh
hair and women long hair, the opposite any longer because we died with Christ
being a shame. The Nazarite male with his when we were saved. John, however, tells
long hair would bear shame for the Lord, us that we will not be impeccable until
while the Nazarite female who shaved her we are with Christ and see Him (1Jn 3:2).
locks at the end of her vow would likewise When we sin, we are to confess it, knowing
bear shame. that God will cleanse us upon the basis
What is our lesson? A separated per- of the past propitiatory sacrifice of our
son is one willing to bear shame for the present Advocate who is with the Father
Lord. In Acts 5:41, the apostles, when (1Jn 1:9-2:2).
imprisoned and threatened because of the Finally, see Samson about the danger of
gospel, “[rejoiced that] they were counted getting as close to the forbidden things.
worthy to suffer shame for his name.”
Shame is never our desire; the Lord Him- Read of him walking in a vineyard, remov-
self despised the shame (Heb 12:2), yet it ing honey from the lion's carcass, wielding
cannot be avoided if we are to bring glory a donkey’s jawbone, and finally coming
to Him in every situation. to disaster as he reveals the secret of his
Death long hair. Flee the things that contaminate
us and pursue what promotes a healthy
The final mark of a Nazarite concerns spiritual life (2Ti 2:22).

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