DBG - February 16 - Numbers 5-6

In this chapter we have three sections dealing with separation from sin in the camp.

vs. 1-4 – Lepers were not allowed to be in the camp of Israel. This is for health reasons to prevent the spread of the dreaded disease.  There are also spiritual reasons in the imagery of leprosy as sin having no place among the holy people of God.

vs. 5-10 – Just as we saw leprosy cast out of the camp, now we see literal sin having no place in the camp.  Sine was to be confessed, and restitution made (with the added 20%).

vs. 11-31 – We come now to one of the strangest parts of Scripture to the modern mind.  I must first remind you that the theme of this chapter is the removal of sin from the camp.  Here is the removal of the suspicion of sin.  There is a spiritual picture here that reminds me of the Book of Hosea, where Israel is represented as an unfaithful wife.  I also want to say that there is no need to read any modern theories about gender inequality here.  Just because such a case is not mentioned for a man does not mean men were exempted from all guilt in adultery.

The idea here is to relieve the suspicion of adultery.  A man took his suspected wife to the priest. Through a system of offering a meal offering of barley, taking of an oath, and drinking of a concoction of water, dust, and ink (from vs. 23).  If the woman was guilty, she placed a curse upon herself that God revealed with physical afflictions.  If not guilty, peace and trust are restored in the home.

Was this done to scare the woman into a confession?  There must be more to it than that.  The threat must have been real to be effective.  This is more than shame or superstition at work.  God divinely intervened and revealed the secret truth.

In this chapter we have see the Nazarite vow and Aaron’s blessing for the people.

vs. 2 – Nazarite means “separated one”.  The most famous person under the Nazarite vow is Samson in Judges chapters 13-16.  It is a voluntary vow with no stipulations or requirements put on entering into it.  The purpose was to consecrate oneself to God for a determined period. 

vs. 3-4 – The first restriction upon a Nazarite was separation from strong drink.

vs. 5 – The second restriction upon a Nazarite was not cutting their hair.

vs. 6-7 – The third restriction upon a Nazarite was that they could not touch a dead body.

vs. 8 – These restrictions were in effect the length of the vow.

vs. 9-12 – In the case of defilement that was unavoidable (such as the sudden death of someone near the Nazarite), sacrifices are made and the counting of days of the vow restarted.

vs. 13-21 – Here are the prescribed offerings made at the end of the Nazarite vow.  During this, the Nazarite shaves his head, and the hair is burned on the altar.  Vs. 21 says that additional offering could be given if part of the vow. 

vs. 22-27 – This is one of the most beautiful passages of Scripture.  According to tradition, the High Priest pronounced this blessing on the people after each daily sacrifice.  It is three lines long, each calling on Jehovah to bless the people.  In the thrice repeated name of God, we see a hint at the Trinity. 

We take sin far too lightly today. God goes to great lengths in the Law to show high cost of sin and the importance of holiness. One of the remarkable features of this is what we read in Chapter 5 with the case of suspected infidelity. God had given many commands for sacrifices after sin was committed. God have given many commands for making restitution when sin caused harm. There in Chapter 5 God gives a way to even deal with suspected sin! Nothing is hid from Him, as Psalm 44:21 says: “Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.”

Our hymn today is “Come, Father, Son and Holy Ghost” written by Charles Wesley in 1762.  It takes inspiration from Aaron’s blessing and expands upon them to form a beautiful hymn of benediction.

Come, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
One God in person three,
Bring back the heav'nly blessing lost
By all mankind and me.

Thy favour, and thy nature too,
To me, to all restore;
Forgive, and after God renew,
And keep us evermore.

Eternal Sun of Righteousness,
Display thy beams divine,
And cause the glories of thy face,
Upon my heart to shine.

Light in thy light O may I see,
Thy grace and mercy prove!
Reviv'd and cheer'd, and blest by thee,
The God of pard'ning love!

Lift up thy countenance serene,
And let thy happy child
Behold, without a cloud between,
The Godhead reconcil'd!

That all-comprising peace bestow
On me, through grace forgiv'n;
The joys of holiness below,
And then the joys of heav'n!