The Law of the Nazirite - Read Numbers 6:1-21

Transcription

1 Numbers 6-8 PREVIEW: In Numbers 6-8, the law of the Nazirite is given for those who wanted to draw near to God by separating themselves to the Lord. A blessing is given to Aaron for the children of Israel, offerings are made for the tabernacle of meeting, and instructions are given for the cleansing and dedication of the Levites. The Law of the Nazirite - Read Numbers 6: The Hebrew word zar means to separate. Therefore, a Nazirite vow spoke of one who separated himself or herself for a period of time in order to totally focus on the Lord. Who was eligible to make a Nazirite vow (v. 2)? 2. Unlike monks or other religious separatists, a person making a Nazirite vow didn t separate themselves from others. What did a Nazirite separate themselves to (v.2)? 3. How might we consider ourselves separated to the Lord? (See John 17:14-19, 1 John 4:5-6, and 1 John 5:19-20.) 4. God set forth three things that a person making a Nazirite vow must separate Himself from. What was the first thing a person making a Nazirite vow must be separate from (vv. 3-4)? Numbers 6-8 Page 1

2 5. What was the second thing a person making a Nazirite vow must be separate from (v. 5)? 6. What was the third thing a person making a Nazirite vow must be separate from (vv. 6-7)? 7. During the time of consecration, if a person fulfilling his/her Nazirite vow encountered a dead person, what were they to do (vv. 9-12)? 8. When the Nazirite completed their time of consecration, they were brought to the door of the tabernacle of meeting (v. 13) and they presented an offering to the Lord. What did the Nazirite do to indicate his/her vow was complete (v. 18)? 9. Ordinarily, a Nazirite vow was an act of devotion taken voluntarily by an adult; but on occasion, this vow would be made by parents on behalf of their children. Name several well-known people who were likely either Nazirites for life or made a Nazirite vow as an adult. (See 1 Samuel 1:11, Judges 13:5, Luke 1:15, and Acts 18:18.) Numbers 6-8 Page 2

3 10. What are some steps we can take to separate ourselves to the Lord? (See Matthew 5:8, 48, Proverbs 4:23, James 1:27b, Romans 12:1-2, and 1 John 5:18.) The Priestly Blessing - Read Numbers 6: The Lord spoke to Moses and gave him instructions for Aaron and his sons (the priests). What were these instructions (vv )? 12. In the priestly blessing, the phrase the LORD, is repeated three times. The three-fold repetition of Lord does not prove the Trinity, but it certainly illustrates it. List the things that the Lord wants to do when blessing His children (vv ) 13. Six times the word you is used in the priestly blessing. The priestly blessing was intentionally given to individuals. In verse 27 the blessing is corporate for the entire nation. What identification is upon the children of Israel that caused the Lord to bless them (v. 27)? (See also 2 Chronicles 7:14.) 14. How is this same blessing upon the New Testament priesthood? (See 1 Peter 2:9-10, Matthew 28:19, Acts 11:26, John 15:16, Ephesians 3:12, Hebrews 4:16, and Hebrews 10:19.) Numbers 6-8 Page 3

4 Offerings of the Leaders - Read Numbers 7: When did Moses finish setting up the tabernacle (v. 1)? (See also Exodus 40:17 and Numbers 1:1.) 16. Once the tabernacle and all its furnishings along with the altar and all its utensils were setup, anointed, and consecrated, an offer was made. Who made this offering? What did the offering consist of (vv. 2-3)? 17. What did the Lord tell Moses to do with the offering (vv. 4-5)? 18. The offering was divided by Moses: One-third of the offering went to the sons of Gershon and two-thirds went to the sons of Merari, but to the sons of Kohath he gave none. Why (vv. 6-9)? (See also Numbers 4:15, 24 28, ) 19. The offering was not given all at once. Describe how the offering was offered (vv ). Numbers 6-8 Page 4

5 20. What was included in each of the 12 offerings (vv )? 21. The order in which the offerings were made matched what other order established by the Lord (vv )? (See Numbers 2:3-31.) Arrangement of the Lamps - Read Numbers 8: The instructions the Lord gave to Moses for Aaron regarding the arrangement of the lamps had not been previously communicated to the priests. How was Aaron to arrange the seven lamps? Why (vv. 1-3)? 23. What was the lampstand constructed of? Where did Moses get the pattern of design for it (v. 4)? (See also Exodus 25:40 and Acts 7:44.) Cleansing and Dedication of the Levites - Read Numbers 8: The Lord spoke to Moses regarding cleansing and dedication of the Levites. What cleansing was done to the Levites as an outward purification (v. 7)? Numbers 6-8 Page 5

6 25. The inward purification of the Levites was to be accompanied by the offering of sacrifices. What was offered as a sin offering and burnt offering for the Levites' inward purification (v. 8)? 26. The whole congregation of the children of Israel gathered together in dedication of the Levites. What did the congregation do to the Levites in dedicating them to service of the tabernacle (vv. 9-10)? 27. What did the Levites do to the young bulls before offering them as sacrifices (v. 12)? (See also Leviticus 16:21.) 28. All priests were Levites, but not all Levites were priests. However all the Levites belonged to whom? For what purpose (vv )? 29. The Lord had sanctified all the firstborn as His (see Exodus 13:2, Leviticus 27:26, and Numbers 3:13) on the day that He struck all the firstborn of Egypt. The Lord now took the Levites instead of the firstborn. Why (vv )? Numbers 6-8 Page 6

7 30. What were the age ranges of the Levites who performed the work of the tabernacle of meeting (vv )? (See also Numbers 4:3 and 1 Chronicles 23:3, 24, 27) 31. Once a Levite reached the age of 50, what was he allowed to do? What was he restricted from doing (v. 26)? Numbers 6-8 Page 7