August 2023

The Vow of the Nazarite and Jesus the Nazarene

August 28, 2023

The vow of the Nazarite is an ancient Israelite religious practice which orders that all those taking the vow must let the locks of their hair grow, to abstain from wine and all produce taken from the grape vine, and to keep oneself from touching a dead body which would make the Nazarite ritually unclean and thus in turn bringing the days of his or her consecration to an end (Numbers 6). For the purpose of the Nazarite vow was to separate the devotee from the rest of the people by taking a strict oath, promising to totally dedicate oneself to the Lord God for a certain amount of time. Afterwards when the time of their separation was complete the Nazarite would be brought unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation and offer one he lamb of the first year without blemish for a burnt offering, and one ewe lamb of the first year without blemish for a sin offering, and one ram without blemish for peace offerings. The Nazarite would also shave the head of his separation at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and take the hair of the head of his separation, and put it in the fire which is under the sacrifice of the peace offerings. The vow of the Nazarite could be taken by both men and women and, if so desired, one could totally dedicate themselves to the Lord by choosing to remain a Nazarite for their entire life.

Now the term “Nazarite” can be broken down from the root word in Hebrew “naziyr” or “nazar” which has the meanings of “to separate”, “to consecrate” or “to set apart.” This word “nazar” would most appropriately describe the Nazarite as someone who was separated from the rest of society as they were set apart or made holy unto the Lord. To further expand on this austere rule of spiritual dedication, the Holy Bible provides a couple examples of prominent people in sacred history who were known Nazarites. In the Old Testament, scripture records two specific persons who were Nazarites: namely Samson and the prophet Samuel. In the New Testament, it is apparent that John the Baptist (the forerunner of Christ) also followed the path of the Nazarite. Not only are these three men all linked to one another by being Nazarites, but they were also life-long Nazarites who were all born from previously barren wombs. For instance, in the 13th chapter of the book of Judges, an angel appears to the barren wife of a man from the family of the Danites telling her that she will indeed conceive and bear a son, and that he will be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and that he would deliver Israel out of the hands of the Philistines. The Bible goes on to say how this previously barren woman gave birth to a son, and called his name Samson: and the child grew, and the LORD blessed him. Interestingly, in Judges 16:13 it is written that Samson had seven woven locks upon his head, which has led many Rastafarians to conclude that not only was Samson a Nazarite, but that he also sported dreadlocks.

Now concerning the prophet Samuel his mother Hannah was also barren, yet she made a vow unto the Lord saying, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head. Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD. (1 Samuel 1). In the New Testament we see a similar occurrence with Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist. For not only was St. Elizabeth barren, but she was also well advanced in years far past the age of fertility. Similar to the story of Samson an angel reveals to Elizabeth’s husband Zacharias that his wife will bear a son, and that his name shall be called John. The angel Gabriel goes on to inform Zacharias that his son shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb. So from what we find written in both the Old and New Testaments of the Holy Bible, it is clearly revealed that to be a Nazarite truly meant to be set apart as holy: someone special.

Additionally, although scripture does not come right out and say it, the prophet Elijah may also have been a Nazarite. For in 2 Kings 1:8 Elijah is described as being a hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins, very similar to the way the Nazarite John the Baptist was dressed (Matthew 3:4). Even Christ Himself compared John the Baptist with Elijah, a similitude which may support the theory of Elijah being a Nazarite. Also, no where in the Old Testament is it recorded that Elijah drank wine, but in 1 Kings 19:6 it states that Elijah drank water. Another parallel between Elijah and John the Baptist is that neither of them was married. Going further, again Christ compared the preaching of John with that of Elijah, something which has led many to suggest that John the Baptist was the reincarnation of prophet Elijah. However, at the Transfiguration of Christ the Gospels tell us that Moses and Elijah appeared, not Moses and John the Baptist. For prior to the Transfiguration, John had been beheaded. So if John the Baptist was the reincarnation of Elijah then Elijah should have appeared on mount Tabor decapitated. Either that or there would have been the two incarnations of Elijah and John who showed up along with Moses. This analysis reveals that the belief in reincarnation is indeed bogus and against the teachings of God, the prophets, and the Church.

When it comes to our sweetest Lord Jesus Christ, the Gospel describes the incarnate Word as a Nazarene and not a Nazarite. Though these words sound similar, there is indeed a difference between the two. For example, Jesus hailed from the city of Nazareth which by default made Him a Nazarene, someone originating from Nazareth. For in the Gospel of St. Matthew 2:23, it reads that Jesus, “…came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.” This fulfillment of the prophets can be traced back to at least two different places in the Old Testament where the Hebrew root word of Nazarene can be found. For in the book of the prophet Isaiah 11:1 a Messianic prophecy reads, “And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots.” The word “Branch” in this passage of Isaiah points to the coming of the Messiah, and translated from the original Hebrew means “Netser.” Also, in the book of the prophet Daniel the same word for branch (netser) is also used in a prophetic utterance concerning the Messiah (Daniel 11:7). So the fact that the root word “netser” for the term Nazarene is found in two different prophetic books gives reliability to the Gospel of St. Matthew, since it is written that Jesus being called a Nazarene was spoken of by the prophets plural, and not singularly.

Due to the similarities between the terms Nazarite and Nazarene, this likeness has led many to conclude that Jesus was a Nazarite. Additionally, since ancient Christian icons depict Christ as having long hair, this has also provided the “evidence” to support the belief that Jesus Christ was indeed a Nazarite. However, we know from the Gospels that Jesus drank wine, something forbidden for Nazarites. So, this one fact eliminates the speculation which suggests that Jesus Christ was a Nazarite. But even though Christ was not a Nazarite, it is widely accepted that the Lord had long hair. Yet this would seem to contradict what St. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 11:14, where it is written that if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him. But as faithful Christians know, the Lord cannot be wrong. So, if Christ was not a Nazarite but had long hair, then there must be a reason why the Lord decided not to cut His hair. The fact that the Nazarites grew their hair long in order to reflect an external sign of their inner sanctity, may be why the Lord chose not to cut His hair. Remember to be a Nazarite was to fully dedicate oneself to God, just as Jesus the Son of God is completely dedicated to God the Father. So, even though Christ drank wine, yet at the same time had long hair, this apparent breaking of the Nazarite vow may be overlooked by the total dedication and perfect obedience which Jesus Christ demonstrated towards God.

 

References:

Strong, J. The New Strong’s Expanded Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc., 2010).

Zondervan. The Holy Bible, King James Version. (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2009).

The Brazen Serpent: Nehushtan

August 14, 2023

During their forty-year sojourn in the wilderness, the children of Israel murmured and complained unto God and Moses numerous times. On one such occasion the Israelites spoke against God and Moses due to a lack of bread and water. They even went as far as to loathe the heavenly manna, or light bread, which God freely and faithfully provided for them and their needs each and every day. Because of the audacity that they displayed towards their creator and benefactor, the Bible tells us that the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people which bit them and even killed many of them (Numbers 21:6). Coming to their senses the people repented and asked Moses to pray unto the Lord, so that He would take the serpents away from them. Moses did pray, and the Lord in turn commanded Moses to make a serpent out of brass and place it upon a pole, so that anyone bitten who looked upon the brazen serpent would live and be cured of their affliction. As we shall see, this event concerning the brazen serpent as recorded in the Old Testament is symbolic of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ as found written in the New Testament. For when the Jewish leader and Pharisee Nicodemus spoke with Jesus one night, the Lord told him, “…as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up” (John 3:14). The attempt of this study will be to compare the healing and life saving elements of the brazen serpent, with the soul saving and sanctifying properties of the cross of Jesus Christ. So, let us turn now and look into these subjects a little deeper, and with God’s help may we be enlightened.

Now desert terrain is known to be inhabited by many cold-blooded reptiles including snakes. However, in all the years that the children of Israel wandered in the desert, at no other time was any Israelite ever bitten by a snake until we come to what happened in the 21st chapter of Numbers. So, it would appear that through Israel’s disobedience God lifted His holy protection and allowed His people to suffer. But in His mercy and loving kindness God provided a remedy for the people’s affliction. The remedy for ancient Israel’s venomous snake bite was to look upon a brazen serpent upon a pole, and for all of humanity today the remedy for our deadly sins is to look upon Christ crucified. Just as Israel of old had to look at the brazen serpent in order to be healed, so too must all men look to Christ for healing and salvation. Conversely speaking, the Israelites who would not look at the brazen serpent died, so too he who rejects or denies Christ will not see life, but the wrath of God abides upon him (John 3:36).

Continuing with the theme of God sending His people afflictions in order to bring them to repentance, we also find in the book of Revelation where the Lord sends forth plagues upon the sinful people living in the end times in the hopes that they too might also repent. Unfortunately, even though their torments are severe and the pain intense, the Bible informs us that these future inhabitants of the earth will not repent, “…of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts” (Revelation 9:21). Just as the heart-hardened and stiff-necked Israelites rejected the Lord’s means for their healing, so too will sinful men in the future refuse God’s plan of salvation, even-though they are sorely vexed with excruciating pain and plagued by unbearable sufferings (Revelation 16:9-11).

When analyzing the properties of the brazen serpent, we see that it was made out of brass: a metal which is a symbol for judgment, and that this piece of metal was forged in the shape or image of a snake: a symbol of evil or even that of the devil. It is interesting to note that it was a serpent which deceived Eve into eating the forbidden fruit and thus plunged the world and all of mankind into a fallen state. Yet God used the image of a serpent as an instrument to heal and to save, the very opposite of what the serpent did in the Garden of Eden. Going further, the Lord prophesied to the serpent telling this creature that God would put enmity between it and the woman, and between the serpent’s seed and the woman’s seed, and that the woman’s seed would bruise the head of the serpent (Genesis 3:15). Now the seed of the woman, which would bruise the head of the serpent, is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. What is even more revealing, concerning this passage from Genesis, is the description of Christ’s physical characteristics as found in the book of Revelation where it is written that Christ’s feet were, “…like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace” (Revelation 1:15). The fact that brass is a symbol of judgment and that Christ’s feet have the appearance of brass, then this means that the Lord Jesus has truly trampled upon the head of the serpent and has judged the prince of this world, keeping at bay all the machinations of the evil one firmly under His feet of brass.

After all the events surrounding the brazen serpent during the children of Israel’s wandering in the wilderness, further mention of this brass snake in all of the Torah (or five books of Moses) is nowhere to be found. However, several centuries later in Israel’s history, the brazen serpent is once again identified. For during the reign of Hezekiah king of Judah, the Bible relates how he did right in the sight if the Lord, by removing the high places and breaking in pieces the brazen serpent that Moses had made (II Kings 18:4). The purpose behind king Hezekiah destroying the brazen serpent was due to the children on Israel who burned incense to it, thus turning this object of healing into an idol. In addition to destroying the brazen serpent, the Bible also states that king Hezekiah called it Nehushtan. Though the direct meaning of the name Nehushtan is elusive, it is implied in the scriptures that this name for the brazen serpent was in fact derogatory, making the Nehushtan an object of scandal for Israel and not a symbol of honor for the nation.

Now several centuries have passed since the days of prophet Moses and king Hezekiah, but the image of a snake on a pole is a symbol used today in the modern world of health care, representing both healing and medicine. For the symbol of a snake on a rod, as found on the back of ambulances and EMS vehicles, represents the staff of Asclepius, who was an ancient Greek physician and who is also associated as the Greek god of medicine. Though the staff of Asclepius and the Nehushtan are nearly identical in appearance, the “Star of Life” symbol created by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) adapted their insignia to officially represent the rod of Asclepius as taken from Greek mythology and not the brazen serpent, or the Nehushtan from the Holy Bible.

In closing I would like to say that it is very interesting and also very ironic that the image of a snake has been used throughout the ages to represent health, when it was through a serpent that death entered into the world in the first place. And even if one doesn’t believe in Bible stories or Greek mythology the fact that an animal that can cause death is associated with healing, life, and even salvation is indeed a paradox. Maybe by pondering on things not quite so easily understood can we gradually bring ourselves into a life filled with mysteries and parables, just as Christ Himself taught the people by using parables. Both the events concerning the brazen serpent and the crucifixion of Jesus Christ are indeed mysteries, and life saving mysteries at that. For in both cases it is by faith that salvation was and is achieved.