In the last study, we looked at the first stipulation for anyone taking a voluntary Nazirite vow, and that was they were forbidden to eat any grapes or grape byproducts. The next rule was concerning their hair:
‘During the entire period of their Nazirite vow, no razor may be used on their head. They must be holy until the period of their dedication to the Lord is over; they must let their hair grow long" (Numbers 6:5).
Samson, the most well-known Nazirite in the Bible, was commanded never to cut his hair and when he did, he lost the "secret' of his strength. What's the symbolism behind this aspect of the vow?
When you think about it, you have nothing at all to do with your hair in its natural state. After it grows, whether quickly or slowly, you are free to shape, color, comb, cover, or cut it anyway you choose, but when it first appears, it is the texture, color, and quantity that are unique to you. When the Nazirites took their vow, they promised to allow who they were to emerge without trying to alter or fashion it in any way. What came from within them as an act of God was to remain as it was. They were totally and completely dedicated to the Lord during the period of their vow and what came "out of them" was deemed to be the will of God.
And now you can be a Nazirite when you vow not to touch what comes out of you according to God's will. Your creativity, purpose, and good works are just like your hair. You can shape them once they emerge but you have nothing to do with how quickly they come forth or what they look like. That's up to the Lord. Are you happy with who God made you to be, content with your gifts, personality, creativity, and purpose? Are you allowing them to emerge freely before you try to reshape or even hide them under some protective shield or artificial cover? If you allow your inner being to grow and develop as God sees fit and then emerge in ways unique to you, you will have a secret strength just like Samson or any Nazirite, and that secret is simply being who God made you to be—no more but certainly no less.
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