27 September 2023
Lesson: 4
Numbers 5:1-6:27
Sanctification of Israel (pt.1) Main Outline from Open Bible
Sanctification through separation (Nu 5:1-31)
Separation of unclean persons (5:1-4). This
included what three types of uncleanness? First
lepers, then those with an issue and all
defiled by a dead body.
Sinners were in a sense separated until they
had made restitution for their sin (5:5-10). Here the
sinner must confess his (or her) sin to God and to
the person hurt. Then he must make a full payment
plus 20 % to be given to the offended person.
This was what Zacchaeus pledged to do when
he repented and became a follower of Jesus. Read
Luke 19:8. How did Zacchaeus’ restitution differ
from what Moses wrote in the Law? The law
said he must return all and add 20%,
but he promised to return four
times what he had taken.
Look up 2 Corinthians 7:10. What does godly
sorrow over sin produce? Repentance
Notice what Jesus taught us about making
things right with one who has a complaint against
you (Matthew 5:23-24). If someone has offended
you or you have offended another person, YOU
must seek to make things right. What is the first
thing that Jesus said you must do? Be
reconciled to your brother.
Here we find the separation of a wife
suspected of immorality (5:11-31). If a husband
became jealous of his wife, suspecting that she had
been unfaithful to him, he was to take her to the
priest with a small barley meal offering (5:15). The
priest then would set her before the Lord (5:16).
The priest made special water for her to drink.
What did he put in the water (5:17)? Dust from
the floor of the tabernacle. What
would this water cause after she drank it if she was
guilty (5:18)? A curse. What would happen if
she was guilty and the curse took place (5:21)? Her
thigh would rot and her belly would
swell. If she was NOT guilty, she would be free
and once again conceive children (5:28).
Consider these words from J. Vernon McGee.
“Certainly this reveals again that the Word of God
is very clear on this matter of fidelity to the
marriage vow. Today we are seeing a great letdown
of that, and it is becoming the accepted thing that
the marriage vow is not to be taken seriously. God
will hold you to it – I can assure you of that. A great
many of the problems of this world today begin in
the home. They are being made by those who are
treating lightly the marriage vows. God cannot, nor
will He bless a nation where this situation prevails.”
Thru The Bible, Numbers p.467, 1981.
Sanctification through the Nazarite Vow (Nu
6:1-27)
The Nazarite vow was a voluntary vow. Any
man or woman in Israel could make the vow. It
could be for a brief period of time or for a lifetime.
God placed three requirements on the
Nazarite vow. First, for the duration of his vow, he
was not to consume anything that came from the
grape (6:1-3). Second, during the duration of the
vow, he was not to cut his hair (6:5). This was
shameful for a man. (1 Corinthians 11:14) “Doth not
even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have
long hair, it is a shame unto him?”(1 Corinthians
11:15) “But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory
to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.”
Third, during the entire vow, he was not to touch a
dead body (6:6-7). We saw in (5:2-3) that those
defiled by the dead were to be put out of the camp.
Thus, we see that the Nazarite was to be
separated in his diet, in his appearance and in his
duties. The vow made him holy unto the LORD (6:8-
21). While many may have taken the Nazarite Vow,
God only recorded the names of three for us.
Samson (Judges 13:1-7), Samuel (1Samuel 1:11)
and John the Baptist (Luke 1:15).
The chapter ends with a special priestly
blessing upon Israel (6:22-27).
Principles for Us Today
God wanted Israel, His people, to be
sanctified or set apart from sin and the world for
His glory. We find the same principle taught to
Christians in the New Testament (2 Corinthians
6:17). God commands us to be separate.
 Why would God desire our separation?
 What should be our standard to determine
the things from which we ought to
separate?
 Are there any vows that apply to us today?
 What can we learn from Zacchaeus’
repentance?
Numbers
For our admonition, 1 Corinthians 10:11