AT the end of the period of separation to the Lord for the Nazirite Vow, five different types of offering's were to be given. Among these, the fellowship offering caught my eye.
A fellowship offering symbolizes peace with God, a celebration to God's glory, thanksgiving and the vow to the time spent with the LORD. It says a lot. The offering was to be...
"...a male ram without defect."
Also, the vow-er's hair that had been shaved off at vow's end was to be included.
It was the hair offering, (my phrasing) that surprized me. As many times in my life as I've read the book of Numbers, I don't recall this offering. But still...
"He is to take the hair and put it in the fire that is under the sacrifice of the fellowship offering" (Numbers 6:18 & 19).
It is the long hair that also symbolizes the Nazirites dedication to the LORD and honoring their vow..
A person's hair is, well, very personal. People groom themselves well especially before going out to work, school, to church and perhaps even more so, on a date. Their style preference is uniquely them, almost as if it were a fingerprint. For most people, to cut off all their hair would require a lot of humility. At least I think and feel so. Hair is their glory.
If a fellowhship offering is a celebration of God's glory, then would a person who says they love Him wish to outshine God? Therefore, to shave off one's hair would truly mark that individual's living sacrifice to God (see Romans 12:1 & 2).
Hair is so personal, therefore, to me, throwing one's cut off hair into the flames seems to say,
"I'm totally commited to God".
One internet commentary suggested that doing this was...
"...closest to human sacrifice..."
and points to symbolizing or foretelling of Christ's sacrifice for us on the cross.*1
Even though this fellowship offering of hair came at vow's end, I think the impact would linger long afterwards even as the hair slowly grew back. The time spent in separation to the Lord - belonging to Him, maintaining the clean and holy before Him in His presence could truly be life-changing, perhaps even for lifetime duration upon earth.
May we each let the Lord shine forth from our character, attitudes, our whole life, even in the way we groom our hair. Do it for His glory and honor.
~ERC February 2024~
Based on Numbers 6:12-21.
Sing, I Surrender All, along with Reawaken Hymns.
Link: Nazarite Vow - Part 1 - Introduction.
*Reference: Who Cares About Hair Length?
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