Purity Numbers 5 - 6

Purity BACKGROUND Numbers is an account of the time between the Exodus and the entry into the Promised Land A census of the people has been carried out Arrangements for the camp have been made The Levites have been appointed to serve the Lord and maintain the Tabernacle Now specific instructions are given to the people as they prepare for the next part of their journey with God – foundational principles as they prepare for war and possessing the Promised Land

Purity PURITY IN THE CAMP (5:1 – 4) Three classes of people must be excluded from the camp: - lepers - those who have infectious discharges - those who have been in contact with a corpse The exact requirements for cleansing are dealt with in Leviticus 13:1 – 46, Leviticus 15 The camp is where God is dwelling in their midst and nothing unclean can be tolerated

PURITY IN RELATIONSHIPS (5:5 – 10) This section deals with how to deal with situations when things go wrong in relationships between people Sinning against others also constitutes a sin against God The first thing that needs to happen is confession of the sin (7) Restitution (making good) is then necessary (plus 1/5) A sin offering for guilt is also made (see Leviticus 7:1 – 7)

PURITY IN MARRIAGE (5:11 – 31) This section deals with a particular situation within a marriage where a husband suspects his wife of adultery and there are no witnesses The procedures are voluntary on the wife’s part (see v 22) It may seem like a Middle Ages trial by ordeal but it is very different (voluntary, the water will not be harmful to an innocent person) It may seem strange to our modern thinking but the underlying theme is that God wants purity within the marriage relationship

Purity PURITY IN SERVICE (6:1 – 21) The Law of the Nazirite The first time voluntary service is mentioned rather than conscripted service The procedure is available to both men and women (2) Total dedication to God, set apart for His service (4,5,6,8) for a period (note that Samson and Samuel had lifetime vows spoken over them) Provisions for an end to the service (13 – 20)

Purity PURITY IN SERVICE (6:1 – 21) Abstention from: - any part of the grapevine (3 – 4) – not just teetotal, a Nazirite will set themselves apart from the ordinary things of life - no shaving of the head - no touching of dead bodies There are provisions for inadvertently touching a dead body The procedures and offerings at the end of service show that even a Nazirite was not completely pure and holy

A BLESSING FROM THE LORD (6:22 – 27) Purity A BLESSING FROM THE LORD (6:22 – 27) God instructs Moses what Aaron and his sons should say by way of blessing for the people (see also Deuteronomy 28:3 – 6) The Lord will: bless guard (keep) look favourably upon them be gracious to them give them peace His name will be upon them

Purity LESSONS FOR TODAY A holy God wants His people to be holy too Sin needs to be dealt with Our holiness is lived out before God and people Marriage is important to the Lord We are called to serve God wholeheartedly – sacrificial, focused, dedicated We are called to be a people who are blessed by God and are to be a blessing to those we meet Our blessing of forgiveness is secure in the work of Jesus on the Cross.