Naso
Lev.
This week’s Torah portion continues the theme of preparing to march
into the land. The previous portion gave us the number of fighting men and the
arrangement of the tribes around the tabernacle.
One of the lessons that we learn from the position of the Tabernacle in
the center of the tribes, is that God must be the center of our organization if
we are going to fulfill the purpose that He has given us. The description of the
organization of the tribes is followed
in chapters 5-7 with concrete
commands of holiness which teach us that practical holiness is necessary to
achieve victory just as much as proper organization.
In chapter five several illustrations of the “sins of mankind” are
given to show us that when we sin against another person we are in effect
sinning against God. Remember the
words of David in Psalm 51:4 Against Thee, Thee only, I have sinned”.
Practical holy living is a necessary ingredient to success in our walk
with God. In addition we learn that spiritual discipline is a serious matter
before God. The Nazarite vow was
certainly not mandatory, but it illustrates the need for discipline in our walk
with God. There are times in each of
our lives when it may be necessary to separate ourselves for a season. Whether
it be physically separating ourselves or abstaining from some type of regular
activity, or engaging in some sort
of spiritual activity it is a mark of holiness.
Our Torah portion concludes with the well known “Aaronic
benediction”. It is not only those
taking a vow who are holy before God but the entire nation of