Why Did The Nazarites Have To Burn Their Hair?

Asa 2 Chron 14-16

Have you ever come across a verse in the Bible that doesn’t seem to make any sense at all? Num 6:18

Why did they need to burn their hair? Is there any significance in this? I hope I’ve made you inquisitive, because now I’m not going to give you an answer.

Tonight we’re talking about testimonies. How many of you get nervous when I say, “I’m going to call some folk up to give testimonies”? Nervous because up front, or because you don’t know what to say. We should always be able to testify about what God is doing in our lives.

Turn to 2Chr 14 We’ll look at some of the testimonies of one of the better kings of Judah ... Asa

1. 2CHR 14:1-6

14 And Abijah rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David. Asa his son succeeded him as king, and in his days the country was at peace for ten years. Asa King of Judah 2 Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God. 3 He removed the foreign altars and the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. 4 He commanded Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, and to obey his laws and commands. 5 He removed the high places and incense altars in every town in Judah, and the kingdom was at peace under him. 6 He built up the fortified cities of Judah, since the land was at peace. No one was at war with him during those years, for the LORD gave him rest.

GOOD TESTIMONY:- “GOD IS FAITHFUL”

Reasons why he could give this testimony:

a) [2] he did what was good and right in the eyes of God

good things are not necessarily right.

i) good - not stealing

ii) right in God’s eyes - going to church

Asa went one step further than doing good things ... HE DID RIGHT THINGS

b) [3] he removed the foreign altars

didn’t just stop sinning, he got rid of the things that were tempting him to sin

Don’t just stop smoking, throw cigarettes away.

c) [4] he commanded Judah to seek the Lord

You will always have a testimony if you tell people about Jesus.

2. 14:9-12

9 Zerah the Cushite marched out against them with a vast army and three hundred chariots, and came as far as Mareshah. 10 Asa went out to meet him, and they took up battle positions in the Valley of Zephathah near Mareshah. 11 Then Asa called to the LORD his God and said, “LORD, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army. O LORD, you are our God; do not let man prevail against you.” 12 The LORD struck down the Cushites before Asa and Judah. The Cushites fled,

GOOD TESTIMONY:- “GOD IS FAITHFUL”

Reasons: why he could give this testimony:

a) [11] knew he was weak

It’s when we give up, that God can do His thing!

b) [11] knew God was strong

Jewish psychiatrist who says “we need to get to the place where we can forgive God for his shortcomings” ... ???!!!!? GOD’S ARM IS NOT TOO SHORT.

Trusted in God’s strength entirely

3. 15:1-9A; 10A; 12,13A; 16A; 17B-19

The Spirit of God came upon Azariah son of Oded. 2 He went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The LORD is with you when you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you. 3 For a long time Israel was without the true God, without a priest to teach and without the law. 4 But in their distress they turned to the LORD, the God of Israel, and sought him, and he was found by them. 5 In those days it was not safe to travel about, for all the inhabitants of the lands were in great turmoil. 6 One nation was being crushed by another and one city by another, because God was troubling them with every kind of distress. 7 But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.” 8 When Asa heard these words and the prophecy of Azariah son of Oded the prophet, he took courage. He removed the detestable idols from the whole land of Judah and Benjamin and from the towns he had captured in the hills of Ephraim. He repaired the altar of the LORD that was in front of the portico of the LORD’s temple. 9 Then he assembled all Judah and Benjamin and the people from Ephraim, Manasseh and Simeon who had settled among them, for large numbers had come over to him from Israel when they saw that the LORD his God was with him.