Further, this command again reminded the Nazarite that he was not his own, but was utterly the LORD'S; that GOD claimed the very hair of his head. He was not at liberty to cut or trim it as he saw fit, nor to wear it as long or as short as might be agreeable to himself. So absolute was GOD'S claim upon him, that not merely while his vow lasted was that hair to be recognised as GOD'S possession, but when his vow was fulfilled the whole of it was to be shaved off, and was to be burnt upon the altar. Like the burnt-offering, it was to be recognised as for GOD'S use alone, whether or not any utilitarian purpose were accomplished by the sacrifice. So now, in the present dispensation, we are told "the very hairs of your head are all numbered"--so minute is GOD'S care for His people, so watchful is He over all that affects them. It is beautiful to see the fond love of a young mother as she passes her fingers through the silken locks of her darling child--her treasure and her delight; _but she never counts those hairs_. He only, who is the source of mother-love, does that! And shall not _we_, who are not our own, but bought with a price, _gladly_ render to Him _all_ we are and have--every member of our body, every fibre of our being, every faculty of our mind, all our will-power, and all our love? HOLINESS TO THE LORD: verses 6-8. _"All the days that he separateth himself unto the LORD he shall come at no dead body. He shall not make himself unclean for his father, or for his mother, for his brother, or for his sister, when they die; because the consecration of his GOD is upon his head. All the days of his separation he is holy unto the LORD."_ Here we have a most solemn and important prohibition--to refrain from all uncleanness caused by contact with death. Death is the wages of sin: the consecrated one was alike to keep aloof from sin and from its consequences. No requirement of GOD'S Word is more clear than the command to honour and obey our earthly parents; but even for his father or mother a Nazarite might not _defile_ himself: "he that loveth father or mother more than ME, is not worthy of ME." But let no young Christian think lightly of the requirements of parents, when these do _not_ conflict with GOD'S written Word. Young Christians are sometimes distressed because their desire to preach the Gospel to the heathen has been opposed by parents: such should be encouraged to _thank_ GOD for the obstacle; and to seek by prayer its removal. When they have learnt to move man through GOD at home, they will be the better prepared to do the same thing in the mission-field. Where there is fitness for the work, the way will probably be made plain after a time of patient waiting.