Seeds For Thinking

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* Beards
* Scripture: The Psalmist wrote, “Behold , how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down on the beard, the beard of Aaron“ Psalms 133:1-2a

Sometimes an attempt to show kindness can go awry, even for kings. When king Nahash of Ammon died, king David sent servants to comfort his son, Hanun, remembering the kindness Nahash had shown David. Instead, the princes of Ammon suggested to king Hanun that David had actually sent his servants to search out the city, to spy it out, and overthrow it. “Therefore Hanun took David’s servants, shaved off half of their beards, cut off their garments in the middle, at their buttocks, and sent them away.” (2 Samuel 10:1-4)
No “precious oil” of pleasantness in this encounter! The servants were greatly embarrassed by this indignity - more so by the cutting of the beard than by the cutting of the garment.
While other nations have had periods where beards were the approved fashion, alternating with periods of the clean-shaven look, beards have always had special significance for Israel and the Jewish people.
Among the laws and practices given in Leviticus, 19:27 states, “You shall not shave around the sides of your head, nor shall you disfigure the edges of your beard.” Lev. 21:5 adds a prohibition against making a bald place on the head. These were forms of ‘defilement’ often practiced in idol worship.
Deuteronomy 14:1 reminds the Israelites that, “You are the children of the Lord your God; you shall not cut yourselves, nor shave the front part of your head for the dead.” Many peoples, even today, cut themselves to produce scar tissue as a fashion statement. Tattoos were also prohibited.
We tend to associate Samson with long hair, and rightfully so. Judges 16:13 specifically mentions shaving; Samson’s beard would be as uncut as the hair on top of his head.
Isaiah prophesied against Moab, the calamities including, “On all of their heads will be baldness, and every beard cut off.” (Isa. 15:2b) Jeremiah echoes this prophesy in 48:37: “For every head shall be bald, and every beard clipped.”
The Egyptians, on the other hand, were noted to be clean shaven. When Joseph was brought out of the dungeon to go before Pharaoh, he shaved, lest he offend the ruler. (Genesis 41:14)
The shaven head was also a sign of leprosy. “he shall shave all the hair off his head and his beard and his eyebrows. (Lev. 14:9)
We, living in a time when shaving of not only beards, but also of heads, legs and armpits is commonplace, tend to overlook the significance of facial hair in biblical societies.
November 13, 2005

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Scripture: In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. (Luke 1:5, NIV)

Mention the word “nativity” and most people will likely think of the Nativity of Jesus, the Christ Child. Actually, the word ‘nativity’ with a lower case ‘n’ is the occasion of a person’s birth - yours, mine, anyone’s. The first nativity mentioned in the gospel of Luke is that of Jesus’ relative and Forerunner, John, the Baptizer.
John was born into a priestly family, desendents of Aaron, the first priest. Both parents were “upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commandments and regulations blamelessly. But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren; and they were both well along in years. “ (Luke 1:6-7)
The scriptural recounting by Luke tells of the angel Gabriel’s visit to Zechariah while he was serving in the temple, the subsequent conception by Elizabeth, and the birth of John, one who would bear witness to The Light (The Christ) as the “voice of one crying in the wilderness.” (John 1:23)
It is easy to skip over one little detail mentioned in the scriptural text, that of the role of the priestly division of Abijah. It is one bit of knowledge that can add detail to the story of Zechariah’s service to the Lord.
1 Chronicles chapter 23 recounts a gathering of all the leaders of Israel, with the priests and Levites, at the time King David was turning the kingdom over to his son, Solomon. The Levites were to look after the work of the house of the LORD., as officers, judges, gatekeepers and musicians. They were desendents of Levi, but not of Aaron.
Chapter 24 recounts the divisions of the sons of Aaron. David knew that because there were so many descendents of Aaron by this time, the priests should be divided so they could fairly be assigned the privileged service of the temple. They were divided by lot into twenty-four divisions; Abijah was the eighth priestly division. Like the other divisions, the priests of Abijah served in the temple for one week twice a year.
Duties for the day were assigned by drawing lots, the first two including such duties as cleaning the altar and preparing its fires, offering the sacrifice and cleansing the candlestick and the altar of incense. Many rituals were observed throughout the service, including prayer.
After this a third lot was cast for burning the incense. To be so selected for this service was a great honor; No one might take part in it who had ministered in that office before. The officiating priest entered the Holy Place with assistants, who helped prepare the alter of incense, then left the chief officiating priest alone within the Holy Place, to await the signal of the president before burning the incense. It was probably at this time that the angel Gabriel appeared to Zechariah.
The people marveled that Zechariah took so long in the temple. If it had been the duty of Zechariah, as incensing priest for the day, to lead in the priestly blessing, we can all the better understand the wonder of the people as 'he beckoned to them, and remained speechless' (Luke 1:21-22) while they waited for his benediction.
The priests themselves lived not only in Jerusalem but also in other settlements in the land of Israel. When it was time for the division to go up to Jerusalem, the priests left their homes, went up to Jerusalem for a week, and afterwards returned to their homes in Judea or Galilee.
Luke notes that Elizabeth was related to Mary, the mother of Jesus (Lk. 1:36). The two nativity stories further intertwine when Mary visits Elizabeth. The babe (John) leaped in Elizabeth’s womb for joy upon hearing Mary’s greeting. (Luke 1:41) Mary spent three months with her at this very special time in their lives.

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