Meaning of Numbers 15:39

This verse from Numbers 15:39, found within the Mosaic Law, instructs the Israelites to fashion tassels, or fringes, on the corners of their garments. These tassels were not merely decorative; they served as a constant, tangible reminder of God's commandments. The explicit purpose was to prompt the people to look at these fringes and, in doing so, recall and subsequently obey all of the Lord's statutes. The warning against "prostituting yourselves by chasing after the lusts of your own hearts and eyes" highlights the pervasive danger of spiritual infidelity, where internal desires and sensory attractions can lead individuals away from faithfulness to God and His covenant. The tassels were designed as an outward symbol to reinforce an inward commitment to obedience and purity.

Context and Background

This commandment is given in the context of the laws being established for the Israelites as they were preparing to enter the Promised Land. Following the rebellion and subsequent forty years of wandering in the wilderness, God was reiterating His laws to the new generation. The preceding verses (Numbers 15:37-38) instruct Moses to tell the Israelites to make tassels on the tsitsit (fringes) of their garments and to put a blue cord in each fringe. This was to be a perpetual ordinance for them throughout their generations. The instruction in verse 39 then explains the purpose of these tassels.

Key Themes and Messages

• Remembrance and Obedience: The primary function of the tassels was to serve as a mnemonic device, ensuring that the Israelites would not forget God's commands. This emphasizes the importance of active remembrance in maintaining a relationship with God.
• Spiritual Purity: The phrase "prostitute yourselves" is a metaphor for spiritual unfaithfulness, akin to adultery in a marital relationship. The tassels were a safeguard against succumbing to the allure of forbidden desires, both internal ("hearts") and external ("eyes").
• Covenant Faithfulness: The commandment underscores the covenant relationship between God and Israel. Obedience to His commands was a demonstration of their faithfulness to this covenant.
• Constant Awareness: The tassels were to be a perpetual reminder, signifying that awareness of God's will should be a continuous aspect of life, not an occasional thought.

Spiritual Significance and Application

For believers today, the specific physical act of wearing tassels is not a direct command. However, the underlying principle remains profoundly relevant. The "tassels" can be understood as any intentional practice that helps us remain mindful of God's commands and our commitment to Him. This might include:

• Regular Scripture Reading and Meditation: Engaging with God's Word regularly keeps His commands fresh in our minds.
• Prayer: Communicating with God allows for a renewed sense of His presence and guidance.
• Worship: Corporate and individual worship can elevate our focus and strengthen our resolve to live for God.
• Accountability Partners or Groups: Sharing our spiritual journeys with others can provide encouragement and help us stay on course.
• Symbolic Reminders: Certain objects or practices can serve as personal reminders of our faith commitments.

The core message is about cultivating a conscious and consistent awareness of God's will in order to live a life of obedience and purity, resisting the temptations that pull us away from Him.

Relation to the Broader Biblical Narrative

This verse fits within the larger narrative of God's relationship with His people, characterized by covenant, law, and the ongoing struggle against sin and idolatry. Throughout the Old Testament, Israel's history is replete with cycles of obedience, disobedience, and God's discipline and restoration. The tassels were a practical measure designed to help them break this cycle by fostering constant remembrance. In the New Testament, while the specific ritual is superseded, the call to remember God's commands and to live a life set apart from sin, guided by the Holy Spirit, remains central to Christian discipleship. Jesus Himself spoke of keeping His commandments (John 14:15).

Analogies

• A Wedding Ring: A wedding ring is a tangible symbol of a marital commitment, serving as a constant reminder of vows made and faithfulness due. Similarly, the tassels were a constant reminder of the covenant commitment to God.
• A "To-Do" List: While more mundane, a list helps us remember tasks that need to be done. The tassels acted as a spiritual "to-do" list, reminding the Israelites of their duties to God.
• A Warning Sign: Just as a sign warns of danger, the tassels served as a spiritual "warning sign" against the dangers of succumbing to personal desires that lead away from God.

Relation to Other Verses

• Deuteronomy 6:6-9: This passage, often called the Shema, commands the Israelites to impress God's words on their hearts, bind them as signs on their hands, and write them on their doorposts and gates. The tassels in Numbers 15 can be seen as a specific fulfillment of this broader command to make God's word pervasive in daily life.
• Psalm 119: This entire psalm is a testament to the beauty and importance of God's law, with numerous verses emphasizing remembrance and obedience. For example, Psalm 119:9 states, "How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word."
• 1 Corinthians 10:13: This New Testament verse speaks of God providing a way of escape from temptation, ensuring that believers can endure. While the method is different (internal empowerment by the Spirit rather than an external symbol), the goal of overcoming temptation and remaining faithful is the same.
• 1 John 2:15-16: This verse warns against loving the world or the things in the world, which are characterized by the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and pride in possessions. This directly echoes the warning in Numbers 15:39 about not chasing after the "lusts of your own hearts and eyes."