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Tuesday, July 27, 2010

The Consequence of No Consecration

Here we have the tragic improper service of God that results in the death of two of Aaron’s sons. The service we see here results in death and a departure from the presence of the Lord. What characterizes the service that leads to death and a departure from the presence of the Lord?

First, the service that leads to death and a departure from the presence of the Lord is “profane” (10:1).

Leviticus 10:1 - Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them.

Aaron’s sons offered “profane” fire before the Lord. This verse tells us a number of things. First, the word “profane” (Heb.‏ָ zār) means strange, different, unlawful. It says at the end of verse one that what they offered was something that, “He had not commanded them.” They did not care enough or revere God enough to pay attention to His instructions. They were casual in their attention to the word of the Lord. What they offered was strange in that it didn’t come from a close familiar relationship with the Lord. They didn’t have a sense of the real presence with the Lord. They didn’t have a relationship with the Lord apparently otherwise they wouldn’t have acted in this profane way.

This verse also tells us that religious ceremony is not enough. Nadab and Abihu used their censures but using holy implements was not enough to outweigh the substance of having a relationship with the Lord. Religion is never enough.

Second, the service that leads to death and a departure from the presence of the Lord was fleshly (10:1).

Leviticus 10:1 - Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them.

If what the two sons did was not rooted in a relationship with the Lord, then it conversely was rooted in their flesh. Serving in the flesh, in one’s own strength or one’s own opinion never is sufficient to bring you into the presence of the Lord.

There was no prayer mentioned as part of the actions of the two sons. They were relying on their own whims. Maybe they wanted to step in and usurp the glory of God by bringing the focus on them and the “fire” they offered.

They were acting on impulse. Perhaps they were excited about how God had just burned up the offering at the Tabernacle of Meeting (9:24). They may have let their emotions carry them away into improper service.

Third, the service that leads to death and a departure from the presence of the Lord did not regard God as holy (10:3).

Leviticus 10:3 - 3 And Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord spoke, saying:

‘By those who come near Me

I must be regarded as holy;

And before all the people

I must be glorified.’ ”

So Aaron held his peace.

This was God’s assessment of what the two sons had done. Aaron held his peace. He must have grieved at the foolish behavior of his two sons, but he held his peace. God is holy. Aaron knew God’s judgment on his sons was proper.

Irreverence is a great offense in our day. Jesus is our “Friend” but He is still God and to be respected. Irreverence and a lack of respect for God is offensive to Him (Ex. 19:22; 1 Petr. 1:15-16).

Fourth, the service that leads to death and a departure from the presence of the Lord impaired (10:8-11).

Leviticus 10:8-11 - 8 Then the Lord spoke to Aaron, saying: 9 “Do not drink wine or intoxicating drink, you, nor your sons with you, when you go into the tabernacle of meeting, lest you die. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations, 10 that you may distinguish between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean, 11 and that you may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the Lord has spoken to them by the hand of Moses.”

The warning not to drink wine when serving the Lord may imply that this was part of the offense of Nadab and Abihu. Wine and alcohol impairs us. We need to be in control of our faculties when worshiping and serving the Lord. Indeed we ought to be continually filled with the Spirit not anything that would intoxicate or desensitize us to the Lord (Eph. 5:18).

Fifth, the service that leads to death and a departure from the presence of the Lord is spiritually terminal (10:2).

Leviticus 10:2 - 2 So fire went out from the Lord and devoured them, and they died before the Lord.

That done outside the parameters of the Lord and His word is spiritually terminal. It was literally terminal for Nadab and Abihu. But that not done in the Spirit and according to God’s word leads to spiritual death.

That which Produces Death Must Be Removed

What should we do in such situations where profane fire is offered to the Lord? Here we have some clear instruction.

First, remove the carcasses of those producing death (10:4-5).

Leviticus 10:4-5 - 4 Then Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel the uncle of Aaron, and said to them, “Come near, carry your brethren from before the sanctuary out of the camp.” 5 So they went near and carried them by their tunics out of the camp, as Moses had said.

There comes a time where that which has been judged by the Lord must be removed. If something in ministry is dead, remove it. If service of one kind or another is spiritually dead, remove it so that God can do a fresh work.

Second, don’t defile yourselves with touching those who have profaned the Lord (10:6-7).

Leviticus 10:6-7 - 6 And Moses said to Aaron, and to Eleazar and Ithamar, his sons, “Do not uncover your heads nor tear your clothes, lest you die, and wrath come upon all the people. But let your brethren, the whole house of Israel, bewail the burning which the Lord has kindled. 7 You shall not go out from the door of the tabernacle of meeting, lest you die, for the anointing oil of the Lord is upon you.” And they did according to the word of Moses.

Moses told Aaron and his other two sons Eleazar and Ithamar to not grieve or show remorse for Nadab and Abihu. The anointing of the Lord was upon them. They must respect the actions of God and not have an unscriptural sentimental attitude or actions. People are frequently quick to coddle those who have been disciplined by God. That is wrong! God’s discipline is right and just. We discipline in grace but there is a time for those involved with profane things to be disciplined and coddling obstructs what God wants to do (e.g. 1 Cor. 5 and 2 Cor. 2).

Third, don’t allow yourself to be impaired when serving the Lord (10:8-11).

Leviticus 10:8-11 - 8 Then the Lord spoke to Aaron, saying: 9 “Do not drink wine or intoxicating drink, you, nor your sons with you, when you go into the tabernacle of meeting, lest you die. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations, 10 that you may distinguish between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean, 11 and that you may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the Lord has spoken to them by the hand of Moses.”

When we serve the Lord we should be alert and spiritually sensitive to the Spirit. Anything, including alcohol, should be refrained from for those seeking to serve the Lord.

Fourth, resume proper worship and pay attention to the details of God’s word (10:12-20).

Leviticus 10:12-20 - 12 And Moses spoke to Aaron, and to Eleazar and Ithamar, his sons who were left: “Take the grain offering that remains of the offerings made by fire to the Lord, and eat it without leaven beside the altar; for it is most holy. 13 You shall eat it in a holy place, because it is your due and your sons’ due, of the sacrifices made by fire to the Lord; for so I have been commanded. 14 The breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the heave offering you shall eat in a clean place, you, your sons, and your daughters with you; for they are your due and your sons’ due, which are given from the sacrifices of peace offerings of the children of Israel. 15 The thigh of the heave offering and the breast of the wave offering they shall bring with the offerings of fat made by fire, to offer as a wave offering before the Lord. And it shall be yours and your sons’ with you, by a statute forever, as the Lord has commanded.” 16 Then Moses made careful inquiry about the goat of the sin offering, and there it was—burned up. And he was angry with Eleazar and Ithamar, the sons of Aaron who were left, saying, 17 “Why have you not eaten the sin offering in a holy place, since it is most holy, and God has given it to you to bear the guilt of the congregation, to make atonement for them before the Lord? 18 See! Its blood was not brought inside the holy place; indeed you should have eaten it in a holy place, as I commanded.” 19 And Aaron said to Moses, “Look, this day they have offered their sin offering and their burnt offering before the Lord, and such things have befallen me! If I had eaten the sin offering today, would it have been accepted in the sight of the Lord?” 20 So when Moses heard that, he was content.

Moses instructs Eleazar and Ithamar to resume the sacrifices. He rebukes them for not eating the sacrificed meal that they had left over. When we have a bad incident like the one of Nadab and Abihu, we need to resume worship of the Lord and ministry and pay attention to the details of His word. We need to learn from the falls of others and not repeat them.

I came across a powerful parable written by a Haitian pastor illustrating to his congregation the need for total commitment to Christ.

A certain man wanted to sell his house for two thousand dollars. Another man wanted very badly to buy it but couldn't afford the full price the owner was asking. After much bargaining however, he agreed to sell the house to the poor man for half the original price -- along with just one stipulation: He would retain ownership of one small nail protruding from just over the door.

After several years, the original owner wanted the house back, but the new owner was unwilling to sell. So the first owner went out, found the carcass of a dead dog and hung it from the single nail he still owned. Soon the house became unlivable and the family was forced to sell the house to the owner of the nail.

The Haitian pastor concluded that "If we leave the Devil with even one small peg in our life, he will return to hang his rotting garbage on it, making it unfit for Christ's habitation."

The devil has only come to steal, kill and destroy. He can be very crafty and he would love nothing more than to steal from us our very inhabitance in the Lord. Let's ask the Lord to reveal any pegs we may be leaving for the devil today and take back all that belongs to us in Jesus!

1 comment:

  1. Bro:

    Thank you so much for this admonition to serve the Lord properly and in the Spirit! I needed to hear it! I am reminded of what Paul wrote in Romans 13:13-14...Let us walk properly as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to fulfill its lusts.

    Love You Bro!
    Rich

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