Levítico 10

Levítico 10

Morris - Exactly what the "strange fire" offered by Nadab and Abihu may have been is not explained. This sudden judgment upon Aaron's sons, however, stresses the critical importance of adherence to God's Word, especially by those called to special service on behalf of the LORD. In some way, they had failed to obey God's commands in connection with their priestly service. Therefore, God judged them as an example and warning against spiritual presumption on the part of any of His people (Leviticus 16:1,2-note). (Defender's Study Bible) Before the LORD - They may well have been struck down in the Most Holy Place itself. Before (06440)(panim/paniym/paneh) occurs over 2000x and is a masculine plural (it always occurs in plural in OT) noun which literally means face (Ge 43:31; Lev. 13:41; 1Kgs. 19:13). Deffinbaugh makes an excellent point - Israel would be painfully aware of the limitations of this Aaronic Priesthood. Thus they would be prepared for and looking forward to a “better Priest and priesthood” which would be the result of the New Covenant and of the coming of the Christ. The Aaronic priesthood was shown to have failed at its very outset. It is as though an unsinkable ship was launched, and at the first instant it struck the water it sank. If these two priests, Nadab and Abihu were so sinful as to be struck dead by God, how could anything they or any other sinful priest did bring people to perfection? Any system which had an imperfect priesthood could surely not bring the people to perfection. The flaws of the old covenant and its Aaronic priesthood pointed to the need for a new and better covenant, with a better priesthood. The Aaronic priesthood was only a provisional, imperfect priesthood. A sinner was the high priest, and his sinful sons were priests as well. There was no basis for unbridled optimism in the Aaronic order. (Leviticus 8-10 Principles of Priesthood-excellent contrast w/ Jesus' High Priesthood) But the aim of this instruction is not to tell us how to dress for church. It tells us about God. It reminds us that God is holy, and He is not to be trifled with. God is not a buddy who just wants us to feel comfortable around Him. The Scriptures do not merely educate us in morality. God didn’t give us the Bible to teach us how to be good little boys and girls. Instead, Scripture demands that we live respectfully and worshipfully in the awesome presence of the holy God. Without God’s holiness, our faith loses its meaning. British theologian P. T. Forsyth (1848-1921) wrote, “Sin is but the defiance of God’s holiness, grace is but its action upon sin, the cross is but its victory, and faith is but its worship.” The holiness of God reveals Our insufficiency; But when His Spirit fills our hearts, His work in us we'll see. -Sper To refrain from sin doesn't make us holy, but holiness makes us refrain from sin. Leviticus 10:3 Then Moses said to Aaron, "It is what the LORD spoke, saying, 'By those who come near Me I will be treated as holy, and before all the people I will be honored.' " So Aaron, therefore, kept silent. said. Lev 10:6. 1Sa 3:18. I will be. Lev 8:35, 21:6, 8, 15, 17, 21, 22:9, Ex 14:4, 19:22, 29:43, 44, Nu 20:12, Dt 32:51, 1Sa 6:20, 1Ch 15:12, 13, 2Ch 26:16-21, Ps 89:7, 119:120, Is 52:11, Ezk 20:41, 42:13, He 12:28, 29, before, 1Sa 2:30, Is 49:3, Ezk 28:22, Jn 12:28, 13:31, 32, 14:13, Ac 5:11-13, 2Th 1:10, 1Pe 4:17, Aaron, Ge 18:25, Dt 26:14, 1Sa 3:18, Jb 1:20, 21, 2:10, Ps 39:9, 46:10, Is 39:8, Mt 10:37, Ac 21:14) Leviticus 10 Resources MOSES "SPOKE HIS PIECE" Then - What a strategic expression of time! While we cannot be dogmatic about the identity of the "strange fire," it is clear that it did not treat God as holy and did not honor Him. Leon Hyatt - Verse 3. Then Moses said to Aaron, This is the word of Jehovah, saying, Through the one near me, I will be hallowed, and before the face of all the people I will be glorified, so Aaron kept quiet. Then Moses said to Aaron, This is the word of Jehovah, saying, Through the one near me, I will be hallowed, and before the face of all the people I will be glorified. Moses immediately interpreted these events by a quotation from Jehovah. The words are not found elsewhere in the Record. Evidently they were words that Jehovah had spoken to him in the mountain but that he had not recorded in Exodus (see comments on Lev. 9:1 and on Lev. 9:10 in MESSAGE 10). The words he quoted mean that one way or another Jehovah would be “hallowed” and glorified through His priests, who were chosen to be near Him. He would be honored either by their obedience or by their punishment for disobedience. Only one previous reference referred to Jehovah’s being “hallowed” (Ex. 15:11). It means that He was to be “set apart” from all other persons and objects (see comments on Lev. 1:3-note in MESSAGE 1 under the heading [It is] a holiness of holinesses). Jehovah was not to be treated as a man, because He was completely set apart from men in power and moral character. His priests would either honor Him for His great “otherness,” or they would suffer the consequences. Either way, the people would see the greatness, power, and glory of Jehovah. so Aaron kept quiet. As painful as was the death of his two sons, Aaron understood that their punishment was sent to glorify God; so he did not object. He remained silent. (Leviticus 15 - Message 11 - Lev. 10:1-7) John