3.2. PRIESTLY COMMITMENT (Leviticus 9:1-28)

The seven days of dedication of the priests completed, there follows dedication of the Tabernacle, and Aaron, assisted by his sons, offers sacrifices for himself and for the people. Commitment to service and blessing of the people bring a manifestation of the glory of the Lord. (Leviticus 9:23 ).

Leviticus 9:24 "and fire came out from before the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the fat on the altar. When all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces."

When dedicated ministers obediently and faithfully serve and proclaim atonement through Jesus Christ, the fire comes out from the Lord. At Pentecost the fire fell in the Person of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4 ).

The discipline against sacrilege performed by Nadab and Abihu brings another side to fire that came out from before the Lord. It brought destruction.

Leviticus 10:1-2 "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. So fire went out from the LORD and devoured them, and they died before the LORD."

Nadab and Abihu. What they did was of their own volition. Neither Moses or the Lord commanded it. What a serious warning against bringing into Christian worship doctrine or practice that which is not according to God's Word, or of the Spirit of God. They offered profane fire - they kindled the fire not with fire from the altar, but with the fire they lit themselves. Incense speaks of prayer.

Revelation 8:3-4 "Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel's hand."

Fire is the true foundation of real prayer, that is, the fire of the Holy Spirit. "Praying in the Holy Spirit" (Jude 20 ).

Romans 8:26-27 "Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God."

Our prayers, worship, interpretation of the Word, must be Holy Spirit motivated.

Leviticus 10:3 "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."

Aaron, by his silence, accepted the stroke of God's judgment and acknowledged its righteousness. He and his surviving sons were ordered on pain of death, to remain at the Tabernacle and show no outward sign of mourning. (Leviticus 10:6-7 ), as God's anointed loyalty to ministerial duty had to come before private feelings.

Luke 14:26 "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple."

Ryrie's note on "hate" states "This saying does not justify malice or ill will towards one's family, but it means that devotion to family must take second place to one's devotion to Christ."

A direction is also given that as priests fulfilling their ministry, they were to abstain from intoxication drink (Leviticus 10:8-11 ). Perhaps liquor had contributed to Nadab and Abihu's doing of wrong.

Two reasons are given for abstinence.

First:

Leviticus 10:10 "that you may distinguish between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean,"

Second:

Leviticus 10:11 "and that you may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the LORD has spoken to them by the hand of Moses."

Intoxication or worldly obsession would keep them from teaching God's word with clear faculties and demonstrating the Word by example.

Leviticus 10:7 "... And they did according to the word of Moses."

Aaron's obedience was unquestioning even against his personal interests and emotion. He gave his surviving sons an example to follow, which they did.

Leviticus 10:19 "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?'"

Moses had discovered that the priests had not eaten the sin offering according to Leviticus 6:26, 10:12-20. Aaron explained that the sin of his family had made their eating of that sacrifice by them impossible, according to (Leviticus 4:3-1 ) and (Leviticus 6:30 ). Aaron, in the emotional circumstances showed remarkable perception of God's word - and lined up his actions with it. Discipline must not be administered when Scripture itself authorises the exception. Our service to God should be marked with dedication, commitment and willingness to be corrected, and acceptance of the Lord's discipline.

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QUESTIONS FOR GROUP INTERACTION

1. Do you expect that commitment to service and the blessing of the Lord's people will bring a showing forth of the glory of the Lord (Leviticus 9:23 )?

2. What would you say is the warning for God's people today in the judgment of Nadab and Abihu (Leviticus 10:1-2 )?

3. Does your devotion to your family take second place to your devotion to Christ (Leviticus 10:6,7; Luke 14:26 )?