And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not. Leviticus 10:1, KJV
I’ve heard some suggest that the reason Nadab and Abihu were struck by the LORD was because they were drunk. They surmise this because of God’s command a few verses later (Lev 10:9). Whether they were drunk or not: first, we’re not told; and second, it misses the point of how they failed to sanctify the Lord in the service in the tabernacle. God’s anger fell upon them because they burned incense with “unauthorized fire” (ESV). What fire were they to use? They were to use the fire which came forth from the LORD to consume the sin offering and burnt offering placed upon the bronze altar (Lev 9:24). The LORD commanded that this fire must “be kept burning on the altar continually” (Lev 6:13). Why? It represents the eternal, unquenchable fire of God’s anger which every sin against Him deserves. Moreover, it represents the eternal fire of God’s wrath poured out upon the soul of Jesus Christ, who suffered on the cross for sins He did not commit.
Service to God and worship of Him must spring forth from faith which rests upon Christ’s atoning sacrifice. Nadab and Abihu, in offering incense in the tabernacle, were representing a type of the prayers of Jesus Christ, who “always lives to make intercession” for those He is able to save to the uttermost (Heb 7:25). The sweet incense of Christ’s prayers are offered with the eternal fire of God’s wrath He endured when He hung upon Calvary’s tree.
When we attempt to pray, serve, worship, meditate, teach, preach, disciple, or observe ordinances apart from faith in Christ’s sacrifice, we do no better than Nadab and Abihu. They offered fire of their own making. Many Americans want to worship with strange fire today. May it never be so with us.
When men unfaithful serve the Lord In ways commanded not, Their witness contradicts God’s Word, His wrath will be their lot.
The LORD called Moses and spoke to him from the tent of meeting, saying, Leviticus 1:1 In English, this book of the Bible is called Leviticus. It is the Latin form of the Greek word referring to the tribe of Levi, the third son of Jacob. The...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
THE ETERNAL SOUND OF THE GOSPEL And it shall be on Aaron when he ministers, and its sound shall be heard when he goes into the Holy Place before the LORD, and when he comes out, so that he does not die. Exodus 28:35 There’s a tradition among...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
And they remembered his words, Luke 24:8 The resurrection of Jesus Christ is full of power. Paul speaks of it in his letter to the saints at Philippi, “that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings,...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
Here’s my devotional thought from one of the verses I considered, pulled from one of today’s portions of the R. M. M’Cheyne’s “Daily Bread” Bible… Continue reading [ ... ][ abbreviated | read original blog ]
Here’s my devotional thought from one of the verses I considered, pulled from one of today’s portions of the R. M. M’Cheyne’s “Daily Bread” Bible… Continue reading [ ... ][ abbreviated | read original blog ]
Here’s my devotional thought from one of the verses I considered, pulled from one of today’s portions of the R. M. M’Cheyne’s “Daily Bread” Bible… Continue reading [ ... ][ abbreviated | read original blog ]
Here’s my devotional thought from one of the verses I considered, pulled from one of today’s portions of the R. M. M’Cheyne’s “Daily Bread” Bible… Continue reading [ ... ][ abbreviated | read original blog ]
Here’s my devotional thought from one of the verses I considered, pulled from one of today’s portions of the R. M. M’Cheyne’s “Daily Bread” Bible… Continue reading [ ... ][ abbreviated | read original blog ]
Here’s my devotional thought from one of the verses I considered, pulled from one of today’s portions of the R. M. M’Cheyne’s “Daily Bread” Bible… Continue reading [ ... ][ abbreviated | read original blog ]
