Strange Fire

Strange Fire

Leviticus 10:1-11

Introduction: Romans 15:4 tells us that “…whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” In Leviticus 10 we have a lesson about the worship of God. As we look at the account of Nadab and Abihu we will see that in the worship of God there’s a proper way and a wrong way to worship God.

I. The Privilege of Nadab and Abihu

A. They were called by called to serve

1. Exodus 28:1 “Now take Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister to Me as priest, Aaron and Aaron's sons: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.”

2. Old Testament priests were chosen by God, not self-appointed; and they were chosen for a purpose: to serve God with their lives by offering up sacrifices.

3. 1 Peter 2:9 “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

4. The Bible teaches us that God has granted a gift to each and every believer with which to serve Him, His church, and those who God places in our lives. As believers are calling is one that universal to all believers – to serve as priests of the Most High God.

5. Revelation 1:6 “And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion forever and ever”

B. They were privileged to have direct communion with God

1. Exodus 24:1, 9-11 “And he said unto Moses, Come up unto the LORD, thou, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship ye afar off... Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel: And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness. And upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand: also they saw God, and did eat and drink.”

2. Nadab and Abihu saw God and lived to tell of it. Nadab and Abihu were among the privileged few to actually see God!

3. Hebrews 4:16 “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

4. Ephesians 2:14-18 “For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; and that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby : and came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.”

5. It certainly is the privilege of every child of God to walk so closely with him; and maintain so divine a communion with him as not to feel the necessity going to the world to find enjoyment and satisfaction. – adapted from Charles G Finney

6. Psalm 27:4 “One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, And to meditate in His temple.”

II. The Prescribed Procedures and Protocol of Priesthood

A. Leviticus 10:3 “Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the LORD spoke, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace. (NKJV – “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.’”)

B. Those who were called by God to the Jewish priesthood were to be sanctified or set apart.

C. Leviticus 8:23-24 “And he slew it; and Moses took of the blood of it, and put it upon the tip of Aaron's right ear, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot. And he brought Aaron's sons, and Moses put of the blood upon the tip of their right ear, and upon the thumbs of their right hands, and upon the great toes of their right feet: and Moses sprinkled the blood upon the altar round about.”