STRANGE FIRE (part 1)

" 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. And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD. Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the LORD spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified." Leviticus 10:1-3

STRANGE....ADULTEROUS, HARLOTOUS, FOREIGN

Also Eli's sons did not what the Lord commanded....

"And this shall be a sign unto thee, that shall come upon thy two sons on Hophni and Phinehas, in one day they shall die both of them." 1 Samuel 2:34

Even Saul....

"And Saul said, bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings and he offered the burnt offering." 1 Samuel 13:9 But...

"And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly, thou hast not kept the commandment of the Lord thy God, which he commanded thee, for now would the Lord have established thy kingdom upon Israel forever. But now thy kingdom shall not continue, the Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart and the Lord hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the Lord commanded thee." 1 Samuel 13:14

See a common thread here? One that is a principle for us even to this day? They failed to do what the Lord commanded them. For our Old Testament priests, there were strict laws on worship and they broke them. God was clear and laid it all out for them. In the case of Nadab and Abihu the consequence was immediate and final, they were consumed by the fire of the Lord God. For Saul, the Lord took his spirit from him and he eventually died. They all died. We die when we do not approach a Holy God in holiness ourselves. When we fail to remember God is Holy.

In Leviticus 9 we see the inauguration of the Holy Priesthood. A time of new beginnings for the Israelite people...God laid all the commands out for them. All of the laws given to the Levitical priests were new, solemn, and needed the utmost attention to detail. Everything from what they wore, to their actions and duties were. God was blessing them abundantly with the forgiveness of sins and His presence among them.

From the beginning of time as we know it, from Adam to me, we continue to sin against a Holy and righteous God. We continue to rebel against his will for our lives. One thing i have learned is that God alone is God, He is holy and righteous and just in ALL he does. In turn, we must be holy when we approach him. Everything else is strange fire.

God has given us all we need to live Holy lives, he has given us His Son, His Holy Spirit and the Word to keep us on track. God makes it altogether possible to approach him in holiness and offer worthy sacrifice. To be holy as he is holy.

Who is to regard God as holy? We are. Those who draw near. The word draw near is qarowb (kaw-robe') which means... kinship, lovers or friends. Those who claim to draw near to God are the lovers or friends of God, at least by profession. So, those who draw near are those who claim to know Him and follow Him. God will then, be glorified in those people by their special regard for Him as holy. They know they must do this and attempt to set Him apart as holy. Either in the people or by the people, either in mercy or by judgment, God will be kabad (kaw-bad') or made holy. He will be honoured, or One who gain’s glory. This is not something that might happen, or could happen when the Lord’s people offer up worship to Him in whatsoever manner they do, but either in mercy or either by judgment God will obtain, receive, and must have, the honor due His name. Amen.

God says He is to be regarded as a holy and majestic God. The word holy here is qadash (kaw-dash') which means “to show oneself sacred or majestic, to be honoured, be treated as sacred, or to be holy.” God is not to be treated or regarded in any other manner than holy. He is to be treated as one who is wholly separate from all other created entities. His holiness is not compromised or tainted in any way, nor may it be. He says He must be regarded as such or there are consequences.

As for worship, it cannot be something that is haphazardly formed in the life of the believer, it is what we do now, and will do in heaven. We will worship God for all eternity. It is something essential to the Christian life. We cannot “get” worship wrong. This passage in Leviticus 10 is not just a single incident with Nadab and Abihu, but a command in principle for all people, for all time, from the mouth of God. God has laid out what is to be accomplished in worship, and the principle of this should hit us right between our eyes as Christians.

It is a joy for the lovers of God to obey His word, especially in worship.

“With my whole heart have i sought thee. Oh, let me not wander from thy commandments.” Psalm 119:10

“I will worship toward thy holy temple, And praise thy name For thy lovingkindness and for thy truth. For thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.” Psalm 138:2

This is the heart overflowing with a joy to worship God. And did we notice that the heart of this worship is set in the truth of the Word? How may one rightly worship God? It must be according to His word and His will.

i am still praying through this scripture and will finish up soon....God bless everyone...