Godly Reverence is No Trifling Matter
I will show myself holy among those who are near me, and before all the people I will be glorified. (Leviticus 10:3)
Lev. 10:1-3, 21:6; Exo. 3:5, 29:43-46; Ps. 29:2, 89:7; Rom. 3:18-19
What Is God Saying?
According to Ex. 29:8, Aaron and his four sons were consecrated to the priesthood by a perpetual statute. In verse 20 of that chapter, we read that the blood of the ram was placed on the tip of the right ear of Aaron and each of his sons. It was also placed on their right thumbs and upon the great toes of their right feet. This was symbolic of the dedication of the whole man to God's service. From head to toe, each was God's man. That is why, whatever irresponsible and presumptuous action may have been taken by two of Aaron's sons, Nadab and Abihu (whatever the expression ‘unholy fire before the Lord’ means in vs. 1), these two sons were doing something with impetuous disregard for God's command. They made light of the sacred importance of their consecration. They might even have been under the influence of drink (vs. 9). In any case, ‘fire came from the presence of the Lord and devoured them’ (vs. 2). Five consecrated priests now were three. God took drastic action. When the dust settles, one eternally valid truth stands out. God means what He says. Godly reverence is no trifling matter.
How Does This Apply To Us?
The sin of Aaron's sons is not so remote from Christians in our day. It is not so remote from any of us who confess that Jesus is Lord and who accept His commandments. How many Christians sing Holy, Holy, Holy with their minds in neutral? We want to honor God, we sing His praise, and yet we may be thinking, ‘I go where you want me to go, dear Lord, but not for the time being, not in this way, not here, not yet. Let's talk it over, Lord. Here are the conditions under which I would like to honor you.’ Nadab and Abihu's sin was the wish that God would be pleased with what they did when they should have done that which would please God. Reverence for God is no trifling matter.
Pray With Me
Lord, let the error of Aaron's sons be to me a perpetual restraint and an unanswerable argument. Let me not suppose that their sin was great and that mine is less. Let me not think that they deserved their reward and that I deserve a kinder justice. Your Word does not bend to accommodate passing customs. That Word says, ‘I will show myself holy among those who are near me, and before all the people I will be glorified.’
Having accepted the demands of discipleship, I lay claim to the blessings of Your love in Christ. I am one in whom You have chosen to show Yourself holy. As Your Word is unbending, so Your grace is unending. That is my great hope and my only consolation. Forgive me when I allow in my heart the sputtering of an unholy fire. Extinguish all fire except that which is ignited by Your truth and mercy. Subdue all burning except pure love for You and Your children. Let the shining forth of Your holy love through me not be obscured by clouds of doubt.
Fire came from Your presence to devour the sons of disobedience. Let it now come forth from Your presence as I wait before you. Let it devour all unbelief. Purge away all indulgence Put to rest all poor excuses. Melt down all resistance. Remove the me that is devoted to me so that I may become the I that is devoted to You. Then I will be numbered among those who are near You. Then through me ‘before all the people You will be glorified.’
In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Moving On In The Life of Prayer
God still sends ‘fire from his presence.’ The Psalmist said in Psalm 39:3, ‘As I mused the fire burned.’ As we pray, let the fire also burn, ‘fire from the presence of God,’ fire that will give us life; fire that will get rid of the rubbish to make room for the important; fire that will consume the barriers of disobedience and clear the way for a life of obedience, fulfillment, glory, and love. It costs to be near God but the price we pay is not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us.
