Standing Strong |
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Shemini—Eighth
Leviticus 9:1– 11:47 2 Samuel 6:1– 7:17 Acts 5:1– 11; 11:1– 18 Hebrew 7:1– 19 |
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Isaiah 11:6 2 Thessalonians 2:15 |
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Aaron has just be appointed High Priest and his sons invested into the priesthood. This has to be one of the happiest days of his life. Who wouldn’t be overjoyed with such a calling being placed upon them?
But now Tragedy!
Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu, offer a strange fire before the L-rd and are immediately devoured by fire from the L-rd. This is immediately followed by the admonition from the L-rd that they are to drink no wine nor strong drink when they go into the tent of meeting.
From these verses we can deduce what has happened. I suppose that Aaron’s sons, in their joy of their new position reveled in strong drink prior to coming to perform their duties to the L-rd. Because of this they did not follow the proper procedure for making the incense to offer to the L-rd, resulting in a “strange fire” in their censers. G-d does not want anything less than our best in service to him. Here we have men who have been newly appointed as priests to the most high G-d and what have they done? They appear to have gotten drunk to the point they can’t perform their duties properly and they go before G-d in this inebriated state. This is such a disservice to the L-rd that they are devoured with fire from the L-rd and Aaron and the rests of the priesthood are not allowed to mourn the death of these two. The rest of the community will mourn for them but they are not allowed to. They must uphold the standard of G-d that those called to serve are held to a higher standard and their mourning could easily be seen as a way of questioning G-d justice. They are commanded to not let their hair go loose. Those in service to the L-rd had their heads covered. To have your head uncovered was a sign of mourning and how can one serving the L-rd G-d mourn His judgment. Through those that are called to the priesthood G-d is to be sanctified and before all people glorified.
How does this apply to us today? I think we can apply this to our approach to the L-rd whenever we come before Him in prayer or service. Are we wrapped up in ourselves? Are we celebrating ourselves and our status? Are we operating in impaired judgment? Are we consumed with events that surround us to the point we are not focused on what the L-rd has told us to do? Are we so intoxicated with what is going on around us that we are not pleasing to the L-rd? Are we under the influence of drink or drugs? I am certain the priests would have also be admonished to not partake of any substance that would impair judgment if the L-rd felt it necessary to elaborate.
Every time we approach the L-rd we are to be humble before Him. We are to follow his directions, exactly. The best way I have found to do this is to make certain to have some quiet time before addressing the L-rd; time to put away the things of this world that distract me from my focus on Him; time to reflect on all He has done for me and approach Him in proper gratitude.
Selah |