Tuesday, March 9, 2010 - Worship God In Spirit and in Truth
In Leviticus 10 we are told that, “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.”It is important to understand the circumstances that led up to the destruction of Aaron’s son.The consecration of Aaron and his sons as priests had just been completed in Lev. 8-9.In Lev. 9:22-24, the glory of the Lord appeared when Aaron blessed the people and fire came out from before the Lord and consumed the fat on the altar.We are told the people shouted and fell on their face.
Compare the fire of Lev. 9:24 with that of Lev. 10:2.We are told that Nadab and Abihu offered profane fire before the Lord.It is called a strange fire.One fire indicated God's acceptance; the other, God's rejection.One fire indicated God's blessing; the other, God's curse.
We must understand that the fire offered by Nadab and Abihu was NOT commanded by the Lord.For all we know they were sincere in their actions, but it was not accepted because it was NOT commanded by God. Those who approach God must regard Him as “holy” (Lev.10:3).“Holy” means “to set apart, consecrated”; i.e., to treat as special.The actions of Nadab and Abihu did not respect God.Why?They acted in a way that was NOT commanded by God.
God must be "glorified" before all (Lev. 10:3).This word means “to honor.”The actions of Nadab and Abihu therefore did not honor God.
When we approach God in worship, we must do only what He has commanded.
Matt. 4:10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
When Christ says that we are to worship the Lord thy God that does not leave room for anything else, especially a recognition service, focusing on men, with some worship sprinkled in.
John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
Christ tells us that we are to worship the Lord thy God in “spirit and in truth.”The fact that he tells us to worship in truth means that we can know the truth in regards to how we worship God.
Nadab and Abihu made the mistake of offering in worship to God something he did not command.When we offer something God has not commanded, we are not regarding Him as holy.We do not truly glorify Him.
Do we regard God as holy, and properly glorify Him in our worship service?Actions speak louder than words.