Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-10-27
Lesson 5.-Nadab and Abihu.
LEvrrIcus 10; lilo.

LEvfffcus 10: lilo.
GolbSx Trxrs-"Ys shall be holy; for am holy
Lev, II "a
Central Truhi-The path OF reverent
obedience is the way of safety.
The Tabernacle has now been set up,
and Aaron aud his SONS consecrated a.
priests. The services of the Tabernacle
had also been inaugurated. And, to
crown the whole, the glory of God ap.
peared to all the people; and, fire de.
scending from heaven, consumed the
sacrifices heaped upon the altar. 1t
was at, or soon after, this time that the
painful events occurred which are mar
rated in our lesson.
Nadab and Abihu were the two eldest
sons OF Aaron. This fact alone would
make them men OF note and influence
in Israel. But they had also been spe.
cially favored of God. IL had been per
United to them to accompany Moses
and their father into the sacred mount,
and there TO have vision OF God such
rs had never before been the lot OF man.
Just now, too, they had been solemnly
set apart to the priests office, and call
ed TO assist in daily duties about the
altar. 1t was these two highly favored
men who now fell into great sin. re
minding us that none are exempt from
moral peril, that the most highly blest
may transgress and perish.
OF the nature of their sin it is simply
said "They offered strange fire before
the Lord, which he commanded them
not" The office may have had many
Tkzsn kaua Iaan
sumption OF duties not belonging TO
them an unwarranted intrusion into
the most holy place an offering OF in
cense at the wrong time. or OF other in.
cense than that appointed. But the
particular point OF the offence must
have been the Offering of other fire
than that which had been divinely
kindled on the altar. 1t had been com.
manded that that fire should be kept
up, and that none other should be used
for sacred purposes. The officiating
priests were to fill their censers from
this. Nadab and Abihu dared to dis.
obey this so recent command. How
they come to do il is not told Us. Some
have supposed that they were intoxi.
Gated at the time and there is an init.
nation of this in the ninth verse. Or
they may have desired to demonstrate
their independence and importance be
fore the people. The one important
fact is that they trifled with Gods sa.
cred ordinances and set their wills
above his command.
The punishment OF their offence may
seem severe. And so il was. 1t was
similar to that which fell upon Uzzsh
when he put forth his hand TO steady
the Ark Of God, and upon Ananias and
Sapphira when they lied TO the Holy
Ghost. A lightning flash devoured
them, and they died before the Lord.
The reasons for such severity are in.
dicated in the narrative. The great and
central one was that God ''might he
sacrificed in them that come nigh him !"
that is, treated as holy and as having a
right 10 command. Or il was that, il
men would not reverence and obey him,
he might at least he gorified before the
people in the punishment of trangres
sion. No doubt the offence was the
greater for the dignity OF the offenders,
and the distinguished fayors they had
enjoyed. The more exalted the sinner,
the greater the Elm. Particularly often
sive is the sin OF those who serve in
spiritual things. Then. the offence was
against a solemnly ordained divine ser.
vice. God is jealous of the manner in
which he will be worshipped. He would
have men follow his way, not their own.
There is a sacred intent and meaning in
his ordinances. We are not to despise
them, or to seek 10 improve them.
There il pride and rebellion in attempts
to modify and mend his commands.
God intended that the punishment OF
Nadab and Abihu should be n perpetual
warning against such pride, and per.
petual proof that he will be served with
fidelity and reverent fear.
The silence Of Aaron was a rare ex.
hibition OF submission under the mighty
hand of God. To him Gods honor was
dearer than his own flesh. II is rever.
ence for Gods laws which makes do
mestic peace and comfort possible. At
any and all cost the divine authority
must be maintained. Therefore Aaron
held his peace"
The prohibition OF mourning had re.
spect to the priests and not 10 the peo.
pie. II would have interf.red with
their sacred duties; moreover, the
priests, being nearer to God, were spe.
cially set TO maintain his honor II was
incumbent on them to bear testimony
that Gods ways were good and just.
Aaron and his sons wefe In danger OF
being too much affected with the provi
dence, and therefore they are forbidden
to mourn; the house of Israel were in
danger OF being too little affected with
It, and therefore they are commanded
20 lament"
There must have been some particu
lar reason for the introduction, in this
connection, Of the prohibition against
wine and strong drink. IL il not uu.
likely that strong drink was the occa-
sion of the offence Of these two men.
And il Is noteworthy that the fact OF
their intoxicaiion vas in Gods sight no
extenuation Of their guilt. It did not
lessen the severity Of their punishment
"a fact 10 be especially commended 10
modern Judges and jurors. The reasons
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