Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-08-09
The SABBATH SCHOOL
International Lessen Comments for
August 10.
Subject: Nadab and AbiIiu Temperance Les.
sOn. Lev. X. ..Il-Go!iea Tcs,, !. Tines:
VI. o-MemoTy Verses. S-'l-com.
neutary on the Days Lesson.

u~usHay va Day
''Nadab and Abihu." These were the
| eldest sons OF Aaron and nephews ot
Moses. They were mex. to Aaron in posi-
! ton and rank They had lust been in
! iucted into the priestly office. and their
| 6rst acts as priests brought them to
most tragic end. "Censer. \ small YES.
| eel used for burning incense. Incense"
| The sacred perfume offered - God by
burning. 1t was composed OF fragrant
| spices lex. 80: 34.3S). and was a symbol oil
| prayer. Strange fire Instead of talking
| Ere which the Lord Himself had kindied
| (chap. 9:24) from off the altar OF burnt
! offering. they took common fire which
| was expressly forbidden. Chap. l6: u.
| Their sin seems to have consisted. |. IT.
| going without orders. }. In taking their
| own censers. instead OF using the utensils
] of the sanctuary. 3. In doing what none
| but the high priest was allowed to do.
! 4. In shat they went together at the same
| time, whereas the incense was only to he
| offered by one. 5. In going NJ IN hour
| not appointed for this service. 6. In Of
fering strange fire. 1t is thought by some
| that they even entered into the holy OF
| holies. Tie whole service on this So.emn
! day OF inauguration was to be performed
| by Aaron himself. and his sons were only
! to attend him. These two young priests
; we're presumptuous. rash and irreverent
I in state OF intoxicaton when they en-
/ tered upon their duties tsee vs.. s. 81. and
| that this was the reason they acted 30
rashly and wickedly.
?. Fire from the Lord. Fire from
! the Lord had just consumed the burnt
! offering and the fat upon the altar %: 24l
! in token OF divine compacency and sacred
J nearncss and the acceptance of human
| worship, and that some fire went out
from the Lord and consumed the auda-
cicus priests. The very fire which they
! had sighted was now the instrument OF
! SAVIOR of ! fe unto life or OF death unto
| death > Cor s. li-l6. The Holy Spirit
will either regenerate Titus 8: 81 and seal
| us (Eph. 4 800. or consume us. Heb. II:
| %. Died before the Lord That is. be-
! fore the veil that covered the mercy-seat.
God was now teaching His children ODE
dience, as became servants. In this sin
was manifested 4 contempt for Moses and
the divine law. and for Gods glory. The
punishment was necessary according to
the law.
8. sanctioned" etc. II will be made
to appear holy nv those who administer
in Ny name" This refers directly TO the
priests. They had received solemn warn
ings as to the cautious and reverent man
ner of their approach into the divine
presence. Aaron held his peace He
submitted in silent resignation to what
ne saw was the righteous ~
God" Far be it from him to honor his
sons more Than God. or wish Gods name.
or house, or law. to be exposed TO re-
proach or contempt TO preserve his family.
1. "Out of the camp The huryins
place NJ the Jews was without the camp.
5. In their coats" Burying them in
their priestly robes was a sign Of their
being polluted by the sin of their irre.ie..
ious wearers. Aaron was not permitted
to die in his priestly garments. in order
Mum. 20: 90.
Uncover not your heads" They
were to use no sign of grief or mourning.
|. Because those who were employed IN
the service of the sanctuary should avoid
everything That might unfit them for that
service. >. Because the crime OF their
brethren was SO highly provoking to God.
and so fully merited the punishment
which He had inflicted. that their mourn
ing might he considered as accusing the
Divine Justice of undue severity. 1t was
the law that the priest should never leave
the altar or go TO buriais. or interrupt his
sacred ministry by shedding tears. Whole
house of Israel" Al! the people were to
bewail the burning. not only on account
because God had been displeased. They
must bewail the burning kinded, that. II
might burn no further. Aaron and his
sons were III danger OF being too much
affected with the providence, therefore
.hey are forbidden to mourn; the house
81 Israel was in danger Of being too little
affected. and therefore are commanded to
lament"
l. Shall not go out They we're not
% come in contact with secular affairs By
abandoning the service of the tabernacle
Lest We die" Many Christian minister
has suffered spiritual death by vo.untar-
liy going nth from tine tabernacle TO en-
Ter upon secular matters.
s. "Spake unto Aarol. This command
MAS Immediately given to Aaron to en-
courage him h. such token OF regard;
and because tire Lord would not have i
appear as ii Moses had not sympath.zed
IN his affection. or bad Intended TO charge
him with criminaily IL this respect.
9. do not drink wine. etc. This
strongly implies that .haroa's sons had
sinned through excess OF wine. and had
Attempted to celebrate the divine service
in a state oil inah' .at!On "lhs WINE Is
in Hebrew 'yayin, the most general term
,or the beverage, especially when It Is IN
yoxicatng. In seventy-iive out OF hun
1red and thirty-Six passages II IS spoken
IF with condemnation by reason OF its
disastrous effects Strong drink Is APP
piled to all fermented lianors except wine.
1t included beer and cider and the fer
nented juices al various other fruits and
vegetables" Lest We die God fixes
The penalty and gives it as a warning.
TO- May put difference To be able
20 distinguish between what was sacred
and what was common. Wine draws a
dlm over the spiritual eve and confounds
moral distinctions This is a strong
reason why they should drink no intoxi-
eating liquor. that their understanding
being clear. and their Judgment correct.
they might be always able to discern be-
tween the clean and the unclean and ever
pronounce righteous judgment. indeed.
common sense itself shows that neither a
Hrunkard nor a sot should ever be sui.
fered to minister in holy things
IL. Teach the children" The priest
was the proper person to teach. and il
he were addicted to drunkenness he would
be indeed very unfit to teach people Gods
laws or statutes. for two reasons. namely.
Because they who live after the flesh can
not have an experimental knowledge OF
the things OF the Spirit: and because they
would. by their example. destroy all their
own teaching. Drunkenness is sinful,
therefore is considered feshly. Temper
ance is a virtue and does not unfit one TO
learn OF Christ and the things OF HIS
kingdom" THE law of the Lord is per
feet, converting the soul"