The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1902-08-08
NOTES AND COMMENTs

MULES AMI COMMENIS.
Strange Fire.-If God were to be
honored and reverenced by His peo-
pie, it was essential that the forms
of approach to Him should be strict
ly regarded; otherwise their concep-
ton of Him would be greatly low
cred. 1t is quite probable that Nadab
and Abihu were under the influence
of wine or they would not have Of
fered strange fire."
Profaning the Altar.-The strange
fire was fire kindled in some irregu-
lar manner or taken from some I'M
hallowed source. The offense seems
slight, but as showing lack of rev.
erence for Jehovah it was very grave.
The sin was one of the heart. Wor-
ship that is not reverent is mock
cry. "Sanctified' in this place means
recognized as holy" not made
holy"
The Burning Bewailed.-Then men
upon whom Moses called to bury the
dead priests were near kindred, prob
ably elderly men. They took the bod
les without special preparation to a
place outside the camp. The priests
were forbidden the usual signs of
mourning-disheveled hair and torn
clothing-because they had died by
reason of Jehovah's Judgment on
their sin. Do we not sometimes la
ment and perhaps rebel against Gods
decisions when we should bow in 81
lence as Aaron did? A terrible ca
lamity had befallen the house of
Aaron because of irreverence and dis
obedience, but irreverence and dis
obedience generally begin at home,
and the fault is too often with the
parents. Yet who will say that the
fathers punishment was not greater
than that of his sons?
The Prohibition.-The command to
abstain from wine and strong drink
is thought by some, on account of its
insertion here, to hint that Nadah
and Abihu were intoxicated when
they brought strange fire, but this
is very uncertain indeed. There is
nothing uncertain, however, about
the command itself, which, with the
reason for it (10:10, 1D, is one Of the
clearest passages in the Bible in its
teaching of abstinence. The reasons
given are absolutely free from the
fanaticism which sometimes in the
past has made it seem that the worst
foes of the temperance cause were
they of its own household. There
is grain of truth in the saying that
"a large part of the business of the
wise is to counterfeit the efforts OF
the good" The priests were forbid
den strong drink because Jehovah
wanted men, strong, clear-eyed, self
respecting men, to stand before him.
The religion of Jehovah was to be
the religion of purity, self-respect,
manhood and womanhood. The first
suggestion of a debased priesthood,
such as was common in other re-
lgions, had to be met in a way to
prevent its appearing again. Forty
seven American railroads discrimi-
nate against persons who drink-be-
cause they want to employ men.
Most great business enterprises do
the same thing, and for the same rea-
son. The doors that young men who
drink close upon themselves by their
own free act should not be forgot
ten. The opportunities they lose, the
confidence they forfeit, the manhood
they are willing to risk, should make
drinking in any form appear a very
poor proposition to any sane man.
To make the most of himself is a
duty that every man owes to himself,
his country and his God.
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
One should never indulge in any
practice which makes it impossible
to discern between the holy and un-
holy.
When alcohol burns inside one can
offer no holy fire to the Lord.
An insincere offering is as the burn
ing of strange fire before the Lord.
Alcohol is a trickster, in that IL
deceives one into thinking that the
unclean is clean.
N0h1e hirth &c an anoidapk 80 fa.4