The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1907-08-10
THE SIN OF NADAB
AND ABIHU
Sunday School Lesson for Aug. IL. 1907
Specially Prepared for This Paper

LESSON TExT.-Lev. lO.1-ll. Memory
verse 9.
GOLDEN TExT.-"Wine is a mocker
strong drink is raging and whosoever is
deceived thereby Is not wise. PROV.
2O:L
TIME.-April B. G. 1890 common chro-
nology); on the afternoon LEV. 1912, 10i
OF the first day that the priests entered
upon the regular sacrifices OF the taber-
nacle LEV. S:SS; 9:D, eight days after the
completion Of the tabernacle our last
lesson Nearly a year after the exodus.
PLACE.-In the tabernacle near Sinai.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
The sltuatlon-Eve was near
ly prepared for the onward march to-
ward the promised land. There had
been nearly year of instruction and
training in the wilderness experiences
and at Sinai. The tabernacle had been
set up on the first day of the first
month. The priests had been pre-
pared and trained in their duty Of
leading the people in true worship. In
40 days, the goth of the second month,
they were to break up their long en-
campment and begin their journey
(Ex. 40:17; Lev. 9:1; Mum. 10; 11-13).
The moral law had been given. The
ritual law had been announced and
taught. The divine fire shone over the
Holy of Holes, like the sunlight
peace, comfort, brightness, beauty,
life to those who use it Alright, but a.
consuming fire to those who despise
and misuse its power. The divine fire
had kindled the fuel on the altar;
perpetual fame (Lev. GLIB "to be
continually fed with the fuel especially
provided by the congregation, and
with the daily burnt offerings" "Tra-
dition assures us that it never was
quenched till the destruction of the
temple by Nebuchadnezzar." - DIR.
Ginsburg. The ceremonial Of religion
as appointed by God, to continue as
the best method of worship and relig-
ious education of the people, was be-
gun.
V. 1. "Nadab and Abihu, the Sons
of Aaron" His eldest sons (Ex. 6:23,)
just inducted into the exalted office of
priests, next to their father, the high
priest, in the line of succession to tho
highest Office of religious leadership
and influence in the nation. A glorious
opportunity was before them.
They had passed through three great
portals of usefulness and happiness.
(1) Their parentage was a fine advan.
tage. Moses was their uncle. Their
exalted family had given them great
privilege of association with the best
in the nation. (2) Their education
was remarkable. They had spent a
year in Gods wilderness training
school, receiving the lessons of the
riven rock, the quails, the mama, the
law written on the tables of stone.
Moreover, they had had the exalted
privilege of beholding with their own
eyes the glory of God upon the holy
mount eek. 24:1, 3, 1O). CD They
had passed through the portal Of
glorious calling. They had been ded-
icated to scored and most honorable !
trust. They wore. the garments that
separated them, III the eyes Of all men,
to the priests life of holiness and |
obedience. Before each Of them was
even the thrilling possibility Of becom.
ing high priest some day
Their sin was direct, public, mex.
cusable disobedience to their God and
leader. 1t partook of the nature OF
treason. They doubtless did it thought
lessly but there are occasions when
thoughtlessness is a crime.
The Necessity of the Punishment |
1t was the same as the necessity fol
all punishment-in its justice, in it's
measurement of the evil of the sin,
and its prevention of crime. No gov
ernment Of imperfect people can exist
or does exist without it. CAS- has lust
been pointed out, the ritual system
had been inaugurated on that very
day. All was new and strange, easily
deprecated, or corrupted,
and therefore needing special guard
ing. The bud needs, and has protec-
tion from rough husks, which the flow
er can do without. This swift death
Of offenders against the new order has
llo BdAd III tic SWul uCcL0 Oh
Ananias and Sapphira, which is to be
vindicated on similar grounds. There.
too, the necessity was stringent for in
slant removal Of a springing root of
by which many might be
lefiled, and for saving the young life
of the community from disease, which.
might infect its whole fu-
.ure.
One Cause Of the Tragedy.-vs. Oil.
J. DO not drink wine nor strong
rink. The nearness OF this injunc.
ion to the story of Nadab and Abihu
IMPLIES that their sin was due, partly.
f not wholly, to intoxication. "The
Chaldee adds here, as thy
IONS did who died by burning fire."
-Ginsburg. when ye go into the
I
The reasons given for this prohibi-
ion are two: ID The tendency Of I
vine drinking is to obscure the ". 1O)
between holy and unhoIv~