Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-10

aarons uncle were called to conduct the
lunerai rites. It was proper that they
should have full charge because, being
.-e.Hes tNumb:, i:47-5W, their business was
10 taKe care of the tabernacle, and, conse-
quentiy, TO remove from 1t anything not
properly belonging to It. They proceeded
to discharge their duty in q quiet unosten-
.atious manner. They carried the bodies
OUT or the camp. because they could not
be buried within (Acts. v:6) And they
were laid away in their priests coats. thus
signifying that their office persisted with
.hem. me whole ceremony was we'll suited
to express humble submission to God, to
show due regard for the tabernacle and
its institutions and. withal, to lay the dead
away with decent respect.
MOURNlNG.-In those days, as now,
eastern people were extravagant in their
expressions of sorrow. The hope of an
other life did not illumine the grave. and
death In any form was considered calam-
ity. g Sam, xviii :33). On this occasion
Moses interfered that the mourning might
not In any wise disturb the religious inter-
ests OF the congregation. Aaron and his
two sons were forbidden to Join in the
demonstration Of grief. They were not to
go out OF the tabernacle or to rend their
clothes eek, xxviii:4O or to uncover their
heads. that is to remove their bonnets
The reason assigned for this Introduction
was that the amounting Oil was upon Them
that Is, they had been consecrated to the
priesthood, and they must not leave the
duties Of their office. even to bury a son or
brother This was afterward enacted as
permanent law Gev., xiii 10 u; Numb.
V1:I) The service Of the sanctuary must
not be suspended. The priest must be a
was the prophet In after years (Ezek,
Xxiv:16-1O. And Moses gave solemn
warning, Lest We die" and, fearing that
they should be visited as Nadab and Abihu
nad been. the father and brothers obeyed.
But while these three were not permitted,
the people gave forth their wailing for the
dead after oriental habit, and the whole
some instruction of God was impressed
upon the popular mind and conscience.
1NTOXICANTS.-Ever new expert
ence furnished opportunity for fuller in
structions. Whenever the people displayed
weakness or SIN God made them know
more Of His power and holiness. Hence. the
religion of the Bible is progressive, ad-
vancing as man is able to apprehend the
ways of God And SO the sin of Nadab and
Abihu furnished favorable occasion for
the announcement of a new law. The Lord
spoke directly to Aaron and charged him
and his sons not to use wine or strong
drink when they went into the tabernacle.
That was made perpetual statute The
reason given is that they might distinguish
between the holy and unholy and that
they might be qualified to teach the people.
Here is plain recognition of the evil in
f1uence of intoxicants. A priest needs
clear mind and must abstain. malachi,
ii:7.) Nothing is said concerning these
drinks at other times. In this instance the
purpose Is. not to protect the individual.
but the ordinances of religion. Some have
inferred, and the inference is natural, that
Nadab and Abihu were intoxicated. But
this may have been a precaution taken
without reference to them. The law thus
instituted Is accompanied by the warning.
Lest We die" 1t furnishes an important
chapter in the Bible idea of temperance.
CONCLUSION.-Bisho Hall makes
this highly appreciative comment: 'In the
service Of God it is dangerous thing to
decline from His own institutions. We
have to do with God who is wise to pre-
scribe His own worship, just to require
what he prescribes and powerful to re-
a grave responsibility which they assume
who conduct public worship Il Cornthian.
xiv:4O, and they who attend. as well as
they who minister. ought to take heed to
X:1)