Leviticus 8-10

The holiness of God and man's approach in worship through obedience of the proper way of worshipping God is underscored in Leviticus 10 with the death of Nadab and Abihu. The fire offered to the LORD was unauthorized, in Hebrew the word zarah which translates as, to turn aside, to be a foreigner, strange, profane or to commit adultery. The New Living Translation includes terminology of disobedience by offering the 'wrong kind' of fire contrary to the commands of God. What Moses says to Aaron next is crucial to understanding why the fire of God consumed Nadab and Abihu and has grave implications for Christians today in our approach before the LORD in worship and knowing His character.

Leviticus 10:3 (NIV) "Among those who approach me I will be proved holy; in the sight of all the people I will be honored."

It is no surprise that Aaron remains silent to this word from the LORD, his silence is an acknowledgement that God's wrath is just and to mourn the loss of his sinful sons would be dishonoring God. This is a challenging passage to truly grasp the weight of the humanity of strength in Aaron, surely he was torn inside with the loss of his sons, but grounded in the truth of the holiness and justice of the LORD he knew that God is serious about rebellion and obedience. Aaron takes his role as mediator so very seriously that even in verse 19 he demonstrates his understanding of the sin and burnt offerings such that when Moses challenges the way Aaron conducted the offerings, his response is justified by his reverence for right and proper worship to please the LORD. 

Recently I have been intrigued with the distinctions between normative, traditional and reformed worship as contrasted in scripture and demonstrated in many churches today. The main issue to be concerned with is the purity of worship such that the Church is worshipping and glorifying God  in accordance with scripture (true worship)  as contradicted by empty performance, vain human tradition and religious idolatry. Jesus speaks to the hypocrisy of false worship and I am convicted by how I worship and the purity of worship in my own life. A quote from pastor David Ryu in sermon I listened to back in October rings out in my mind as I think about reformed worship personally and I hope it challenges you to view your approach, orientation and fear of God in a new way.

"How you worship God reveals how much you know and love God. Worshipping the right God the wrong way is still idolatry." ~David Ryu

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