Leviticus 10:1-2 And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon… I. How ELEVATION TO HIGH AND HOLY POSITIONS DOES NOT PLACE MEN BEYOND THE TEMPTATION AND LIABILITY TO COMMIT SIN. II. HOW THE COMMITTAL OF SIN MERITS, AND MAY MEET WITH SUDDEN CORRESPONDING RETRIBUTION. III. HOW SUCH RETRIBUTION, WHILE IT CONDEMNS THE SINNER, VINDICATES THE BROKEN LAW AND GLORIFIES THE LAWGIVER. 1. We may note that the punishment they received — (1) Condemns them here in the eyes of all Israel. (2) Showed the exceeding sinfulness of sin; and (3) The exacting demands and exalted dignity of the law. 2. God thus manifesting Himself as a consuming fire showed — (1) His jealousy, that He could not be openly and grossly insulted. (2) His power, that the fire which glowed in the cloud, which had kindly let them out of Egypt, protected them from their foes, and which consumed the burnt-offering on the day of consecration, had power to destroy, and, unless held in check, would consume all sinners. (3) His mercy, that while sin deserved punishment, and God had the right and power to destroy, He made judgment His strange work, and such retribution — as that which visited Aaron's sons — an exceptional thing. Let us learn that though worship must be voluntary yet it must be according to God's own appointed way. Liberty is not to be perverted into lawlessness. 3. Strange fire is offered upon God's altar when worship is presented with — (1) Unsolicited materials, or from (2) Unsanctified motives. Enthusiasm is holy ardour — literally, God in us — His own fire ascending to Himself. (F. W. Brown.) Parallel Verses KJV: And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not. |
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