Leviticus 9 &10 Where Wrath and Joy Meet

8/9/2019 Leviticus 9 &10 Where Wrath and Joy Meet

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Dave G Roberts http://www.partakers.co.uk Page 1

Poulner Baptist Chapel

29th August 2010

Introduction

You may remember from a couple of weeks ago, we looked at Psalm 66 and discussed

Joy and how a life of true joy could be seen in the life of the Psalmist through praise,

sacrifice and testimony. That this was also true of Jesus Christ and lastly that it was also

to be true of all those who have chosen to follow Jesus Christ and have Him as Lord and

master of their life. I wonder, where in the intervening weeks between then and now,

true joy has taken you. I also wonder what role you have played as a member of Gods

orchestra of joy during that time. Tonight, we will look at another aspect of being

instruments of Gods orchestra of joy - obedient service!

So, please turn in your bibles to Leviticus 9v22 and let us witness together a scene of

great and exuberant joy!

The first seven chapters of Leviticus talk about the different offerings or sacrifices that

the nation of Israel was to make to God. Then in chapter 8 we see the beginning of the

priesthood and the joyful work of Aaron and the priests. Their main role of service was

to act as mediators between a holy God and the people of Israel, particularly in the role

of making those offerings and sacrifices. In fact, they were the ultimate multi-taskers,

as they seemed equally adept as butchers, doctors, teachers, quality assurors and

public health inspectors! The passage we have in front of us tonight shows the

culmination of this priestly ordination.


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1. Great joy!

Read Leviticus 9v22-24

Israel was a nation, chosen by God, to be His people and to be a shining light of Gods

glory to the world around them. This nation, Gods treasured and precious people,

however, way back in Exodus 19, refused to be a nation of royal priests. Instead they

preferred being represented by Moses and Aaron. So Moses and Aaron have gone into

the Tent of Meeting or Tabernacle to meet with God. This was where Moses and Aaron

would meet with the Lord during the travels to the Promised Land. The whole nation is

waiting for them! So Moses and Aaron, as we just read, come out, give a blessing to the

people and Gods glory appeared to the nation!

WOW! That must have been some blessing Aaron gave! Whatever his words were in

v24, they were words that invocated Almighty Gods power, presence and peace to be

with and upon His people. No wonder the people fell on the ground with their noses in

the dirt as an act of joyful worship and praise to God!!

The burnt offering and fat portions on the altar were consumed in a great fire

emanating from the manifestation of the glory of God! So amazing was this sight that a

tremendous wave of exuberant joy overcame the people and they all fell with their face

in the ground! There was probably a mixture of amazement, surprise and reverent fear!

That must have been a tremendous sight to behold! Falling face forward was a

characteristic method of showing total surrender and submission to a king or master.

Here it is adopted by the Israelites as symbolic surrender to their God! The infinite,

almighty, majestic and glorious God, was living and being worshipped by His people.

This God was a holy God and these people were to be His people.

So there is tremendous joy in the nation of Israel and this is evident in their

spontaneous act of submissive, voluntary worship and expressions of thanks to their

Almighty God. Moses and Aaron had followed Gods guidelines obediently and the


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nations true joy was in evidence. Not just joy as an emotion, but true joy as evidenced

through sacrifice, praise and testimony!

Now it would be very nice to just stop there, but the story continues! The Bible is anhonest book! Just as the celebrations were concluding and the priests were taking up

their sacred roles, something happens!


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2. Great tragedy!

Read Leviticus 10v1-11

These two men, Nadab and Abihu, sons of Aaron the High Priest, start their duties. They

take their pans, fill them with hot coals from a fire, place aromatic incense on the coals

and offer this to God as an act of worship. The fire from the glory of the Lord comes

out, engulfs them and they die. What happened? They hadnt followed the strict

guidelines as given by the Lord and had therefore violated all the instructions given to

them. Strict regulations were required by sinful humans to be in and work in Gods holy

presence!

How different can these two scenes be? In the first passage we looked at, fire

represented Gods presence and spoke of His love, warmth, purity and blessing upon His

people. Here though, the fire represents a different aspect of His presence through his

active holiness and therefore danger and judgement.

Who were Nadab and Abihu? They were Aarons eldest sons and had received a

privileged upbringing. They had seen God working from close quarters. When Moses

went up Mount Sinai to speak with God and receive the stone tablets containing the Ten

Commandments, they were there. They had just spent the previous week in training for

their new jobs as priests in service to God. No doubt they had witnessed at close

quarters, the fire we spoke of earlier in Leviticus 9v24. So they were not only important

people, but also experienced.

Yet in spite of all this, they did what was contrary to the guidelines given them. They

were disobedient. We dont know why they did it. It could have been old hairy legs

satan whispering in their ears Go on. You have a go now. Your dad did it, didnt he? So

can you. Dont worry about those guidelines God gave you. it will be alright tonight, my

sons. You felt good and happy, didnt you? Trust yourself.


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It could have been pride, jealousy or impatience that led them to disobey the strict

guidelines, or in light of 10v8 perhaps too much wine! Perhaps they were caught up in

the excitable fever of the joyful occasion and wanted joy like a drug! What may have

seemed right to them, most certainly wasnt right to God. Perhaps they thought theywere doing God a big favour by zealously embracing their roles as priests and wanting

to offer as many sacrifices as they could! We will never know!

But we do know, that regardless of the reason for doing so, they actively disobeyed

God. They chose to do it! Not only was it a fragrant disobedience but also a flagrant

disobedience. In offering a strange or unauthorised fire, they had disregarded Gods

instructions for the timing, place or manner. They had been set apart and dedicated to a

life of serving God and His people and had now paid the ultimate consequence for their

disobedience. Their disobedience is referred to again in Leviticus 16 in the regulations

for the annual Day of Atonement. Regulations probably given to ensure that this never

again occurred! Aaron, their father, was silent stunned I would imagine! He has seen

at firsthand, that in a life of true joy, God requires obedience over sacrifice. Aaron and

his remaining sons were not to mourn or appear to be sorrowful. This was to signify the

seriousness of Nadab and Abihus disobedience. To us this may seem harsh, but Aaron

and his remaining sons had to prioritize service to God over commitment to family. This

was symbolic of Joy Jehovah Over Yourself. Aaron and his other sons had to remain

engaged in priestly duties and responsibilities. Other members of the family were

allowed to mourn however.


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3. A God of Judgement

Now today, in the 21st century, we have a problem. We are quite comfortable with a

God of love, peace, joy and kindness. In the movie Crocodile Dundee, Mick Dundee

announces that Me and God wed be mates. If that is the limit of our vision of God,

then may I suggest that our vision and opinion of God is too small? Perhaps our God is

too nice and too comfortable. Yet a problem seemingly remains. How on earth can a

God of love, peace, gentleness, kindness and joy act like this against two of his

dedicated servants, Nadab and Abihu? Is not that a God who is at odds with himself?

The first thing we can say here about God is that while He is most assuredly a God of

love, kindness and peace, He is also a God of judgement a God who judges. That is

plainly evident from this passage. We need to acknowledge him as a great lover, but

also as a terrifying Judge. Not just a friend, but also a Judge! The writer of the book of

Hebrews reminds us that it is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God

who is a consuming fire! Remember also, that God always prefers obedience to

sacrifice.

We all have, I am sure, at some point liked to think of God as being all love and never

judging. People say: It will be alright in the end, because the love of God conquers all.

Well, that love involves judging! The judgement of God is unbiased. God shows no

favouritism and He is always just and right. It is a reflection of His mercy, that nobody

can claim God is unfair. But God is not merely a God of mercy, peace and love but also

as we have seen, He is a God who judges and administers justice impartially inaccordance with His mercy, peace and love!


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4. A God of Wrath!

Not only is He a God who judges but He is also a God who has great wrath it is an

essential, permanent and indelible part of His character! His wrath may be slow to

burn, but it is still anger and wrath! The holiness of God requires that He punish sin

through His wrath! What sort of God would He have been if He had not done what He

did to Nadab and Abihu? What if He had said, Thats ok boys, you will get it right next

time. Then He most would certainly be seen as a capricious, unjust, fickle and hostile

being.

Its not a popular subject these days in our churches! Most churches mumble when it

comes to bible passages such as this! While most sections of our society, and indeed

parts of the church, view God as a doddery benevolent being, sitting benignly in the sky

in His rocking chair and mildly tutting when people disobey His commands. But God is

not a benevolent Grandfather figure and neither is His wrath or anger unwarranted,

immoral, cruel, fickle, spiteful or capricious! Gods wrath is always to administer and

mete out a divine loving justice, which corresponds to Gods innate and essential

characteristics and attributes of light, perfection and holiness. Thats the picture given

by all the Bible writers. When we speak of a perfect God in human terms, whether that

is His being a wrathful judge or tremendous lover, it reflects the imperfect limitations of

our humanity. We were made in the image of God and not the other way around!

Secondly, Gods honour was at stake! He is both zealous and jealous for His own honour

and name! He can only act within the confines of His own characteristics and attributes!

He must always work out of His immutable holiness! God was passionate about living at

the centre of His people and there was no way He could allow renegade priests to

disobediently defile His dwelling place!

Nadab and Abihu were punished because they worked in His immediate presence as

illustrated by verse 3 Among those who approach me I will show myself holy; in the

sight of all the people I will be honoured. If God had not punished them, then thatwould have made God out to be a hypocrite and a liar, acting contrary to His own


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essential nature and He would be seen as an impotent God with seemingly multiple

personalities. This story illustrates that Nadab and Abihu had to serve as an example,

which is why we have the story.

Thirdly, Nadab and Abihu broke the guidelines, given by God on how to enter into His

presence. They took the wrong fire, went at the wrong time and were ill prepared for

such an occasion. They entered a place of Gods holy presence in a sinful and

disobedient state. People full of sin can never enter into a place where God resides,

because God is uniquely holy, sinless and perfect without fault or defect.

Nadab and Abihu chose, for whatever reason, either intentionally or unintentionally, to

break Gods guidelines in how, where and when to offer a sacrifice. There is no

indication, however, from the Biblical text that they were eternally separated from God

at their death, as in judgement of their sins. But rather it seems they were judged

according to what they did with their abilities, talents and gifting as ministers in His

service.


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5. So whats all this got to do with us today?

So whats all this got to do with us today in the 21st century? Over and over again in the

Old Testament, we see that the nation of Israel were to be a people of service separated

out for God! Under the terms of the covenant God made with them through Moses, that

was the core of Gods agreement with them. It commenced with the stipulation Now if

you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from

among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to me (Exodus 19v5).

This covenant was with the nation of Israel in order that those who believed Gods

earlier promise to Abraham could know how to live a life worthy of being Gods people:

to live a life relating socially to God and to other people. It was also to show how

humanity could approach God on Gods terms alone and not on their own conditions!

God was and is a perfect and holy God! His people, Israel, were to be a holy and

separated people of service and to reflect Gods glory and greatness to the other

nations!

This covenant was only in place until the Messiah came and made the perfect sacrifice.

All the Old Testament Covenants pointed towards the time when the Saviour Messiah

would come God would come Himself to save His people! The Mosaic Covenant was

never meant as a means towards salvation. It was given that they could realize the

helplessness of their own efforts to save themselves and their need of God's help. One

day, there would be a New Covenant between God and humanity and this Mosaic

covenant would be fulfilled!


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6.New Covenant?

So what is this New Covenant? Four primary features are:

God will write His law on the hearts of people.

God will be their God, and they will be His people.

God will indwell people and they will be led by Him

All sins will be forgiven and removed eternally

This new covenant was and is sealed only through the perfect sacrifice of the God-Man

Jesus on the cross. His blood ensures the truth of this New Covenant. His death pays

the penalty for the sins of all people who choose to say yes to God and follow Him. This

New Covenant finalizes what the Mosaic Covenant could only point to: the follower of

God engaged in a dynamic relationship of Joy with a God who loves them.

No longer would human priests need to mediate between God and humans, because

Jesus Christ, the full visible manifestation of God, would fulfil that role as mediator and

all people would have access to God through Him! Amazing stuff! You and I have instant

access to Almighty God. We can approach Gods throne of grace with confidence and

assurance because of the work of Jesus Christ on the cross. God no longer dwells in a

Tent of Meeting, the Tabernacle or the Temple made of stone He now lives in each

believer immediate access guaranteed! Amazing and yet how often we dont avail

ourselves. But it is more than that, because as royal priests of this New Covenant, for

that is what we are, we too are called into a joyful life of obedient service of God!


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7. Called to service!

Just as it was for Aaron and the Old Testament priesthood, when we serve and minister,

Gods honour is released. This is done because service is to show the beauty and glory

of God to others. Serving, service and ministry are never to be about what we as mere

humans can get out of it. When that is the motive, God is neither honoured nor

glorified. Gods glory and supremacy is to be the ultimate reason for service! God is

both zealous and jealous for His glory and honour to be upheld! Nadab and Abihu could

testify to that I am sure!

As Christians, as part of our life of true Joy, we are called to serve and minister. We are

called to exhibit and show our true Joy - just as Aaron and his family were called into a

lifetime of obedient service to Jehovah God. Their JOY motto was to be Jehovah Over

Yourself. For us, true joy is to be Jesus Over Yourself. Each of us here tonight is

called to perform a unique serving and ministerial function.

Showing love, serving each other and giving to others are a practical outworking of our

joyful obedience to God. The ministries of Nadab and Abihu were cut short and

hallmarked with disobedience. Our ministry, and all Christians have one, is to be

hallmarked by obedience borne out of love for God and Him alone. Devoted obedience

to God borne out of a desire to see God glorified, regardless of what other people may

say or think.

And we are not left alone to serve in our own power! We would most certainly fail if that

was the case! God Himself has lovingly equipped all those who follow Him, to serve!

God the Holy Spirit, who lives inside each believer, has endowed each Christian with

gifts, talents and abilities for that purpose - service!This is so that the whole church is

built up and that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. God wants

you and I to be active in service life long service hallmarked by loving obedience to

Him, which reflects our joyful dedication to Him, to His praise, honour and glory!


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8. Judged for our service!

Finally, just as Gods judgement was upon Nadab and Abihu, the Bible also tells us that

all those who follow Jesus Christ will be judged according to what they have done, with

what God gave them. That includes any spiritual gifts, talents and abilities we have!

This judgement will not be for salvation, because if we have decided to follow Jesus

Christ, judgement for our sins has already fallen on Him, when He died on the cross.

Of our sinfulness we have been set free and declared innocent! If we here tonight, have

accepted Gods free offer of salvation by grace alone, through Jesus Christ alone, then

we are declared right with God and in a joyous relationship with Him. Again, it is

amazing! However, our belief and faith are to be visibly manifested through joyful

obedient service of, and to, God!

This judgement is not for your salvation but for your rewards! As followers of Jesus

Christ, God will ask you and I, to give an account of ourselves, and we will be judged

according to what we have done. The quality of our work will be tested and our motives

exposed either we did things for Gods glory or we did them for our own glory. We

will give an account of the opportunities and abilities entrusted to us as instruments of

Gods orchestra of joy.


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Documents

Leviticus 9 &10 Where Wrath and Joy Meet