patriarchs and prophets-第91章
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power with awe and intense interest。 They saw in it a token of God's glory
and favor； and they raised a universal shout of praise and adoration and
fell on their faces as if in the immediate presence of Jehovah。
But soon afterward a sudden and terrible calamity fell upon the family of
the high priest。 At the hour of worship； as the prayers and praise of the
people were ascending to God； two of the sons of Aaron took each his censer
and burned fragrant incense thereon； to rise as a sweet odor before the
Lord。 But they transgressed His command by the use of 〃strange fire。〃 For
burning the incense they took common instead of the sacred fire which God
Himself had kindled； and which He had commanded to be used for this purpose。
For this sin a fire went out from the Lord and devoured them in the sight of
the people。
Next to Moses and Aaron； Nadab and Abihu had stood highest in Israel。 They
had been especially honored by the Lord； having been permitted with the
seventy elders to behold His glory in the mount。 But their transgression was
not therefore to be excused or lightly regarded。 All this rendered their sin
more grievous。 Because men have received great light； because they have；
like the princes of Israel； ascended to the mount； and been privileged to
have communion with God； and to dwell in
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the light of His glory； let them not flatter themselves that they can
afterward sin with impunity； that because they have been thus honored； God
will not be strict to punish their iniquity。 This is a fatal deception。 The
great light and privileges bestowed require returns of virtue and holiness
corresponding to the light given。 Anything short of this； God cannot accept。
Great blessings or privileges should never lull to security or carelessness。
They should never give license to sin or cause the recipients to feel that
God will not be exact with them。 All the advantages which God has given are
His means to throw ardor into the spirit； zeal into effort； and vigor into
the carrying out of His holy will。
Nadab and Abihu had not in their youth been trained to habits of
self…control。 The father's yielding disposition； his lack of firmness for
right； had led him to neglect the discipline of his children。 His sons had
been permitted to follow inclination。 Habits of self…indulgence； long
cherished； obtained a hold upon them which even the responsibility of the
most sacred office had not power to break。 They had not been taught to
respect the authority of their father； and they did not realize the
necessity of exact obedience to the requirements of God。 Aaron's mistaken
indulgence of his sons prepared them to become the subjects of the divine
judgments。
God designed to teach the people that they must approach Him with reverence
and awe； and in His own appointed manner。 He cannot accept partial
obedience。 It was not enough that in this solemn season of worship nearly
everything was done as He had directed。 God has pronounced a curse upon
those who depart from His commandments； and put no difference between common
and holy things。 He declares by the prophet： 〃Woe unto them that call evil
good； and good evil； that put darkness for light； and light for darkness！ 。
。 。 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes； and prudent in their own
sight！ 。 。 。 which justify the wicked for reward； and take away the
righteousness of the righteous from him！ 。 。 。 They have cast away the law
of the Lord of hosts； and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel。〃
Isaiah 5：20…24。 Let no one deceive himself with the belief that a part of
God's commandments are nonessential； or that He will accept a substitute for
that which He has required。 Said the prophet Jeremiah； 〃Who is he that
saith； and it cometh to pass； when the Lord commandeth it not？〃 Lamentations
3：37。 God has placed in His word no command which men
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may obey or disobey at will and not suffer the consequences。 If men choose
any other path than that of strict obedience； they will find that 〃the end
thereof are the ways of death。〃 Proverbs 14：12。
〃Moses said unto Aaron； and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar； his sons； Uncover
not your heads； neither rend your clothes； lest ye die； 。 。 。 for the
anointing oil of the Lord is upon you。〃 The great leader reminded his
brother of the words of God； 〃I will be sanctified in them that come nigh
Me； and before all the people I will be glorified。〃 Aaron was silent。 The
death of his sons； cut down without warning； in so terrible a sina sin
which he now saw to be the result of his own neglect of dutywrung the
father's heart with anguish； but he gave his feelings no expression。 By no
manifestation of grief must he seem to sympathize with sin。 The congregation
must not be led to murmur against God。
The Lord would teach His people to acknowledge the justice of His
corrections； that others may fear。 There were those in Israel whom the
warning of this terrible judgment might save from presuming upon God's
forbearance until they； too； should seal their own destiny。 The divine
rebuke is upon that false sympathy for the sinner which endeavors to excuse
his sin。 It is the effect of sin to deaden the moral perceptions； so that
the wrongdoer does not realize the enormity of transgression； and without
the convicting power of the Holy Spirit he remains in partial blindness to
his sin。 It is the duty of Christ's servants to show these erring ones their
peril。 Those who destroy the effect of the warning by blinding the eyes of
sinners to the real character and results of sin often flatter themselves
that they thus give evidence of their charity； but they are working directly
to oppose and hinder the work of God's Holy Spirit； they are lulling the
sinner to rest on the brink of destruction； they are making themselves
partakers in his guilt and incurring a fearful responsibility for his
impenitence。 Many； many； have gone down to ruin as the result of this false
and deceptive sympathy。
Nadab and Abihu would never have committed that fatal sin had they not first
become partially intoxicated by the free use of wine。 They understood that
the most careful and solemn preparation was necessary before presenting
themselves in the sanctuary； where the divine Presence was manifested； but
by intemperance they were disqualified for their holy office。 Their minds
became
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confused and their moral perceptions dulled so that they could not discern
the difference between the sacred and the common。 To Aaron and his surviving
sons was given the warning： 〃Do not drink wine nor strong drink； thou； nor
thy sons with thee； when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation； lest
ye die： it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations： and that
ye may put difference between holy and unholy； and between unclean and
clean； and that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which
the Lord hath spoken。〃 The use of spirituous liquors has the effect to
weaken the body； confuse the mind； and debase the morals。 It prevents men
from realizing the sacredness of holy things or the binding force of God's
requirements。 All who occupied positions of sacred responsibility were to be
men of strict temperance； that their minds might be clear to discriminate
between right and wrong； that they might possess firmness of principle； and
wisdom to administer justice and to show mercy。
The same obligation rests upon every follower of Christ。 The apostle Peter
declares； 〃Ye are a chosen generation； a royal priesthood； an holy nation； a
peculiar people。 1 Peter 2：9。 We are required by God to preserve every power
in the best possible condition； that we may render acceptable service to our
Creator。 When intoxicants are used； the same effects will follow as in the
case of those priests of Israel。 The conscience will lose its sensibility to
sin； and a process of hardening to iniquity will most certainly take place；
till the common and the sacred will lose all difference of significance。 How
can we then meet the standard of the divine requirements？〃 〃Know ye not that
your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which
