Sanctify the Altar!

That same day Nadab and Abihu, Aaron's sons, took their censers, put hot coals and incense in them, and offered "strange" fire to GOD—something GOD had not commanded. Fire blazed out from GOD and consumed them—they died in GOD's presence. Moses said to Aaron, “This is what GOD meant when he said, To the one who comes near me, I will show myself holy; Before all the people, I will show my glory.”  And don't leave the entrance to the Tent of Meeting lest you die, because GOD's anointing oil is on you." They did just as Moses said. GOD instructed Aaron, "When you enter the Tent of Meeting, don't drink wine or strong drink, neither you nor your sons, lest you die. This is a fixed rule down through the generations. Distinguish between the holy and the common, between the ritually clean and unclean. (Lev 10:1-3, 7-10 The Message)

     A few weeks ago, as I was praying, I felt the Lord speak to my heart:  “Sanctify the altar” I heard Him say.  I wasn’t exactly sure what He meant, so I began to pray about it and to study it out.  The first scripture that came to mind was the story of Nadab and Abihu, as quoted above.  It is one of those troubling passages, like the stories of Uzza (I Chronicles 13:10) and Ananias  and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-10) where seemingly innocent and uninformed people are struck dead by God in the act of serving Him.  In human understanding, not the most effective of advertising campaigns!

   But God-understanding is not human-understanding.  He said “For my thoughts are not your thoughts and neither are your ways my ways” (Isaiah 55:8) and “God does not see as humans see.  Humans look at outward appearances, but the Lord looks into the heart” (I Samuel 16:7).  Only God can truly know the thoughts and intents of a man’s heart, but the story of Nadab and Abihu can give us some interesting perspectives on how God intends to be worshiped.  

   First of all, Nadab and Abihu, along with Moses and Aaron, were invited by name (Exodus 24:1) to come into the presence of the Lord.  Exodus 24:11-12 says “So they saw God and then they ate and drank.  Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Come up to me on the mountain.  Stay there, and I will give you the stone tablets with the teachings and commandments I have written for the people’s instructions.’”  Aaron had two other sons, Eleazar and Ithamar, but the text seems to indicate that Nadab and Abihu were singled out for special honor. They were the heirs apparent to the high priesthood that was bestowed upon their father, Aaron. But along with special honor comes special responsibility.  

   The bible tells us that they offered “strange” fire unto the Lord.  Strong’s concordance defines the Hebrew word for “strange” thusly: “A primitive root; to turn aside (especially for lodging); hence to be a foreigner, strange, profane; specifically (active participle) to commit adultery.”  Our English word “profane” comes  from a Latin word that literally means “out of the Temple” or “Apart from the Temple.”  It carries with it the idea of commonality or secularity.  In other words, “a common thing.”  It is the opposite of Holy.  

   The Hebrew word for Holy, qôdesh, means “apartness, holiness, sacredness, separateness.”  In other words, “to set apart.”

   What Nadab and Abihu did not seem to get is that God went to GREAT lengths to set forth that He is holy.   He is set apart.  Not unapproachable.  But those who come into His presence must do so with preparation and with a right heart-attitude.  

   My theory (and there are lots of theories) is that Nadab and Abihu witnessed the sovereign move of God in response to the first priestly sacrifice as fire came down from heaven and consumed the sacrifice (Leviticus 9:24).  Can’t you just hear them saying “Wow!  How awesome was that?  If God sends fire from heaven in the Outer Court, what will happen if we bring sacrifices into His presence, in the Holy of Holies?”

   The problem was, God said only the High Priest—and then only once a year—was to enter the Holy of Holies.  He also said that the fire to burn the incense was to come from the coals of the Brazen Altar which was never to be extinguished.  Furthermore, the High Priest was to lay aside his priestly garments and to dress in plain, white linen when he came before the Lord.  All of these commandments were violated by Nadab and Abihu.  But moreover, I think that they did not sanctify, or set apart, the Lord in their hearts.  They made the worship of the Most High God, a common thing.

   The Good News Bible translates Leviticus 10:10 as follows:  “You must distinguish between what belongs to God and what is for general use, between what is ritually clean and what is unclean.” (Leviticus 10:10 GNB)

   What profanes the sacred is the lack of or loss of distinction. People have become sovereign, even as in the last days men shall be lovers of their own selves. The lines of delineation between the sacred and the common have been blurred, erasing the separation necessary to preserve holiness. A news program reports dozens killed in a bombing in Iraq and during the commercial break Ronald McDonald hops across the screen. The advertisement impacts the message of the news story. People have seen so much violence on television that when they see real violence, they often report that it didn’t seem real; it was like a movie. In the same way, we have lost the clear differences God expects between His culture and the world’s.