Leviticus 10:1-5: a reflection

1Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer, and put fire in it, and laid incense on it, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he had not commanded them. 2Fire came out from before the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD. 3Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the LORD spoke of, saying, ‘I will show myself holy to those who come near me, and before all the people I will be glorified.’” Aaron held his peace. 4Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel the uncle of Aaron, and said to them, “Draw near, carry your brothers from before the sanctuary out of the camp.” 5So they came near, and carried them in their tunics out of the camp, as Moses had said.

When two of Aaron's sons offered before the LORD a fire he had not commanded, approaching him carelessly and by their own devising, the seriousness of treating God as holy was made plain: I will be shown holy by those who come near me. Nadab and Abihu offered strange fire before the LORD, which he had not commanded them, the account says; and Moses said, this is what the LORD spoke: I will be treated as holy by those who come near me. The two men had approached God not as he had directed, but by their own devising, offering what he had not commanded, treating the approach to the holy God carelessly rather than with reverence. And the lesson Moses draws is solemn: God is to be treated as holy by those who come near him; he is not to be approached carelessly or on our own terms, but with reverence, as he directs. This shows the reverence due in approaching God, who is to be treated as holy. Approach God with reverence, as he directs, not carelessly or on your own terms. God is holy and is to be treated as holy by those who come near him. Do not approach God by your own careless devising. Reverence, not carelessness, befits those who draw near to the holy God.

Notice what went wrong and the lesson drawn from it. Nadab and Abihu came to offer before the LORD; but they did so by their own devising, offering a fire God had not commanded, approaching him not as he had directed but carelessly, on their own terms. This was no light matter; the approach to the holy God is not to be treated carelessly. And Moses draws the solemn lesson: the LORD had said, I will be treated as holy by those who come near me, and before all the people I will be glorified. God is holy, and those who draw near to him are to treat him as holy, approaching him with reverence, on his terms, as he directs, not carelessly or by their own devising. This holds a lesson for how we approach God, even under the different terms of grace. God has drawn near to us in Christ, and we are invited to come to him freely; yet this does not make God any less holy, or mean we may approach him carelessly, casually, on our own terms, treating the holy God as common. Reverence still befits those who draw near to God; he is to be treated as holy. We do well to come to God, even in the freedom of grace, with reverence rather than carelessness, honoring his holiness, approaching him as he directs rather than by our own casual devising. This reverence is not opposed to the confidence grace gives, but is its fitting companion: we come freely, yet we come to the holy God, and treat him as holy. We do well to approach God with reverence, treating him as holy, rather than carelessly or on our own terms. Approach God with reverence, treating him as holy, not carelessly or casually. God's holiness is not lessened by the freedom of grace; treat him as holy. Do not come to God on your own careless terms, but as he directs. Reverence befits those who draw near to the holy God.

That is worth taking to heart, for God is to be treated as holy by those who come near him, and we do well to approach him with reverence, as the lesson of Nadab and Abihu makes plain. We can approach God carelessly, on our own terms; but the lesson drawn was that God is to be treated as holy by those who come near him. Approach with reverence. Do not come to God carelessly or casually, treating the holy God as common; approach him with reverence, honoring his holiness, as he directs. Approach God with reverence, treating him as holy, rather than carelessly or on your own terms, as when two of Aaron's sons offered before the LORD a fire he had not commanded, approaching him carelessly and by their own devising, the seriousness of treating God as holy was made plain, since Moses said the LORD had spoken that he would be treated as holy by those who come near him; for the two men had approached God not as he directed but by their own devising, offering what he had not commanded and treating the approach to the holy God carelessly rather than with reverence, and the lesson Moses draws is solemn, that God is to be treated as holy by those who come near him and is not to be approached carelessly or on our own terms but with reverence as he directs, which holds a lesson for how we approach God even under the different terms of grace, since God has drawn near to us in Christ and we are invited to come freely, yet this does not make God any less holy or mean we may approach him carelessly, casually, or on our own terms and treat the holy God as common, reverence still befitting those who draw near, so that we do well to come to God even in the freedom of grace with reverence rather than carelessness, honoring his holiness and approaching him as he directs, this reverence being not opposed to the confidence grace gives but its fitting companion, since we come freely yet come to the holy God and treat him as holy.

Lord, when two of Aaron's sons offered before you a fire you had not commanded, approaching you carelessly and by their own devising, the seriousness of treating you as holy was made plain: I will be shown holy by those who come near me. Nadab and Abihu offered strange fire before the LORD, which he had not commanded them, the account says; and Moses said, this is what the LORD spoke: I will be treated as holy by those who come near me. The two men had approached you not as you had directed, but by their own devising, offering what you had not commanded, treating the approach to the holy God carelessly rather than with reverence. And the lesson Moses draws is solemn: you are to be treated as holy by those who come near you; you are not to be approached carelessly or on our own terms, but with reverence, as you direct. Show me what went wrong and the lesson drawn from it. Nadab and Abihu came to offer before you; but they did so by their own devising, offering a fire you had not commanded, approaching you carelessly, on their own terms. This was no light matter; the approach to you, the holy God, is not to be treated carelessly. And Moses draws the solemn lesson: you had said, I will be treated as holy by those who come near me. You are holy, and those who draw near to you are to treat you as holy, approaching you with reverence, as you direct. This holds a lesson for how I approach you, even under the terms of grace. You have drawn near to me in Christ, and I am invited to come freely; yet this does not make you any less holy, or mean I may approach you carelessly, casually, on my own terms, treating you as common. Reverence still befits those who draw near to you. Take that to my heart. Even in the freedom of grace, keep me from coming to you carelessly or casually; help me approach you, Lord, with reverence, treating you as holy, honoring your holiness, and coming as you direct rather than by my own careless devising, that my reverence may be the fitting companion of the confidence grace gives.