Imagine this scenario, it is Sunday morning and Kenny and I are leading the worship service at Grace. It is a beautiful service with the Praise Band firing on all cylinders. The scriptures are read by someone with a British accent. Even the announcements seem special on this particular day. Then as we head into prayer, all of a sudden, lightning comes in the side door and both Kenny and I are toasted. That would certainly capture every ones attention in a nanosecond.
Well, something very similar to that happened in Leviticus 10. Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, are leading in the worship and during worship they are taken out by God. Our first reaction is one of incredulity. This isn't right for God to exercise capital punishment for some flaw in leading. What's going on here? Whatever happened to "giving it the good old college try?"
Might I suggest that God is actually giving us some very important guidance in this story. The most important goal in all of life is to love God and enjoy him forever. And worship is the highest way in which we experience this transformational relationship. God gave some very precise instructions on how we are to approach him. Worship isn't something we just feel. We don't just "wing it" in worship. I am afraid that is what Nadab and Abidu did and it cost them dearly. They made light of their responsibility and because of it, they paid a huge price.
The explanation of what they did wrong is deduced in the next few verses. They were drunk when they were doing their duties. This shows us their heart. They disrespected God and were more concerned with their own agenda than his. We don't make up the rules. God makes them up and he expects us to follow them.
In a day when truth is determined by the feelings of "Yummy or Yucky" Nadab and Abihu remind us of the danger of such folly. We must make a distinction between the God we feel and the God who is revealed. Worship is our highest priority and it demands our utmost obedience. So how will that be reflected in your life this Sunday? Hopefully we will all learn a lesson from these two fellows and gather together with hearts fully devoted to worshiping the living God.
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