Put difference between holy and unholy

Bible Reading: Leviticus 8-10

Leviticus 10:8-11 And the Lord spake unto Aaron, saying, 9 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 for ever throughout your generations: 10 And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean; 11 And that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the Lord hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses.

Nadab and Abihu decided to make an offering to God that he did not prescribe. It cost them their lives. The worship of God in his tabernacle was completely his idea, his pattern and based on his commandments. It was not for men to make up what they thought needed to be done. So there was not a commandment from God for them to bring strange fire into the tabernacle.

This strange fire, God would not allow. He wanted them to worship him according to his word. During the time of mourning that Moses said the whole house of Israel would go through, God told Aaron this about drinking wine or strong drink. It is probable that Nadab and Abihu were drunk and in their wine, they decided to bring this offering.

God told them not to drink and that their sobriety would do two things. First, they needed to put a difference between holy and unholy, clean and unclean. The priest must be holy and clean to carry on the worship of God. Wine impairs the ability to make a difference. It is interesting that the New Testament admonishes the follower of Christ about wine and holiness:

Ephesians 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

Excess is the unholiness and uncleanness that must be avoided. The Lord also told Aaron and his sons that they were to teach the children of Israel the statutes that the Lord gave them. Wine would impair their ability to teach. The New Testament once again gives the follower of Jesus similar instructions.

Matthew 28:19-20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

We can be holy because the Holy Spirit lives in us. We are to teach "all nations", not just the children of Israel. We must be sober to do this. As a believer in Jesus, you are a priest and a king.

Revelation 1:5-6 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

God told Aaron it was not for priests to drink wine.

Proverbs 31:4-5 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.

God told Lemuel it is not for kings to drink wine.

As a priest and a king, you are to be filled with the Holy Spirit and teach all nations. Wine gets in the way. Remember Nadab and Abihu!

In Christ,
Rody