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Leviticus 8-10
Strange Fire
and Fire from Heaven
Psalm 17:1-7 The Refiner's Fire Results In Righteousness
1.“Hear, Yahweh, my righteous plea; Give ear to my prayer, that doesn't go out of deceitful lips2.Let my vindication come from You [for] You see what is right.3.You have proved my heart. You have visited me in the night. You have tried me, and found nothing. I have resolved that my mouth shall not transgress.4.As for the works of men, by the word of Your lips, I have kept myself from the ways of the violent5.My steps have held fast to your paths. My feet have not slipped.6.I have called on You, for You will answer me, God. Turn your ear to me. Hear my speech.7.Show Your marvelous hesed /loyal love, You who save/deliver those who take refuge by Your right hand from their enemies.”Observations
17:1-7.Note that the basis of his righteous appeal to God's loyal love, is that David has been loyal to God. He has purposed not to sin in word or deed by keeping God's word. He has been dependent and praying to God for deliverance from his enemies.
17:3.
The words “proved” and “tried” are of refining and testing metal. David passed the test.
Application
Could you make the same case David did for God saving him?
Prayer
O Loyal Deliverer, You've said You hear the prayers of the righteous; refine me and deliver me. Amen.
Proverbs 17:1-3 Skimming off the Scum
1.“Better is a dry morsel with quietness, than a house full of feasting with strife.2.A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who causes shame, and shall have a part in the inheritance among the brothers.3.The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, but Yahweh tests the hearts.”4.“An evildoer heeds wicked lips. A liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.5.Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker. He who is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.6.Children's children are the crown of old men; the glory/honor/pride of children are their parents.7.Arrogant speech isn't fitting for a fool, much less do lying lips fit a prince.Observations
17:1.There are number of “Betters” in Proverbs. You'd better align your value system with them if you want what's best.
17:2.
God is an equal opportunity Blesser. The wise win, regardless of social status.
17:3.
This verse uses the same words as Ps 17:3 (and Ps 11). “Refining pot” is the noun of “tried” and "tests” is the same as “proved”. The hearts are where decisions are made, according to our values and ambitions. God wants truth at the core of our being (Ps 51:6). When it's not there, we lose.
17:4-7.
A number of Proverbs deal with our speech. The godly listen to and speak truth; the ungodly listen to and speak lies. Words guide our behavior to good or bad destinations.
Application
Love instruction and welcome reproof, be wise and life is wonderful.
Prayer
God thanks for revealing your way that saves from pain and futility; help me love your instruction and reproof. Amen.
Leviticus 8-10 Strange Fire and Fire from Heaven
Leviticus 8 Precise Obedience
1.Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,2.Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments, and the anointing oil, and the bull of the sin-offering, and the two rams, and the basket of unleavened bread;3.and assemble you all the congregation at the door of the tent of meeting.10.Moses took the anointing oil, and anointed the tent and all that was in it, and sanctified them.12.He poured of the anointing oil on Aaron`s head, and anointed him, to sanctify him.14.He brought the bull of the sin-offering...18.He presented the ram of the burnt offering...22.He presented the other ram, the ram of consecration...26....he took one unleavened cake, and one cake of oiled bread, and one wafer...28....burnt them on the altar on the burnt offering: they were a consecration for a sweet savor: it was an offering made by fire to Yahweh.33.You shall not go out from the door of the tent of meeting seven days, until the days of your consecration be fulfilled: for he shall consecrate you seven days.34.As has been done this day, so Yahweh has commanded to do, to make atonement for you.35.At the door of the tent of meeting shall you abide day and night seven days, and keep the charge of Yahweh, that you don`t die: for so I am commanded.36.Aaron and his sons did all the things which Yahweh commanded by Moses."
Observation
8:1-36.This chapter shows Moses precisely obeying what God had expressly commanded.
Leviticus 9 Glory, Blessing, And Fire From God
1."It happened on the eighth day, that Moses called Aaron and his sons, and the elders of Israel;2.and he said to Aaron, Take a calf of the herd for a sin-offering, and a ram for a burnt offering, without blemish, and offer them before Yahweh.6.Moses said, This is the thing which Yahweh commanded that you should do: and the glory of Yahweh shall appear to you.22.Aaron lifted up his hands toward the people, and blessed them; and he came down from offering the sin-offering, and the burnt offering, and the peace-offerings.23.Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of Yahweh appeared to all the people.24.There came forth fire from before Yahweh, and consumed on the altar the burnt offering and the fat: and when all the people saw it, they shouted, and fell on their faces."Observation
9:1-24.Leviticus chapter 9 is almost a repeat of the precise obedience of the previous chapter with the added bonus of God's glory (glowing cloud?) appearing and then fire coming from Yahweh's presence to consume the burnt-offering.
Application
Precision obedience results in blessing and experience God's glory!
Prayer
God of Glory, keep me conscious of what You have commanded, so I can experience Your blessing and glory. Amen.
Leviticus 10 Strange Fire And Fried Priests
1."Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took each of them his censer, and put fire therein, and laid incense thereon, and offered strange fire before Yahweh, which he had not commanded them.2.There came forth fire from before Yahweh, and devoured them, and they died before Yahweh.3.Then Moses said to Aaron, This is it what Yahweh spoke, saying, I will be sanctified in those who come near me, and before all the people I will be glorified. Aaron held his peace.6.Moses said to Aaron, and to Eleazar and to Ithamar, his sons, Don`t let the hair of your heads go loose, neither tear your clothes; that you don`t die, and that he not be angry with all the congregation: but let your brothers, the whole house of Israel, bewail the burning which Yahweh has kindled.7.You shall not go out from the door of the tent of meeting, lest you die; for the anointing oil of Yahweh is on you. They did according to the word of Moses.8.Yahweh spoke to Aaron, saying,9.Drink no wine nor strong drink, you, nor your sons with you, when you go into the tent of meeting, that you don`t die: it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations:10.and that you may make a distinction between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the clean;11.and that you may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which Yahweh has spoken to them by Moses.19.Aaron spoke to Moses, Behold, this day have they offered their sin offering and their burnt offering before Yahweh; and there have befallen me such things as these: and if I had eaten the sin offering today, would it have been well-pleasing in the sight of Yahweh?20.When Moses heard [that], it was well-pleasing in his sight."Observations
10:1.God had warned them not to offer anything other than what He specified, or they would die. Adam and Eve got a similar warning of dire consequences.
10:6-7.
Aaron and his sons were not allowed to mourn for the death of their family members, because they had been anointed to serve God, and nothing takes greater precedence.
10:19.
Aaron appeals to what would be pleasing in God's sight as the rationale for failing to eat the offering, citing the events that indicated his unworthiness. Moses bought it. So did God.
Application
We develop a fear of God when we realize that He really does mean what He says.
Prayer
God keep me mindful of the consequences of disobeying You, so I will be consumed with the desire to do what is pleasing in Your sight. Amen.
Digging Deeper
God in a nutshell: God is to be feared; disobeying Him incurs dire consequences, even for His most privileged priests. Obeying Him opens the door for Him to bless and awe us with His glory.Us in a nutshell: We can't offer God anything and be pleasing to Him, when we are disobeying. We need to know what He has specified, and then do it. Blessings follow.