The Pulpit Commentary — Leviticus — Section 191

HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Counterfeit fire. Ch. x. 1-11; cf. Acts v. We have considered the consecration both of the high priest and of the minor priests, and how, entering upon their office in ei:pectation of a sign, they got it in the outflash of the "consuming fire." But sad to say, two of the minor priests so provoke the Lord by their presumption that they are instantly consumed. Having already cont.ro.sted the high priest's consecration with Christ's baptism, and the descent of the fire with the effusion of the Spirit o.t Pentecost we cannot resist the parallel presented by the case of Ananias and Sapphire. to th~ case of Nadab and Abihu. If believers are rightly regarded as "priests unto God" then the case of Ananias and Sapphire. is one of presumption in an assumed priesthood. The parallel will help us to definite ideas about the sin. L HoNOUB IS OFTENTIJ,[ES TOO JrroOB FOR soME HINDS. And it is generally a minor class of mind that gets intoxicated with position and success. No.dab and Abihu elevated to the priesthood, are so elated as to suppose that everything becomes them: Moreover, allied with this mental intoxication and excitement there often is physical intoxication. Indulgence is thought a proper thing for the upstart, and so he feeds his presumption by excess. The probabilities o.re in favour of supposing that No.dab and Abihu had indulged in wine or strong drink immediately on their elevation to the priesthood (cf. vers. 9, 10), and, in consequence, were incapacitated for distinguishing between the holy fire and its unholy counterfeit. It is not every one who can stand a. "full cup," or walk with it steadily. If with honour there comes not a quiet spirit, it becomes a curse rather than a blessing. !L SELF-OONFIDENCE 1B THE NATIJBAL RESULT OP THE INTOXICATION OP SUCCESS. N adab and Abihu, in their f9lly, think that they can guide themselves in priestly duty. Their venerable uncle, Moses, is not to be consulted by such dignitaries as they are. They can approe.ch the Divine presence in a perfectly new and original way. The fire which came originally from heaven, and which has been most carefully preserved as a. sacred deposit, is not, they believe, a bit better than fire they themselves can kindle. They will not depend upon it, but furnish a good fire themselves. Their spirit is self- confidence all through. The licence of innovation we.a most uncalled for at such a. time, seeing that the ritual was only in process of reception from heaven. There was no excuse for their course at all. Ill. GoD NEVER GRANTS A MA.Nll"EBTATION, BUT SATAN GETS tJP THROUGH SELP- CONFIDENT MEN A COUNTERFEIT. No.dab and Abihu believed they could produce as good a fire as God. Ananias and Sapphire. believed that hypocrisy could conduct itself as creditably as Pentecostal devotion. To every suggestion of a. "year of grace," there comes the counter-suggestion of a" year of delusion." All fire is equally common, or, for that matter, equally sacred, to the self-confident mind. Special inspirations are in- credible. Censers can be filled on the most rational principles, and God does not refuse any man's person. Paul, in 1 Cor. xiii., conveys the idea of counterfeit eloquence, a loveless exhibition of oratory that casual observers might pronounce angelic; of counterfeit enthusiasm, and even faith, so that neither mysteries nor mountains can retard the loveless spirit's prayers; of counterfeit martyrdoms, giving up the body to be burned after giving up fortune to the poor; and yet, because love is wanting in such cases, they constitute an unacceptable and profitless service. IV. THOSE WHO PBESUllE WITH THEm COUNTERFEITS MUST ACCEPT OF THE JUDGMENT THEY DESERVE. No.dab and Abihu, despising the Divine fire, and coming into com- petition with their own, are consumed by it. In a moment they experience how God is a "consuming fire" to all presumption. Ananias and Sapphire. feel the same. They fall before the deserved vengeance of the Most High. God offers us the great alterna- tive-either sanctification through the fire of the Holy Ghost, or destruction from the presence of the Lord and the glory of his power. God will be sanctified in some way: .c,H. lL 1-7.) THE BOOK OF LEVITICUS. 153