Text: Leviticus 10:1-2
Context in our Worship Bible Study:
God will not accept the worship sometimes.
The text read:
And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.
The Key Words used in the passage:
Censer, Fire, Offer, Strange, Before the LORD, Commandment, Devoured and Died.
Literal Explanation:
Nadab and Abihu wanted to please true God by burning their incense. But the fire they used to burn their incense was not as God commanded them. According to God’s law given to Moses, the fire should be from the Altar. (Leviticus 6:12) But these sons of Aaron just carelessly took the strange fire to burn their censer, which led them to death.
Figurative Explanation:
We also want to go before the LORD with our incense to offer. Incense here is not literal type but incense symbolizes our lives. As God in the Old Testament liked the sweet fragrance of burning incense, He these days wants our lives more than those of burning incenses. Our life should spread the fragrance as incense does when it burns. Incense without burning is almost useless, without any sweet fragrance. Burning is the process where pain remains and the substance decreases gradually. So, if we want to spread the fragrance out of our lives then it should be burnt by the Fire, the fire of Holy Spirit and the Words. But It costs pain, we should bear. Burning process prune us and finally making us more devoted to him for the better fragrance.
From where are we getting this fire to burn our lives? Be careful, the passage used the word Strange Fire which was not commanded by God. We as worldly peoples sometimes get the fire from the world which is also not commanded by God. Nadab and Abihu must probably thought that Fire is Fire, no matter where it comes from, as long as it is red, feel hot and can burn, we can use it. That was the fatal mistake they ever did that caused them to die. We sometime think the same way they thought. We do fellowship with strange people, strange fellowship, strange church, and strange organization. Be careful my beloved brothers. These strange people, church, fellowships, denominations sometimes push us and misguide us from the proper way to offer God a right sweet fragrance. We should not be deceived with such strange Fire. These are the days where false prophet can bring the fire down on earth from Heaven. (Revelation 13:13) This is strange fire, obviously not from God’s side.
Present context in Worship:
As we claimed to be a worship team and worshiper (individually as choir member), we should be called, consecrated and commanded by God. Not only our lives should be consecrated and commanded by God but every instrument we play, every musical system we use in the Church. We should consecrate our musical instrument and system to use as worship offering to God. And when we consecrate those musical instrument and system for God’s glory then we must not use it for other purpose than to glorify God the father, magnify Jesus Christ and satisfy Holy Spirit. Then, we can see His move in our midst while worshiping Him.
By beloved brother, consider musical instrument and system as incense to offer to God. And we are the fire to burn this incense. And we must be holy to burn this incense-musical instrument and system.
What are happening these days is musicians and even choir leaders are bringing the musical instrument and system in church from outside the church. And they do not know what purpose those instrument and systems were being used for. It may be for good reason without sole purpose of glorifying God. It may be used for bad reason worshiping the world and its gods. Our fellow brothers and sisters are so kind that they can excuse such activities inside church and in worship team. My brothers, I must tell you that some of the churches are not only brining and using such instruments but they are bringing their non-Christian musician friends to play instrument during worship service as well. What a pathetic situation is that. My brothers, this is strange fire inside church and worship team.
Implication in Worship Team and Members:
- Be careful on playing or embracing around with the strange fire i.e. unknown Christian (unidentified), unknown church (unidentified), unknown denominations (unidentified), unknown cult or any type of group (unidentified).
- We must consecrate our all musical instrument and systems unto God just to use for His glory.
- We (all individual choir member) must be called, consecrated and commanded and ordained by God for this ministry as a God’s willing Fire to burn the offerings.
- We should avoid using someone else’s musical instruments and system for we do not know how and what purpose it was being used for. If we need such instruments or system then we will ask to the board committee for further discussion for fund raising and purchasing. (will do with prayer and commitment)
- Never enroll any new persons (unless identified or recommended by one of the leaders from church or choir member) in choir for Friday worship service.
Conclusion:
Let us try not to bring such a strange fire that will cause every one of us disconnected with God and led for unaccepted Worship Service unto Him.