Worship Lessons Learned the Hard Way (3)

Worship Lessons Learned The Hard Way (3)

The Attitude Of Worship

After Moses spoke to Aaron in the wake of his sons’ demise, it was the Lord’s turn to speak: “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 statue for ever throughout your generations. And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean” (Lev. 10:9-10). It is amazing that of all people, Nadab and Abihu would approach God with the casual and indifferent attitude clearly alluded to in those two verses. In speaking of their unique background, Frank Chesser wrote:

They were eyewitnesses to the exhibition of God’s wrath upon Egypt, one of the greatest and most extraordinary acts of divine judgment ever to befall humanity… These two brothers observed God’s continual presence in a cloudy pillar by day and a fiery pillar by night (Exod. 13:21). They watched as God partitioned the waters of the Red Sea, felt the miracle of the dry land under their feet as they crossed to safety, and gazed intently as the waters returned to its abode and destroyed the powerful army of Egypt in its depth (Exod. 14). They saw God use a tree to sweeten the bitter waters of Marah (Ex. 15:25) and beheld the earth blanketed with manna and quail (Exod. 16) and marveled as water gushed from a rock (Ex. 17:6). No doubt they echoed Moses’ “fear and quaking” sentiments as they viewed the majesty of God on Mount Sinai (Exod. 19). Then God extended to them a blessing enjoyed by only a select few in the whole of humanity. They joined Aaron their father, and Moses their uncle, and seventy elders of Israel in ascending Sinai in order to behold a special manifestation of God that words could not describe… Following the sad spectacle of their father’s carving an image of gold in violation of the commandment just recently thundered from Sinai, these two brothers witnessed a mighty display of divine wrath. Surely, they must have looked with horror as fellow Levites unsheathed their swords and stained them with the blood of some three thousand men of Israel (Exod. 32:26- 28)… (The Spirit of Liberalism, 2001, pp 18-19).

What a tragedy, that those who had personally witnessed so much would enter into the presence of God in a flippant, careless manner. Yet it continues to happen today. The mighty works which they beheld with physical eyes we see by faith (Rom. 10:17). In fact, we have hundreds of years worth of history and examples to which they did not have access! Still, though, many who should know better treat worship as if it is just another item on a weekly to-do list which needs checking off. It is truly heart-wrenching when brothers who would never be late for work are always late for worship, or when sisters who would never miss a social event rarely make it to Bible study. It is disturbing when a young man who wears a shirt and tie in the work place wears an un-tucked t-shirt and flip flops in the assembly of the Lord, or when a mother who would never let you talk to her during her son’s ballgame will talk throughout God’s Son’s memorial. Surely when the Lord spoke of worshipping “in spirit” He had greater things in mind than those such as these. The Attendants Of Our Worship Before closing, let us notice a few verses one final time, with emphasis: “Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the Lord spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace” (Lev. 10:3). Also, “And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean: And that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statues which the Lord hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses” (Lev. 10:10-11). God seemed particularly disappointed that the leaders of His people, the attendants of worship, were those who betrayed Him. It would be one thing for the congregation in general to do so, but these were the priests! Nadab and Abihu knew the most, had seen the most, and could offer the most. They were some of the most respected men in the all land, the public figures who presided over worship. No doubt one of the reasons their punishment was so severe was that they had transgressed openly and in such a manner that might even lead others to do the same.

While every person present in our assemblies is personally responsible for his worship (1 Cor. 14:15), there is an especially weighty responsibility that lies with the leaders of those assemblies even today. Paul emphasized that in 1 Timothy 2:8, speaking of men who would lead worship with hands that were holy. Later in the epistle, he warned Timothy, a public preacher of the Word, to watch both his manner of life and his message, as it carried tremendous influence with his fellow worshippers (1 Tim. 4:16). Every brother who steps into the shoes that Nadab and Abihu failed to fill would do well to heed that counsel today. The fact of the matter is, souls might be lost or souls might be saved based upon the decisions that are made by those who lead the assemblies of the Lord’s people. Dear friends, may those of us who lead in His solemn assemblies ever remember with our privilege comes responsibility. May we ever bring glory and honor to the Lord of hosts by being an obedient and worshipful priesthood today.