Leviticus | Learner's Guide

WEEK The Danger of Disobedience 2 Leviticus 10 2 2.7.16

“Holiness is the habit of being of one mind with God, according as we find His mind described in Scripture.”

J.C. Ryle

Day 1 – What Do You See?

STUDY God’s Word

“1Now , the sons of , each took his censer and put fire in it and laid incense on it and offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, which he had not commanded them. 2And fire came out from before the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD. 3Then said to Aaron, ‘This is what the LORD has said: “Among those who are near me I will be sanctified, and before all the people I will be glorified.”’ And Aaron held his peace. 4And Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel the uncle of Aaron, and said to them, ‘Come near; carry your brothers away from the front of the sanctuary and out of the camp.’ 5So they came near and carried them in their coats out of the camp, as Moses had said. 6And Moses said to Aaron and to Eleazar and Ithamar his sons, ‘Do not let the hair of your heads hang loose, and do not tear your clothes, lest you die, and wrath come upon all the congregation; but let your brothers, the whole house of Israel, bewail the burning that the LORD has kindled. 7And do not go outside the entrance of the tent of meeting, lest you die, for the anointing oil of the LORD is upon you.’ And they did 8 9 according to the word of Moses. And the LORD spoke to Aaron, saying, ’Drink no wine or strong drink, you or your sons with you, when you go into the tent of meeting, lest you die. It shall be a

statute forever throughout your generations. 10You are to distinguish between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the clean, 11and you are to teach the people of Israel all the statutes that the LORD has spoken to them by Moses.’ 12Moses spoke to Aaron and to Eleazar and Ithamar, his surviving sons: ‘Take the grain offering that is left of the LORD’s food offerings, and eat it unleavened beside the altar, for it is most holy. 13You shall eat it in a holy place, because it is your due and your sons’ due, from the LORD’s food offerings, for so I am commanded. 14But the breast that is waved and the thigh that is contributed you shall eat in a clean place, you and your sons and your daughters with you, for they are given as your due and your sons’ due from the 15 sacrifices of the peace offerings of the people of Israel. The thigh that is contributed and the breast that is waved they shall bring with the food offerings of the fat pieces to wave for a wave

offering before the LORD, and it shall be yours and your sons’ with you as a due forever, as the LORD has commanded.’ 16Now Moses diligently inquired about the goat of the sin offering, and behold, it was burned up! And he was angry with Eleazar and Ithamar, the surviving sons of Aaron, saying, 17’Why have you not eaten the sin offering in the place of the sanctuary, since it is a thing most holy and has been given to you that you may bear the iniquity of the congregation, to make atonement for them before the LORD? 18Behold, its blood was not brought into the inner part of the sanctuary. You certainly ought to have eaten it in the sanctuary, as I commanded.’ 19And Aaron said to Moses, ‘Behold, today they have offered their sin offering and their burnt offering before the LORD, and yet such things as these have happened to me! If I had eaten the sin offering today, would the LORD have approved?’ 20And when Moses heard that, he approved.” (ESV)

Q1: The abruptness of the opening verses of Leviticus 10 captures the suddenness of the change from joy to horror. All through chapters 8-9 it was repeated that everything was being done “as the Lord commanded”, but here Nadab and Abihu, the two eldest sons of Aaron, are suddenly doing what God had not commanded. On the same day that joy of obedience swept the camp of Israel, the tragedy of disobedience we seen and felt throughout the nation. Leviticus 8-10 outlines the preparation of the priests to serve in the tabernacle of the Lord as his special representatives. In chapters 8-9, Aaron and his sons are ordained to their positions, given their assignments, and they perform them in perfect obedience to the pleasure of God. In chapter 10, Aaron’s sons provoke God’s wrath through their disobedience. According to John 15:11, Romans 2:8, Romans 6:16, Colossians 3:20, 2 Thessalonians 1:8, and Hebrews 5:9, what does the teach about the blessing of obedience and the consequences of disobedience?

Q2: List 3 questions that you have based on your reading of Leviticus 10.

Q3: Summarize Leviticus 10 in your own words. Try to limit the length of your summary to the space below.

REMEMBER God’s Word

“Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.”

2 Corinthians 7:1

PRAY God’s Word

Father in Heaven, you are holy. Teach me your ways this week through my study of Leviticus. May my love of your gospel grow as I come to a deeper understanding of your holiness. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Day 2 – Any Old Fire Will Do

STUDY God’s Word

Q1: Leviticus 10 breaks down into 3 parts: (1) Nadab and Abihu’s dishonor of the Lord and subsequent judgment (1-7), (2) the warning to Aaron not to follow in his son’s footsteps (8- 11), and (3) the faithfulness of Aaron to reverence the Lord through his obedience (12-20). How does chapter 10 present us with the message of the gospel? (See: John 3:36)

Q2: Read Leviticus 16:1-2 together with verses 1-7. Nadab and Abihu came into the most holy place and offered “unauthorized fire” before the Lord. Leviticus 16:11-13 says that when the priest was performing a sin offering to atone for his own sins, fire from the altar was to be brought in to be offered with incense before the Lord “so that he does not die” (13). Evidently, the sons of Aaron figured, “Any fire will do”. God’s severe judgment shows this was no mere memory lapse. These priests did not treat the Lord and his commandments as holy. How might we risk having the same attitude with the Lord’s Supper? (See: 1 Cor. 11:17-34)

Q3: What do you think of God’s response to the sons of Aaron? What does teach us about sin?

REMEMBER God’s Word

“Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.”

2 Corinthians 7:1

PRAY God’s Word

Father in Heaven, by faith in your Son’s work on the cross for me, I approach your throne of grace with confidence. Help to pursue holiness today as I seek to represent you moment-by-moment. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen. Day 3 – The Captain’s Commandments

STUDY God’s Word

Q1: When the captain makes a mistake, the entire ship is endangered. King Saul had a lot in common with Nadab and Abihu. Read 1 Samuel 15:22. What does God desire our worship to be about?

Q2: Though the text is not specific, verses 8-11 have led some scholars to suggest that Nadab and Abihu may have been drunk when they offered “unauthorized fire” to the Lord. List 3 reasons why the Lord forbids Aaron from drinking wine before entering the tent of meeting.

Q3: Over and over again in the Bible we see that greater privilege exposes people to more severe discipline. Moses never saw the Promised Land because he disrespected God’s holiness (Num. 20:12). Israel squandered their special status with God by turning to foreign God’s and breaking his covenant so God sent them into exile. Read Luke 10:12-15, Heb. 10:26-31, and James 3:1. What does the New Testament say about God’s response to disobedience among the church’s leaders? How might his help you obey Hebrew 13:17?

REMEMBER God’s Word

“Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.”

2 Corinthians 7:1

PRAY God’s Word

Father in Heaven, thank you for the men you’ve given to our church to teach us and to set an example of godliness for us to emulate. Give them grace today to pursue obedience and to live by your Word. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen. Day 4 – The Priest and His People

STUDY God’s Word

Q1: In verses 12-20 of Leviticus 10, Moses repeats the instructions that he’d previously given to Aaron in 7:28-34. Why? It’s likely that Moses wanted to reemphasis the necessity of full obedience to God’s instruction in light of what just happened to Nadab and Abihu. However, Moses got angry with the younger sons of Aaron (the replacements) in verse 16. Why was Moses Angry? (See: Lev. 6:24-30; 9:15).

Q2: The offering in question in these verses is the purification (or sin) offering. This offering was given to the priests in order to take away the guilt of the community. In short, this offering made atonement for Israel. Offering it properly to God was vital! Church leaders in the New Testament also have a vital part to play in the spiritual wellbeing of God’s people. Read 1 Timothy 4:12-16. List 3 responsibilities that God has given to pastors along with their results.

Q3: In contrast to Nadab and Abihu, Aaron and his remaining sons showed honored the Lord by following his commands. List 3 ways our pursuit of holiness can counteract some of the assumptions that our culture makes about Christianity.

REMEMBER God’s Word

“Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.”

2 Corinthians 7:1

PRAY God’s Word

Father in Heaven, by faith I have put on Christ. Help me today to live a life that clearly identifies me with you. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen. Day 5 – The Fuel of Faithfulness

STUDY God’s Word

Q1: Chapter 10 began with tragedy but it ends as chapter 9 ended. The priests are practicing in obedience to God’s commands and the people will be blessed by their faithfulness. Read 2 Corinthians 7:1. How has God provided us with power to pursue holiness in him? (Hint: What are “these promises”?)

Q2: If you were to use Leviticus 10 to explain a truth about the gospel to an unbeliever, what would that truth be?

Q3: How does it work? Now that your understanding of Leviticus 10 has grown, how will it work? What life-changing effect are you praying that this text will have?

REMEMBER God’s Word

“Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.”

2 Corinthians 7:1

PRAY God’s Word

Father in Heaven, your promises are true. They will never fail me. Thank you for the promise that you have perfected forever we who are being made holy. What a promise! Help me to live on that promise today. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.