RPG Adults
NO TEARS FROM THE PRIESTS!
MONDAY, MAY 6
Leviticus 10
Mark 7:7-9
“…Uncover not your heads, neither
rend your clothes; lest ye die, and lest
wrath come upon all the people…”
NO TEARS FROM THE PRIESTS!
Upon the sudden deaths of Nadab and Abihu, Aaron and his remaining two sons, Eleazar and Ithamar, were commanded by the LORD NOT to show signs of mourning such as uncovering their heads, or rending their clothes. Otherwise, they too might die! Not only that they might die (and the priesthood would be terminated for good), the people might also experience God’s wrath! Before God, the priests and His people were inseparably attached to each other. Their spiritual well-being depended on their spirituality. If they died, there would be no one to complete the inaugural service of consecration! The people would remain in sin. They were not sanctified yet as the sacrificial service was not completed!
What would it mean if Aaron and his sons were to weep for Nadab and Abihu? If they were to weep, they would show to the people of God that the LORD should not have done what He did to Nadab and Abihu. Aaron and his sons were still wearing the hats of priests, and not the hats of father and brothers. The duties of priests had to be separated from family duties even though the lineage of the priesthood was based upon progeny beginning from Aaron. The danger of the sin of nepotism was real as seen in the time of Eli who allowed his two wicked sons, Hophni and Phinehas, to keep on sinning and he failed to stop them. The lineage of Ithamar was cut off by the LORD as a show of the seriousness of Eli’s transgression. The LORD set the high standard expected of all His priests. They had to follow rigidly with no addition or subtraction to the Levitical sacrificial system. The approach of man to God must always originate from God alone. There must be no mixture of God and man in approaching Him. Future priests were not killed immediately because of God’s mercies. They had to repent as soon as possible before they were judged and condemned.
The LORD expects the same standard of holiness from His priests today as they approach Him in prayer and worship.
MEMORISATION: Leviticus 10:7
PRAYER: Father, may Thou be merciful to receive our worship that is done in spirit and in Thy holy Truth, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.