The question for our consideration is taken from Numbers chapter 3, when Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu, lost their lives for disobeying God. “Nadab and Abihu had died before the Lord when they offered profane fire before the Lord in the Wilderness of Sinai…” (3:4). The full account is found in Leviticus 10:1-3.
Both these men, serving as priests, took their censers, put fire in them, and offered it up to the Lord. However, the Lord did not accept their sacrifice. “So fire went out from the Lord and devoured them, and they died before the Lord” (Leviticus 10:2).
The KJV renders the phrase “strange fire”, as does the ASV and Young’s literal translation.
The ESV (English Standard Version) gives perhaps the best translation in getting the actual point the Holy Spirit is making. “But Nadab and Abihu died before the Lord when they offered unauthorized fire before the Lord in the wilderness of Sinai.” We know this to be true because of the text of Leviticus 10:1. It was fire, “which He had not commanded them.”
Consider how various authorities define the Hebrew word (zur), which is the word translated “profane” in our text:
- “strange to the law” as also appears in the phrase “strange incense” in Exod. 30:9 (Brown,Driver, and Briggs, Lexicon 266).
- “opp. to true, right, lawful, strange, unlawful. . .strange fire i.e. unlawful, profane, opp. to the sacred fire, Lev. 10:” (Gesenius, Lexicon 276).
- “strange to the requirements of the law” (Dictionary of the Bible III:471).
- “unauthorized by the Law” (ISBE IV:2108).
Nadab and Abihu were guilty of willful worship. They determined to worship God as they desired, rather than in accord with His instructions. Willful worship fails to please God. Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” (Matthew 7:21-23).
The word lawlessness Jesus used, (translated iniquity in the KJV), is taken from two root words in the Greek. The first is “a” which is a negative. The second is “nomos” which means law. Literally, not law. Worship that is offered that is not found in the will of God, not explicitly authorized by God, is thereby not accepted by Him.
Consider how this impacts the worship we offer to God today. The same rules apply. Jesus words in Matthew 7:21-23 are rightly applied to worship that we as Christians offer to God. The Jewish worship of the Old Testament is not a part of our law. We are in a covenant agreement with Jesus Christ. Therefore we are to do what He wills us to do in our worship. Singing, Praying, Giving, Partaking of His supper, and the Preaching of the gospel are all authorized by Him.
In order for interpretive dance, mechanical instruments of music, burning incense, tithing, (or any of the myriad worship offerings that are practiced today), to be accepted of God, they must be found in Jesus’ covenant. Otherwise, like Nadab and Abihu’s fire, they are profane, strange, unauthorized. Think about it!
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