The Goodness and Severity of God

David Shannon

"Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness" ( Romans 11:22).
God's Severity
How wonderful it is to be in a church family where God's Word is read and loved. Presently, we are reading through Leviticus. In chapter 10 we see the severity of God as He executes Nadab and Abihu. What did they do deserving of death? They placed incense in their own censer and added their own fire before the Lord. But the fire is described by God as "profane" and the Hebrew word is translated in the KJV "strange." Perhaps the sin was that the incense wasn't sprinkled on the proper alter and/or the fire was not taken from the brazen alter, but from another source. We can question the details, but there is no question as to the violated principle. God said "and offered profane fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them" ( Leviticus 10:1). Their spiritual responsibility of offering incense was dictated by their personal desires. Notice God's explanation-- I "had not commanded". The bar is set as the priestly ministry begins. Chapter nine describes the beginning of the priestly service and chapter ten describes God's punishment when priests presumptuously do something not commanded. Today one says, "But God didn't say we can't add instruments, dramas, or musical performances to our worship." God also didn't tell Nadab and Abihu they couldn't add strange fire. He told them the fire they were to offer, and then condemned their going beyond His specific command. Our obedience to God must be as specific as His commands.
God's Goodness
Interestingly, in the same tenth chapter of Leviticus we also read of two cousins of Nadab and Abihu who were disobedient in their priestly duties. It may seem puzzling as to why Nadab and Abihu were immediately executed for their sin, just as were the two oldest sons of Judah for their interaction with Tamar (Gen 38:7-10); Ananias and Sapphira for lying ( Acts 5); and Uzzah for touching the ark (2 Sam 6:7-8); yet when Eleazar and Ithamar disobeyed God commanded them to eat the sin offering in a Holy place as recorded in Leviticus 10 beginning in verse 16, they were not executed. Why? Moses was angry toward them. But Aaron the High Priest speaks on their behalf. He explained that they had offered a sin offering and a burnt offering and had experienced the death of their cousins ("and such things have befallen me" vr 19) while obediently not grieving their death (10:6-7). Notice neither Moses nor God overlooked their sin, but both granted mercy to them. Nadab and Abihu were not the last priests to make mistakes, just as Ananias and Sapphira were not the last to lie to God. But in God's wisdom he chose to punish them immediately with the death that will eventually come to all who presumptuously practice religion their own way. Aaron seems to be making a plea to Moses for Eleazar and Ithamar as if to say, "They made a mistake, it was wrong, but consider the losses we experienced today". Sin is sin. There is a huge difference in an intentional sin and a mistake. Intentional sin reveals a rebellious spirit--God can't save the rebellious. "Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord and He will lift you up" ( James 4:10). That is what he did in Leviticus 10. Let's surrender all to the Lord to avoid His severity and receive His goodness. May God bless you in your reading of His Word today.

February 22, 2009



The Goodness and Severity of God by David Shannon "Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness" ( Romans 11:22). God's Severity How wonderful it is to be in a church family where God's Word is read and loved. Presently, we are reading through Leviticus. In chapter 10 we see the severity of God as He executes Nadab and Abihu. What did they do deserving of death? They placed incense in their own censer and added their own fire before the Lord. But the fire is described by God as "profane" and the Hebrew word is translated in the KJV "strange." Perhaps the sin was that the incense wasn't sprinkled on the proper alter and/or the fire was not taken from the brazen alter, but from another source. We can question the details, but there is no question as to the violated principle. God said "and offered profane fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them" ( Leviticus 10:1). Their spiritual responsibility of offering incense was dictated by their personal desires. Notice God's explanation-- I "had not commanded". The bar is set as the priestly ministry begins. Chapter nine describes the beginning of the priestly service and chapter ten describes God's punishment when priests presumptuously do something not commanded. Today one says, "But God didn't say we can't add instruments, dramas, or musical performances to our worship." God also didn't tell Nadab and Abihu they couldn't add strange fire. He told them the fire they were to offer, and then condemned their going beyond His specific command. Our obedience to God must be as specific as His commands. God's Goodness Interestingly, in the same tenth chapter of Leviticus we also read of two cousins of Nadab and Abihu who were disobedient in their priestly duties. It may seem puzzling as to why Nadab and Abihu were immediately executed for their sin, just as were the two oldest sons of Judah for their interaction with Tamar (Gen 38:7-10); Ananias and Sapphira for lying ( Acts 5); and Uzzah for touching the ark (2 Sam 6:7-8); yet when Eleazar and Ithamar disobeyed God commanded them to eat the sin offering in a Holy place as recorded in Leviticus 10 beginning in verse 16, they were not executed. Why? Moses was angry toward them. But Aaron the High Priest speaks on their behalf. He explained that they had offered a sin offering and a burnt offering and had experienced the death of their cousins ("and such things have befallen me" vr 19) while obediently not grieving their death (10:6-7). Notice neither Moses nor God overlooked their sin, but both granted mercy to them. Nadab and Abihu were not the last priests to make mistakes, just as Ananias and Sapphira were not the last to lie to God. But in God's wisdom he chose to punish them immediately with the death that will eventually come to all who presumptuously practice religion their own way. Aaron seems to be making a plea to Moses for Eleazar and Ithamar as if to say, "They made a mistake, it was wrong, but consider the losses we experienced today". Sin is sin. There is a huge difference in an intentional sin and a mistake. Intentional sin reveals a rebellious spirit--God can't save the rebellious. "Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord and He will lift you up" ( James 4:10). That is what he did in Leviticus 10. Let's surrender all to the Lord to avoid His severity and receive His goodness. May God bless you in your reading of His Word today. February 22, 2009	Mt. Juliet Church of Christ 1940 N. Mt. Juliet Road P.O.Box 248 Mt.Juliet, TN 37122-0248 (615)758-2274 Fax:615-754-2351 Email Worship Services: Sunday Early Worship: 8AM Sunday Bible Study: 9:15AM Sunday Late Worship: 10:15AM Night Worship: 6PM Wednesday Bible Study: 7PM