February - 9
ALTAR PROBLEMS
They offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to his command. Leviticus 10:1
Soon after that glorious beginning of worship we looked at yesterday, Aaron’s sons were consumed by fire from God’s presence. Earlier this fire had consumed the burnt offering, to the great joy of God’s people.
Why did this terrible punishment have to take place? At this special time in the history of God’s people, God was prescribing in a precise way how the people were to worship him. But Nadab and Abihu had disobeyed God’s instructions.
This was the beginning of Israel’s true worship on earth. No other nation was worshiping God in accordance with his special instructions. Nowhere else were priests coming so close to the true God of heaven and earth. Nowhere else had God come so close to a people to receive their worship. At the beginning of this unique worship we are reminded at once of stunning success and agonizing failure.
Today, too, there is nothing like true Christian worship. Only through Jesus Christ can we worship the one true God in spirit and truth and come close to God. Only through Jesus has the true God come so close to us. That’s because Jesus, our great High Priest, performs the heavenly liturgy without blemish.
As we approach God with our sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving, let us do so with clean hearts (Psalm 15).
PRAYER
Wash me, O Lord; cleanse me from wrong¬doing, that my worship may be true and acceptable in your sight. Lead me in paths of righteousness for your name’s sake. Amen.
看过昨天荣耀敬拜的开始后，未几，亚伦的两个儿子便在神面前被烧灭，而较早前，这火曾烧尽燔祭，叫神的百姓欢呼。
为何会发生这宗严重的惩罚事件呢？因为在神的子民所处的这个特别历史时刻，神要清楚告诉他们，应当如何敬拜祂，但拿答和亚比户却违反了神的指示。
这就是以色列人在地上真正敬拜的开始，没有其他国家依照神特别的指示来敬拜祂；没有其他地方的祭司，是那么接近天地的真神；神从没有在其他地方如此临近祂的百姓，悦纳他们的敬拜。在这独一无二的敬拜之初，神提醒我们辉煌的成功，以及痛苦的失败。
今天，在基督徒中同样找不到真正的敬拜。唯有借着耶稣基督，我们才可以用心灵和诚实来敬拜那位独一真神，与祂亲近。唯有借着耶稣基督，这位真神才会如此亲近我们。这全因为我们的大祭司耶稣毫无玷污地执行天上的礼拜仪式。
当我们带着赞美和感恩的祭来到神的面前时，让我们也带着清洁的心（诗篇15篇）。
祷告
主啊，求祢洁净我；洗净我的过犯，好叫我的敬拜是真诚的，能在祢眼前蒙悦纳。求祢为自己的名，引导我走义路。阿们。