Sovereign grace secures your salvation; covenant obedience shapes your story. "What's past is prologue; what to come, In yours and my discharge..." - Antonio in Shakespeare's play The Tempest . In other words, understanding your history is the key to your future. SINCE WE LAST LEFT OFF... The Israelites have been sentenced to wander in the wilderness until all of the rebellious generation that left Egypt have died off. The LORD is faithful to the new generation, preserving them and giving them victory. Moses uses the first four chapters of Deuteronomy to recount the history of Israel's unbelief and God's unwavering faithfulness. Deuteronomy 4  Moses continues... 4 Now, Israel, hear the decrees and laws I am about to teach you. Follow them so that you may live and may go in and take possession of the land the L ORD , the God of your fathers, is giving you. 2   Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the L ORD  your God that I give you. 3   You saw with your own eyes what the L ORD  did at Baal Peor. The L ORD  your God destroyed from among you everyone who followed the Baal of Peor, 4  but all of you who held fast to the Lord your God are still alive today. 5  See, I have taught you decrees and laws as the L ORD  my God commanded me, so that you may follow them in the land you are entering to take possession of it. 6  Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.” 7  What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the L ORD  our God is near us whenever we pray to him?   8  And what other nation is so great as to have such righteous decrees and laws as this body of laws I am setting before you today? -- 21  The L ORD  was angry with me because of you, and he solemnly swore that I would not cross the Jordan and enter the good land the L ORD  your God is giving you as your inheritance. 22  I will die in this land; I will not cross the Jordan; but you are about to cross over and take possession of that good land. 23  Be careful not to forget the covenant of the L ORD  your God that he made with you; do not make for yourselves an idol in the form of anything the L ORD  your God has forbidden. 24  For the L ORD  your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. -- 32  Ask now about the former days, long before your time, from the day God created man on the earth; ask from one end of the heavens to the other. Has anything so great as this ever happened, or has anything like it ever been heard of? 33  Has any other people heard the voice of God speaking out of fire, as you have, and lived? 34  Has any god ever tried to take for himself one nation out of another nation, by testings, by signs and wonders, by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, or by great and awesome deeds, like all the things the L ORD  your God did for you in Egypt before your very eyes? 35  You were shown these things so that you might know that the L ORD  is God; besides him there is no other... -- 39  Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the L ORD  is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other. 40  Keep his decrees and commands, which I am giving you today, so that it may go well with you and your children after you and that you may live long in the land the L ORD  your God gives you for all time. Belgic Confession Article 7 We believe that this Holy Scripture contains the will of God completely and that everything one must believe to be saved is sufficiently taught in it. For since the entire manner of service which God requires of us is described in it at great length, no one— even an apostle or an angel from heaven, as Paul says— ought to teach other than what the Holy Scriptures have already taught us. For since it is forbidden to add to or subtract from the Word of God, this plainly demonstrates that the teaching is perfect and complete in all respects. Summary The book of Deuteronomy, although written in Hebrew, has a Greek name that simply means 'Second Law' ( deutero = second, nomy = law). It's comprised of three farewell speeches from Moses, which recap the history of God's people in the wilderness and emphasize the need for the people to faithfully follow God's Law as they enter the Promised Land without Moses. As we skim through this book this week, we're going to come away understanding two key theological principles that are key to interpreting the rest of the Bible. First of all, Moses' speeches in Deuteronomy make clear that God sovereignly chooses His people. Today's passage shows how exclusive of a relationship Israel enjoyed with the God who chose them. Moses rhetorically asks, What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the LORD our God is near us whenever we pray to him? Even the righteous decrees and laws God gives to His people are an indication of His unique love for them. These people had seen with their own eyes what the LORD did for them, things that had never been done for any other people from the day God created man on the earth . They heard the voice of God speaking out of fire. Again, Moses rhetorically asks them, has any god ever tried to take for himself one nation out of another nation, by testings, by signs and wonders, by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, or by great and awesome deeds, like all the things the LORD your God did for you? In everything that the LORD did in choosing and saving these people, He did s o that they might know that the LORD is God and that besides him there is no other. As you look back upon how it is that God made His choice of you evident, how have you both seen and heard what the LORD did for you? How did you experience His providence, the Spirit making His Word come alive, and even His great and awesome deeds? Briefly share how in the comment box below!   Dig Deeper   So as we read Deuteronomy, we'll certainly see how it is that God sovereignly chooses His people, but secondly we'll see the requirement that God's people must evidence their divine election by faithfully obeying God's covenant law. Moses makes it clear that the Israelite's won't just coast into the Promised Land because God had sovereignly ordained it. Rather, the must hear and follow God's decrees and laws so that they may live and may go in and take possession of the land. They needed to keep the LORD's commands without subtracting from them. Their covenant obedience was key to the witnessing God expected of them. They were to show their wisdom and understanding to the nations. Moses could personally attest to the importance of faithfully doing all that God commanded exactly the way He commanded it. He would die in the wilderness without crossing the Jordan because he angrily struck a rock that God had instructed him to speak to in order to provide water for the people . Moses makes clear what we don't hear enough about God - that the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God . These Israelites from long ago were saved in exactly the same way you and I are: by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone. Our salvation is completely the work of the sovereign LORD God Almighty. But your grateful obedience to Him matters... Keep his decrees and commands so that it may go well with you and your children after you . AAA Prayer (About) A CKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS : Our Father, the LORD God; besides him there is no other; A LIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that you will be careful not to forget the covenant of the LORD your God that he made with you; A SK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:

You can't be free of fear. You can only direct it. Faithlife.org Psalm 27 Of David. 1   The L ORD  is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The L ORD  is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid? 2  When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall. 3   Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident. 4  One thing I ask from the L ORD , this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the L ORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the L ORD and to seek him in his temple. 5   For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock. 6  Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the L ORD . 7   Hear my voice when I call, L ORD ; be merciful to me and answer me. 8   My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, L ORD , I will seek. 9  Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my helper. Do not reject me or forsake me, God my Savior. 10  Though my father and mother forsake me, the L ORD  will receive me. 11  Teach me your way, L ORD ; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors. 12  Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, spouting malicious accusations. 13  I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the L ORD in the land of the living. 14  Wait for the L ORD ; be strong and take heart and wait for the L ORD . Belgic Confession Article 29 As for those who can belong to the true church, we can recognize them by the distinguishing marks of Christians: namely by faith, and by their fleeing from sin and pursuing righteousness, once they have received the one and only Savior, Jesus Christ. They love the true God and their neighbors, without turning to the right or left, and they crucify the flesh and its works. Though great weakness remains in them, they fight against it by the Spirit all the days of their lives, appealing constantly to the blood, suffering, death, and obedience of the Lord Jesus, in whom they have forgiveness of their sins, through faith in him. Summary Most people are completely controlled by their fear: fear of losing income, fear of breaking relationships, fear of sickness and disease, fear of the unknown. The infotainment that constantly bombards us intensifies these fears with its never ending speculations and rumors, so perhaps people seem more afraid in our day and age than ever before. But we're probably not. Don't forget that the first emotions Adam and Eve felt after the fall were angst and shame . Anxiety and dread are the ubiquitous results of sin. Even King David experienced these feelings. But David asks two beautiful rhetorical questions at the beginning of this week's psalm that recenter God's people in a peace that passes understanding. The two questions seem quite similar, almost as if the second question is just a poetically parallel restatement of the first: whom shall I fear? of whom shall I be afraid? David here is not claiming that he's not afraid because he has no fear . Quite the opposite, in fact. He's reminding himself - and us - that we need not be afraid as long as we fear the LORD, who is our light and salvation, the stronghold of our lives. This is exactly how Moses calmed the terrified Israelites as they heard, felt and saw God's awesome presence atop Mt. Sinai, telling them to not be afraid . God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning ( Exodus 20:20 ). The fear of God isn't meant to make you frightened, but it's meant to heighten your senses and awareness because you know well the dreadful wrath He has for those who persist in their sin. You can't free yourself of fear , but you can channel it. If you fear the things of this world, you'll forever be afraid . But if you fear the LORD, you have nothing to be afraid of.   Dig Deeper   Sometimes David's psalms seem irrelevant. He often writes of the wicked advancing against him and about his enemies, foes and oppressors. Of all the problems you have, besieging armies probably aren't at the top of the list. But maybe they should be. While it's true you likely won't face an actual army invasion, and the closest thing you have to a physical enemy or oppressor is the guy who cut you off in your morning commute, you need to know that you are under attack - constantly! But this ongoing battle isn't going on around you, it's going on inside you. Paul tells us that Sarx - your old sinful nature - is waging war against you! As David puts it, Sarx is a false witness that rises up against me, spouting malicious accusations. You won't face the Philistines or be chased down by psychotic King Saul the way David was. Yet the psalms he wrote in the midst of these difficult times are exactly the Spirit-inspired fuel you need to keep battling the sin that lies within. So as the fear of this world often sets in, wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. AAA Prayer (About) A CKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS : Our Father, who is my light and my salvation - the stronghold of my life ; A LIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that the LORD will teach you His way and lead you in a straight path because of your oppressor; A SK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:

Not everyone who claims the Lord's name comes in His name. Not all preachers are as good looking as this guy! CONTEXT: Balak, the king of Moab, sees the Israelites heading his way. Out of fear, he hires Balaam, a famous 'divine consultant' who would study natural phenomena such as animal entrails or bird movements to predict the future. His pronouncements of blessing or curse were considered as money in the bank (the name Balaam means 'destroyer of people'). King Balak wants to pay Balaam a substantial sum to curse the Israelites, so he sent a delegation to hire him. Numbers 22:18–35 (NIV) 18  But Balaam answered them, “Even if Balak gave me all the silver and gold in his palace, I could not do anything great or small to go beyond the command of the L ORD my God. 19  Now spend the night here so that I can find out what else the L ORD will tell me.” 20  That night God came to Balaam and said, “Since these men have come to summon you, go with them, but do only what I tell you.” 21  Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey and went with the Moabite officials. 22  But God was very angry when he went, and the angel of the L ORD  stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him. 23  When the donkey saw the angel of the L ORD  standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, it turned off the road into a field. Balaam beat it to get it back on the road. 24  Then the angel of the L ORD  stood in a narrow path through the vineyards, with walls on both sides. 25   When the donkey saw the angel of the L ORD , it pressed close to the wall, crushing Balaam’s foot against it. So he beat the donkey again. 26  Then the angel of the L ORD  moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn, either to the right or to the left. 27  When the donkey saw the angel of the L ORD , it lay down under Balaam, and he was angry and beat it with his staff. 28  Then the L ORD  opened the donkey’s mouth, and it said to Balaam, “What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?” 29  Balaam answered the donkey, “You have made a fool of me! If only I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now.” 30  The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?” “No,” he said. 31  Then the L ORD  opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the L ORD  standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown. 32  The angel of the L ORD  asked him, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? I have come here to oppose you because your path is a reckless one before me. 33  The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If it had not turned away, I would certainly have killed you by now, but I would have spared it.” 34   Balaam said to the angel of the L ORD , “I have sinned. I did not realize you were standing in the road to oppose me. Now if you are displeased, I will go back.” 35  The angel of the L ORD  said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but speak only what I tell you.” So Balaam went with Balak’s officials. Balaam's story goes on for two more chapters. Each time the king of Moab expected Balaam to pronounce a curse over Israel, Balaam instead blessed them. Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 26 Q. What do you believe when you say, “I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth”? A. That the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who out of nothing created heaven and earth and everything in them, who still upholds and rules them by his eternal counsel and providence, is my God and Father because of Christ his Son. I trust him so much that I do not doubt he will provide whatever I need for body and soul, and he will turn to my good whatever adversity he sends me in this sad world. He is able to do this because he is almighty God; he desires to do this because he is a faithful Father. Summary Balaam was the celebrity preacher of his day, who hobnobbed with heads of state and rich clan elders. He wasn't affiliated with any particular religion or god, but spoke for them all. He parlayed his ability to communicate with the gods into fame and fortune (his name turns up often in archeological digs). Certainly most of his divination tricks were snake oil, but, mysteriously, he also had ability to communicate with the LORD. Initially, Balaam turned King Balak down, telling the king that no matter how much money got thrown his way, that he could not do anything great or small to go beyond the command of the LORD my God. Notice how Balaam called the LORD 'my' God. Maybe Balaam was using this as a bargaining chip, or maybe he actually thought that the LORD belonged to him! Balaam was most certainly NOT one of God's people. Lots of people claim the LORD, but so many, like Balaam, make that claim for selfish gain. But God gives Balaam permission to go to the king, but also gives him a very short leash, telling him that he could do only what I tell you. So it might seem odd when the next morning, as Balaam saddled his donkey and went with the Moabite officials, that the God was very angry when he went. But God knew Balaam's heart; his allegiance wasn't to the LORD, rather it was to the financial reward that the king offered. So in one of the most comically ironic displays of God's sovereignty, the angel of the LORD stood in the road with a drawn sword in his hand to oppose Balaam. Yet the one who supposedly had such an exclusive talent to perceive the will of the gods in natural phenomena was oblivious to what so plainly stood right before him. Even the poor donkey could see what was going on.   Dig Deeper   Balaam's fame stretched into the New Testament, but not for the right reasons. He's mentioned in three different books, serving as a warning. Peter expresses it the most clearly in the second chapter of his second letter: But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies... 3  In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories... 15  They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Bezer, who loved the wages of wickedness. 16  But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey—an animal without speech—who spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness. So be on your guard. Not everyone who comes in the name of the Lord is truly coming in the name of the Lord. A quick way to check is to determine what they're pointing you to: is it to Christ crucified, or is it to a political platform or promises of health, wealth and prosperity? And even us preachers can learn a lesson from Balaam's story when we get a bit full of our own ability to wax eloquently about God. It's good to be reminded that there's nothing special about us, since the LORD also spoke very clearly through the mouth of a jackass. AAA Prayer (About) A CKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS : Our Father, whose will always will be done; A LIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that you will stay true to God's Word and not follow after the world's enticements; A SK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:

Look up to Christ and live! SINCE WE LAST LEFT OFF... The LORD continues to set forth regulations for His people, whom He sentenced to wander in the wilderness until the current generation who had doubted His providence had died. Korah, Moses' cousin, led a rebellion that came to an end when the earth opened up and swallowed him and his co-conspirators . Later, the Israelites once again grumble about their lack of water, and once again God will provide water from a rock, but rather than speaking to the rock as the LORD had commanded, Moses struck it because he was angry with the rebellious people . But Moses' temper cost him. Because of it, he would die before entering the Promised Land. Numbers 21:4–9 (NIV) 4  They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea,  to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; 5   they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!” 6  Then the L ORD  sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. 7   The people came to Moses and said, “We sinned when we spoke against the L ORD  and against you. Pray that the L ORD  will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. 8  The L ORD  said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” 9  So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived. Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 127 Q. What does the sixth request of the Lord's prayer mean? A. “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one” means, By ourselves we are too weak to hold our own even for a moment. And our sworn enemies— the devil, the world, and our own flesh— never stop attacking us. And so, Lord, uphold us and make us strong with the strength of your Holy Spirit, so that we may not go down to defeat in this spiritual struggle, but may firmly resist our enemies until we finally win the complete victory. Summary Sometimes as we read through the accounts of God's people wandering in the wilderness it seems like we keep reading the same things over and over. That's because we keep reading the same things over and over. Once again they bellow out the same bickering chorus: Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! But this time, they add a line, specifically complaining about the manna God continued to provide: we detest this miserable food! Notice how often (almost always!) the Israelite's attitude is controlled by their appetites! And once again we see that although the LORD is compassionate, gracious and slow to anger , there comes a point where His patience does run out and He gets angry. Very angry. So without warning, the LORD sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. It doesn't take long for the people's attitude to change. The confess their sin against the LORD and Moses, and once again they beg Moses to intercede for them. But the request they want Moses to ask for on their behalf is short sighted and myopic. They don't ask to be forgiven for their lack of faith or for insulting God's provision for them. They don't request that the LORD would align their appetites with His will. They just want the snakes to be taken away from them. We are so quick to complain about our circumstances. Our appetites are never satisfied with the amazing blessings God provides; we always want more. From time to time, God interrupts our incessant whining by allowing (sometimes even sending) bad things to happen to us in order to recenter our attention back upon Him. But when those bad times finally become bad enough to cause us to pray, we too often lift up short sighted prayers like the Israelites - just praying that the bad things be taken away rather than praying like David in Psalm 51 that the LORD would create in me a pure heart, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.   Dig Deeper   Once again God answers His complaining people's prayer which had been offered through their intercessor, Moses. The LORD instructs Moses to make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live. So Moses did exactly as he was instructed, and relief came to those who in faith looked at the bronze snake. Today's passage is so much more than just another episode of a continually complaining people experiencing both the justice and mercy of God. This passage happens to be one of the most theologically important in the entire Old Testament, so much so that Jesus used it as He explained who He was to Nicodemus, one of the most learned men of Israel. In John 3, Jesus told him, 14  Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15  that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” So just like God's wandering people looked to a bronze snake to find relief, look to the One who was lifted up, that you may have eternal life in Him. AAA Prayer (About) A CKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS : Our Father, who is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet He does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation. A LIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Don't just pray for relief from worldly afflictions, pray that the LORD will grant your strength to look away from temptation and towards the One who was lifted up so that you may have eternal life; A SK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:

Slavish mobs will always pull you towards fear. Faithfully stand strong in the LORD. SINCE WE LAST LEFT OFF... Explorers were sent ahead to scope out the Promised Land. They return with an impressive display of the land's bounty, but also terrifying tales of the "fortified cities and men of great size" the Israelites would need to overcome. Numbers 14 (NIV) 14 That night all the members of the community raised their voices and wept aloud. 2   All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, “If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this wilderness! 3  Why is the L ORD  bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?” 4  And they said to each other, “We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.” 5  Then Moses and Aaron fell facedown in front of the whole Israelite assembly gathered there. 6   Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes 7  and said to the entire Israelite assembly, “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. 8   If the L ORD  is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. 9  Only do not rebel against the L ORD . And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the L ORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them.” 10  But the whole assembly talked about stoning them. Then the glory of the L ORD  appeared at the tent of meeting to all the Israelites. 11  The L ORD  said to Moses, “How long will these people treat me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the signs I have performed among them? 12  I will strike them down with a plague and destroy them, but I will make you into a nation greater and stronger than they.” --- Moses then pleads with the L ORD to spare Israel for the sake of His great name, asking Him to display His power through covenant mercy rather than destroy the people and give the nations cause to doubt His glory. -- 20  The L ORD  replied, “I have forgiven them, as you asked. 21  Nevertheless, as surely as I live and as surely as the glory of the L ORD  fills the whole earth, 22  not one of those who saw my glory and the signs I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness but who disobeyed me and tested me ten times— 23  not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath to their fathers. No one who has treated me with contempt will ever see it. -- 28  So tell them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the L ORD , I will do to you the very thing I heard you say: 29  In this wilderness your bodies will fall—every one of you twenty years old or more who was counted in the census and who has grumbled against me. 30  Not one of you will enter the land I swore with uplifted hand to make your home, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun. Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 124 Q. What does the third request of the Lord's Prayer mean? A. “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” means, Help us and all people to reject our own wills and to obey your will without any back talk. Your will alone is good. Help us one and all to carry out the work we are called to, as willingly and faithfully as the angels in heaven. Summary At this point, it's been thirteen months since the final plague struck down all of the first born in Egypt. The opening verses of today's passage mark the fifth time now in this very short span that the Israelites have raised their voices, grumbling against Moses and Aaron and blaming the LORD for bringing them to this land only to let them die. They'd witnessed the most powerful army on earth flounder as the Red Sea collapsed upon them, seen the power of the LORD's glory in their midst, heard His voice thunder down from Sinai and tasted water that sprang up out of rock and manna that fell from heaven at God's command, but they conclude that this God that's brought them this far can't overcome some men of great size. It was somewhat understandable that the people feared the Canaanites, but inexcusable that they wouldn't trust the LORD. Moses is out of words at this point. All he and his brother Aaron could do was to fall facedown in front of the whole Israelite assembly. Prayer, in the most humble posture possible, was their only recourse. The job of trying to talk sense to the mob then fell to the two faithful spies, Joshua and Caleb. They remind the people that the Canaanites' protection is gone. The Egyptian army had provided security for these outlying areas, but God had already sunk them. Much more importantly, they remind Israel that the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them. But, as one commentator puts it, "a key aspect of evil men is their intense self-pity." Joshua and Caleb's words fall on ears attached to brainwashed dolts that were already gathering stones to execute God's faithful leaders and looking for a new leader to bring them back to Egypt.   Dig Deeper   Once again we have ugly proof that God's patience is not unlimited. As His glory appeared at the tent of meeting to all the Israelites (what a sight that must have been!), He tells Moses He's done. After all the signs He'd performed among them, they refuse to believe. God would strike them down with a plague and then raise Moses into a nation greater and stronger than they. But Moses appeals to God's honor and reputation amongst the nations, who would conclude that the LORD was unable to deliver. He repeats back to the LORD what the LORD had told him, that He's slow to anger, abounding in love, and forgives sin and rebellion . The LORD hears Moses' prayer and forgives them, as Moses asked. But He also answers the unholy prayers of the people and gives them exactly what they asked for. He wouldn't lead them against the Canaanite men of great size. Rather, He'd lead them back out into the wilderness where their bodies would fall - every one of them over the age of twenty, with the exception of faithful Joshua and Caleb. The security this world offers will almost always seem more appealing than the darkest valley the LORD calls you to walk through with Him at your side. But this world's security comes at a steep price: slavery to it. Like Joshua and Caleb, faithfully follow where the LORD leads, knowing that your Savior has already conquered sin and death, so that you need not fear any evil . AAA Prayer (About) A CKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS : Our Father, who is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet He does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation. A LIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that you can break free of the slavish mob pulling you into a life of fear so that you can be faithful like Joshua and Caleb; A SK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:

Sometimes it's best when God doesn't satisfy your appetite. SINCE WE LAST LEFT OFF... Numbers 1–10 records Israel being organized at Sinai: the tribes are numbered, arranged around the tabernacle, and assigned specific duties, with the Levites set apart to guard and serve the LORD’s dwelling. These chapters emphasize holiness, order, and readiness as God dwells in the midst of His redeemed people and prepares them to depart from Sinai and march toward the Promised Land. Numbers 11:4–34 (NIV) 4  The rabble with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing and said, “If only we had meat to eat! 5  We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost—also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. 6  But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna !” -- 10  Moses heard the people of every family wailing at the entrance to their tents. The L ORD  became exceedingly angry, and Moses was troubled. 11  He asked the L ORD , “Why have you brought this trouble on your servant? What have I done to displease you that you put the burden of all these people on me? 12  Did I conceive all these people? Did I give them birth? Why do you tell me to carry them in my arms, as a nurse carries an infant, to the land you promised on oath to their fathers? 13  Where can I get meat for all these people? They keep wailing to me, ‘Give us meat to eat!’ 14  I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me. 15  If this is how you are going to treat me, please go ahead and kill me—if I have found favor in your eyes—and do not let me face my own ruin.” 16  The L ORD said to Moses: “Bring me seventy of Israel’s elders who are known to you as leaders and officials among the people. Have them come to the tent of meeting, that they may stand there with you. 17  I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take some of the power of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them. They will share the burden of the people with you so that you will not have to carry it alone. 18  “Tell the people: ‘Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow, when you will eat meat. The L ORD heard you when you wailed, “If only we had meat to eat! We were better off in Egypt!” Now the L ORD  will give you meat, and you will eat it. 19  You will not eat it for just one day, or two days, or five, ten or twenty days, 20  but for a whole month—until it comes out of your nostrils and you loathe it—because you have rejected the L ORD who is among you, and have wailed before him, saying, “Why did we ever leave Egypt?” ’ ” 21  But Moses said, “Here I am among six hundred thousand men on foot, and you say, ‘I will give them meat to eat for a whole month!’ 22  Would they have enough if flocks and herds were slaughtered for them? Would they have enough if all the fish in the sea were caught for them?” 23  The L ORD  answered Moses, “Is the L ORD 's arm too short? Now you will see whether or not what I say will come true for you.” --- 31  Now a wind went out from the L ORD  and drove quail in from the sea. It scattered them up to two cubits deep all around the camp, as far as a day’s walk in any direction. 32  All that day and night and all the next day the people went out and gathered quail. No one gathered less than ten homers. Then they spread them out all around the camp. 33  But while the meat was still between their teeth and before it could be consumed, the anger of the L ORD  burned against the people, and he struck them with a severe plague. 34  Therefore the place was named Kibroth Hattaavah,  because there they buried the people who had craved other food. Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 113 Q. What is God’s will for you in the tenth commandment (do not covet)? A. That not even the slightest thought or desire contrary to any one of God’s commandments should ever arise in my heart. Rather, with all my heart I should always hate sin and take pleasure in whatever is right. Summary Today's passage begins with an ominous demographic: the rabble with them. Other translations refer to this bunch as the riff-raff or the mixed multitude. These were foreigners who'd been added to the Israelites along the way. As one commentator puts it , "these were people who had come together with no common bond except to complain. The fact that they could dominate all Israel indicates the religious and moral bankruptcy of the people. The temper of a mob can work only where there is no superior or governing faith." This rabble complained about the manna God had miraculously provided for them to eat. They don't complain about its nutritional value, for they couldn't! Psalm 78 describes manna as the grain of heaven and the bread of angels. It kept the people healthy and strong as they traveled through the wilderness. No, their complaint was based in their appetite. They demanded meat to eat. The murmuring complaints of this rabble spread like a highly contagious disease, and it soon infected the people of every family who all began to wail at the entrance to their tents. The LORD became exceedingly angry, and Moses was troubled. Moses' prayer is stunningly aggressive - he doesn't hold back in his complaints - but yet it shows his utter dependence upon the LORD. And being the caring Father that He is, the LORD graciously answers Moses' prayer by spreading Moses' burden out over seventy elders. God also answered the people's wailing, but His reply to them wasn't nearly as gracious as He was to Moses. He gave them the meat to eat that they'd demanded, but He gave them so much that it began to come out of their nostrils - quite literally. While the meat was still between their teeth, the anger of the LORD burned against the people, and He struck them with a severe plague that caused them to vomit it right back up.   Dig Deeper   Your appetite is a gift from God, and it's not wrong to develop and expand it. Nor is it sinful to be driven by it in such a way that it pushes you to improve your lifestyle and provisions. In fact, that desire to make things better is a reflection of the very purpose God created man to accomplish: to work the garden and keep it [holy] - in other words, to expand God's image into all of creation. So the Israelite's desire for a broader menu wasn't wrong in and of itself. But be careful with your God given appetite! While it's not wrong to be driven by it towards godly pursuits, it can quickly usurp total control of your life. Starting with Eve, who saw that the fruit of the tree was good and desirable , our appetites have been at the root of nearly every sin since. The ironic thing is that these Israelites were being brought through the wilderness into a land flowing with milk and honey - in other words, a place where their appetites could be satisfied in the most abundant ways possible as they pursued all that God had in store there for them. The manna God had provided was never meant to be a permanent solution. Their natural appetite for better things was meant to help push them forward. But instead their appetites drew them backwards, to the mediocre, yet diverse diet they'd been fed in their slavery. It caused them to complain (or murmur, as the older translations put it). They wanted full satisfaction in the wilderness. You need to learn from them. Don't be controlled by your appetite's desires for good things here and now, let it drive you forward to the unspeakable bounty God has promised you in the world to come. Forget what is behind, and strain towards what is ahead: the prize for which God has called you heavenward in Christ Jesus. AAA Prayer (About) A CKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS : Our Father, whose arm is not too short to provide for all of our needs; A LIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that your appetite will drive you forward to the prize God has for you in Christ; A SK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:

Find out why you're welcome to stand in the LORD's holy place. Faithlife.com Psalm 24 (ESV) A Psalm of David.       1 The earth is the L ORD ’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein,       2  for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.       3  Who shall ascend the hill of the L ORD ? And who shall stand in his holy place?       4  He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully.       5  He will receive blessing from the L ORD and righteousness from the God of his salvation.       6  Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah         7  Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.       8   Who is this King of glory? The L ORD , strong and mighty, the L ORD , mighty in battle!       9  Lift up your heads, O gates! And lift them up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.       10   Who is this King of glory? The L ORD of hosts, he is the King of glory! Selah Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 46 Q. What do you mean by saying, “Jesus ascended to heaven”? A. That Christ, while his disciples watched, was lifted up from the earth to heaven and will be there for our good until he comes again to judge the living and the dead. Summary A psalm shouldn't have to begin the way Psalm 24 does - with a statement of basic truth that ought to just go without saying. Of course the earth is the LORD's, as well as everything in it! But as most of us read this psalm on a Friday, it's exactly what we need to be reminded of. After working hard this past week in a effort to increase our grip little by little on what we try to stuff into our own pockets, we need to know that none of it is really ours. All of it - the world and all who live in it - belong to the One who founded and established it. It's also good to read this as we begin to prepare ourselves for the upcoming Lord's Day. In a sense, this is what we do as we assemble with the saints in the Lord's house - we ascend the mountain to stand in His holy place. For we know it's there that we'll receive blessing from God. But Psalm 24 also gives us an ugly reminder as David answers his own question. The only ones qualified to ascend this mountain are those who have clean hands and a pure heart. We've spent the last week skimming through the book of Leviticus , which spells out in great detail exactly what kind of cleanliness and purity the LORD demands. And the more we read God's Law - His covenant terms and conditions - the more it becomes clear that we're anything but clean and pure. Who may ascend the mountain of the LORD? Certainly not us! But this is the wonderful good news of the Bible! You have a scapegoat who carried your sins away, having atoned (paid) for them with His own blood. In their place, He's given you His own perfectly clean hands and pure heart. Because of this, you're not only welcome in God's holy place this Sunday, but it's where you'll spend eternity, because you've been vindicated by God your Savior.   Dig Deeper   Psalm 24 ends with a poetic recitation of the strong and mighty King returning to His city after being mighty in battle and securing victory for His people. He is the One whose hands are clean and heart is pure, and so the city gates are lifted up so that the King of glory may come in. This scene is so glorious that David repeats it, with the second rendition only slightly expanded from the first. But this picture of victory isn't just hopeful fiction. David here, inspired by the Holy Spirit, narrates an event that would take place over millennia after David wrote these words - an event that the disciples would see the beginning of, but then wonder what happened as Jesus ascended and a cloud hid Him from their sight as they looked intently up into the sky ( Acts 1:9-10 ). Psalm 24 captures what happened on the other side of that cloud! Jesus' triumphal entry into the lifted gates of heaven wasn't His first triumphal entry. We'll be celebrating Palm Sunday soon, where Jesus was received into Jerusalem before a cheering crowd who echoed the second question in David's psalm: who is this King of Glory? Matthew 21:10-11 10  When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” 11  The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.” Psalm 24:10 - Who is He, this King of Glory? The LORD Almighty - He is the King of Glory! One of the New Testament's favorite description for Christians is a person who is in Christ. So as Christ victoriously ascends the mountain of the LORD to stand in His holy place, you went right on in with Him! AAA Prayer (About) A CKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS : Our Father, the Triune God, the LORD Almighty - He is the King of Glory! A LIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Thank God for bringing you into His holy presence in Christ, and pray that you'll make going into His presence here on earth to receive a blessing a priority as you look forward to the Lord's Day; A SK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:

How do we know what OT laws to keep or set aside? Image Credit: Ivan Bandura via Unsplash Leviticus 19:1–18 (NIV) 19 The L ORD said to Moses, 2   “Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: ‘Be holy because I, the L ORD  your God, am holy. 3   “ ‘Each of you must respect your mother and father, and you must observe my Sabbaths. I am the L ORD  your God. 4  “ ‘Do not turn to idols or make metal gods for yourselves. I am the L ORD  your God. 5   “ ‘When you sacrifice a fellowship offering to the L ORD , sacrifice it in such a way that it will be accepted on your behalf. 6  It shall be eaten on the day you sacrifice it or on the next day; anything left over until the third day must be burned up. 7   If any of it is eaten on the third day, it is impure and will not be accepted. 8   Whoever eats it will be held responsible because they have desecrated what is holy to the L ORD ; they must be cut off from their people. 9   “ ‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. 10  Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the L ORD your God. 11  “ ‘Do not steal. “ ‘Do not lie. “ ‘Do not deceive one another. 12  “ ‘Do not swear falsely by my name and so profane the name of your God. I am the L ORD . 13  “ ‘Do not defraud or rob your neighbor. “ ‘Do not hold back the wages of a hired worker overnight. 14  “ ‘Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God. I am the L ORD . 15  “ ‘Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly. 16  “ ‘Do not go about spreading slander among your people. “ ‘Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life. I am the L ORD . 17  “ ‘Do not hate a fellow Israelite in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in their guilt. 18  “ ‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the L ORD . Belgic Confession Article 25: The Fulfillment of the Law We believe that the ceremonies and symbols of the law have ended with the coming of Christ, and that all foreshadowings have come to an end, so that the use of them ought to be abolished among Christians. Yet the truth and substance of these things remain for us in Jesus Christ, in whom they have been fulfilled. Nevertheless, we continue to use the witnesses drawn from the law and prophets to confirm us in the gospel and to regulate our lives with full integrity for the glory of God, according to his will. Summary We probably could have picked any of the remaining chapters of Leviticus to dive into today, for they're all quite similar to one another. But here in this 19th chapter, the LORD makes clear why it is that He has so many laws for His people: Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy . Here's how one Hebrew dictionary defines what it means for a person to be holy: Being unique and pure in the sense of superior moral qualities and possessing certain essential divine qualities in contrast with what is human. It's not surprising to see words like pure and moral in that definition - especially the way that morality is framed: that it's superior. This is the way holiness is often caricatured in our society - as viewing your own ethical choices as being better than those around you. But if everyone is their own judge and definer of what holiness is, then everybody will naturally see their own morality as superior. This is why it's so critical to understand the second component of this definition - that holiness involves possessing certain essential divine qualities. In other words, your morality must be patterned after God's. Not only must your choices reflect what God has defined as good and right, but the way you enact those choices must embody God's character: His love, mercy, justice, and goodness.   Dig Deeper   It can be hard to read from books like Leviticus because it can seem so... so irrelevant. After all, when's the last time you've heard of somebody who was cut off from their people because they ate leftovers more than three days old? And it doesn't really make sense to not harvest our land to the very edges of our field. The poor and foreigners aren't going to come to glean our corn and beans! Our Confession can bring some clarity here. Some of the particular aspects of the Old Testament Law are no longer binding on Christians, but the truth and substance of these things remain. God's Law can often categorized. Some of it is applicable to the civil realm. Many of these laws were designed for a particular people in a particular place at a particular time, not for universal application. Much of God's Law had a ceremonial aspect to it, which, as the Confession describes it, symbolized and foreshadowed the coming of Christ. Since Christ has come, the use of them ought to be abolished among Christians . But even civil and ceremonial laws have moral components. We need not leave a couple of rows of corn standing on the edge of our field, but our society must maintain a strong social safety net. And so many of the Law's provisions are completely in the moral category and very much still applicable: Do not steal, lie, deceive, defraud, curse, pervert justice, spread slander, or hold back wages. Categorizing God's Law isn't always easy, and often times good Christians will come to very different conclusions about how an Old Testament law applies to us still or doesn't. But remember, our motivation isn't to check off boxes or just stay legal. Our motivation is to look as much like God as we can. We must be holy, because the LORD our God is holy. And such a lifestyle will always " contrast with what is human." AAA Prayer (About) A CKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS : Our Father, the LORD, who is holy; A LIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Thank God for giving us His Law, and pray for the wisdom to properly live it out in holiness; A SK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:

Your salvation can be explained by two goats. SINCE WE LAST LEFT OFF... After the account of Aaron's sons offering 'strange' fire to the LORD and losing their lives, the intervening chapters are filled with regulations meant to protect public health for this community in the wilderness. Leviticus 16:1–10 (NIV) 16 The L ORD  spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron who died when they approached the L ORD . 2  The L ORD  said to Moses: “Tell your brother Aaron that he is not to come whenever he chooses into the Most Holy Place behind the curtain in front of the atonement cover on the ark, or else he will die. For I will appear in the cloud over the atonement cover. 3  “This is how Aaron is to enter the Most Holy Place: He must first bring a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. 4  He is to put on the sacred linen tunic, with linen undergarments next to his body; he is to tie the linen sash around him and put on the linen turban. These are sacred garments; so he must bathe himself with water before he puts them on. 5  From the Israelite community he is to take two male goats for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. 6   “Aaron is to offer the bull for his own sin offering to make atonement for himself and his household. 7  Then he is to take the two goats and present them before the L ORD  at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 8   He is to cast lots for the two goats—one lot for the L ORD  and the other for the scapegoat.  9   Aaron shall bring the goat whose lot falls to the L ORD  and sacrifice it for a sin offering. 10  But the goat chosen by lot as the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the L ORD  to be used for making atonement by sending it into the wilderness as a scapegoat. -- 21  He is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites—all their sins—and put them on the goat’s head. He shall send the goat away into the wilderness in the care of someone appointed for the task. 22  The goat will carry on itself all their sins to a remote place; and the man shall release it in the wilderness. -- 34  “This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: Atonement is to be made once a year for all the sins of the Israelites.” And it was done, as the L ORD commanded Moses. Canons of Dordt The Second Main Point of Doctrine Christ’s Death and Human Redemption Through It Article 1: God is not only supremely merciful, but also supremely just. His justice requires (as he has revealed himself in the Word) that the sins we have committed against his infinite majesty be punished with both temporal and eternal punishments, of soul as well as body. We cannot escape these punishments unless satisfaction is given to God’s justice. Article 2: Since, however, we ourselves cannot give this satisfaction or deliver ourselves from God’s anger, God in his boundless mercy has given us as a guarantee his only begotten Son, who was made to be sin and a curse for us, in our place, on the cross, in order that he might give satisfaction for us. Summary Even though there are five chapters between the death of Aaron's sons and today's passage, the events we read about today happened right after Nadab and Abihu were consumed by fire from the LORD for worshipping Him differently than the LORD had commanded. So it makes sense that today's passage begins with a warning from the LORD: Tell Aaron not to come whenever he chooses into the Most Holy Place... or else he will die. Leviticus is so quickly skipped over by many Christians because of it's tedious content - paragraph after long paragraph detailing every facet of how God's people were to live. What gets missed when we skip over Leviticus, however, is that all of these rules and regulations were tied to holiness. Israel was to look, act, eat, and even groom themselves differently because they were God's holy people - a word that means different, literally, cut apart from the rest of the world. But no amount of rule keeping would be sufficient. None of the people - even the holiest of them - could enter in to the direct presence of the LORD, who appeared in the cloud over the atonement cover of the Ark of the Covenant (other translations render the term atonement cover as mercy seat ). Though God dwelled amongst His people, His holiness kept Him separated from them, except for this one day a year, which in Hebrew is called Yom Kippur , translated as the Day of Atonement. The LORD gave very specific instructions for when and how this meeting could take place (we only read the first 10 verses; the chapter goes on for 24 more verses with these details). The chapter ends with these succinct words: And it was done, as the LORD commanded. After seeing what had happened to his sons, Aaron had very good incentive to make sure he covered ever step and added nothing of his own creation.   Dig Deeper   All of this seems so odd to us as we read it from our side of the cross. Because we've been justified, we not only have peace with God , but we've gained access to Him ( Romans 5:1 ). We can come into God's presence - our Father's presence - any time we'd like! In fact, we're not just invited to do so, but we're commanded to do so, especially as He calls us into His house to worship Him on the LORD's day. So it's good to be reminded in books like Leviticus of the holiness that being in God's presence requires, and how impossibly unattainable that holiness is for us on our own. But it's even better to have the all important concept of atonement pictured for us by two goats. One of the goats would serve as a payment, which is what the word atonement ultimately means, and it would make that payment with it's life. It was to make the payment for sin - sin the goat itself was innocent of - as it was sacrificed for a sin offering. The other goat - the scapegoat - was to be used for making atonement by sending it into the wilderness. Aaron was to lay his hands upon the live goat and confess over it all the sins of Israel and put them on the goat's head. He shall then send the goat - carrying the people's sins as their substitute - into the wilderness. The work of both of these goats was fulfilled by our Savior, Jesus Christ. He is your substitute, having taken on all of your sin. He atoned for that sin with His precious blood, and then took that sin away from you as far as the east is from the west ( Psalm 103 ) so that you would be made holy - able to be in the presence of our God and Father. AAA Prayer (About) A CKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS : Our Father, the LORD, who is holy; A LIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that you better understand the cost required to make you holy; A SK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:

God takes our worship seriously. Deadly serious. Alittleperspective.com SINCE WE LAST LEFT OFF... There's been page after page, chapter after chapter of very specific instructions for how to properly make the prescribed sacrifices and offerings to the LORD. Leviticus 8:1-9 & 10:1-7 8 The L ORD  said to Moses, 2   “Bring Aaron and his sons, their garments, the anointing oil, the bull for the sin offering,  the two rams and the basket containing bread made without yeast, 3   and gather the entire assembly at the entrance to the tent of meeting.” 4  Moses did as the L ORD  commanded him, and the assembly gathered at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 5  Moses said to the assembly, “This is what the L ORD  has commanded to be done.” 6  Then Moses brought Aaron and his sons forward and washed them with water. 7   He put the tunic on Aaron, tied the sash around him, clothed him with the robe and put the ephod on him. He also fastened the ephod with a decorative waistband, which he tied around him. 8   He placed the breastpiece on him and put the Urim and Thummim in the breastpiece. 9  Then he placed the turban on Aaron’s head and set the gold plate, the sacred emblem, on the front of it, as the L ORD  commanded Moses. -- 9:23  Moses and Aaron then went into the tent of meeting. When they came out, they blessed the people; and the glory of the L ORD  appeared to all the people. 24  Fire came out from the presence of the L ORD  and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar. And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown. 10 Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the L ORD , contrary to his command. 2   So fire came out from the presence of the L ORD  and consumed them, and they died before the L ORD . 3  Moses then said to Aaron, “This is what the L ORD  spoke of when he said: “ ‘Among those who approach me I will be proved holy; in the sight of all the people I will be honored.’ ” Aaron remained silent. 4  Moses summoned Mishael and Elzaphan, sons of Aaron’s uncle Uzziel, and said to them, “Come here; carry your cousins outside the camp, away from the front of the sanctuary.” 5   So they came and carried them, still in their tunics, outside the camp, as Moses ordered. 6   Then Moses said to Aaron and his sons Eleazar and Ithamar, “Do not let your hair become unkempt  and do not tear your clothes, or you will die and the LORD will be angry with the whole community. But your relatives, all the Israelites, may mourn for those the LORD has destroyed by fire. 7  Do not leave the entrance to the tent of meeting or you will die, because the L ORD 's anointing oil is on you.” So they did as Moses said. Belgic Confession Article 32 We reject all human innovations and all laws imposed on us, in our worship of God, which bind and force our consciences in any way. So we accept only what is proper to maintain harmony and unity and to keep all in obedience to God. Summary The opening verses of chapter 8 provide just a short sampling of the details God had handed down regarding how Israel was to worship Him. The short passage we read from it tells of the preparations being made for the ordination of Aaron and his sons, Nadab and Abihu - a service that would go on to last for seven days! Chapter 9 described the service itself and all went according to plan, culminating with a grand display of fire coming out from the presence of the LORD and consuming the massive burnt offering all at once, causing the people to shout for joy as the fell face down in worship . But then we get to chapter 10, and one of the most mysterious accounts in all of scripture. It's so mysterious because we are given so little background information regarding it. All we read is that Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu... offered unauthorized fire before the LORD. Most of the other Bible translations call it strange fire. One even uses the word illegitimate. What we don't know is whether they erred from ignorance, or if they were cleverly attempting to improve upon the instructions the LORD had given them. What we do know is that the two sons of Aaron paid dearly and instantly for their transgression. Once again fire came out from the presence of the LORD. But this time it was different than the crowd pleasing sight that it had just been. This time the LORD's fire consumed them, and they died before the LORD.   Dig Deeper   The Protestant Reformation is often associated with doctrines of salvation such as justification by grace alone, through faith alone, because of Christ alone. But it was just as much about reforming the Church's worship. Worship in the Roman Catholic Church had been corrupted with all sorts of unauthorized, strange and illegitimate practices, many of which had been implemented with good intentions (visual aids like statues and stained glass, meant to teach the Bible to illiterate people). But it didn't take long before the aesthetic add-ons became the central focus of worship as cathedrals become more and more grand. In response to these abuses, Reformed churches developed what has come to be known as the regulative principal of worship. It's best expressed in the Heidelberg Catechism: we will not worship God in any other way than He has commanded in His Word (QA 96). It means that we endeavor to do all that - and only that - which God has prescribed for His Church in the Bible. Way too many modern day churches - even some 'Reformed' ones - don't really have any sort of principle of worship. If it feels right, they just do it. And it may even be really sincere and seem so powerful, filling their auditoriums with people awed by it. But so often if disintegrates into what one author calls worshiptainment . Coming into the presence of our holy, Triune God is far simpler now than it was in Nadab and Abihu's day, since we enter into worship having been made holy by the blood of Christ. But learn from their cautionary tale, and worship God through the simple, ordinary means that He's instructed. God takes our worship seriously. Deadly serious. AAA Prayer (About) A CKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS : Our Father, the LORD, who has commanded His people to worship Him; A LIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that your worship would be holy and acceptable to the LORD; A SK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: