Again in today’s Text, what God has called “good,” man has soiled with his disobedience or presumption or some other form of sin! This also happened at Eden, if you remember. And the ante-diluvian civilization acted no better! And so forth … throughout world history.

I am speaking of the momentous event that occurred the beginning of Leviticus chapter 10…

“And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.” Leviticus 10:1-2, just the first two verses.

Aaron just lost two of his four sons!

It is not as if they had not been warned, either. Exodus 19:22 … “And let the priests also, which come near to the LORD, sanctify themselves, lest the LORD break forth upon them.”

Wow!

Oh, again we see the seriousness of not reverencing God’s “Call” to His Holy Service/Ministry!

“Nadab, ” the name means “generous.” And “Abihu” translates “He is my Father.” Both were born into positions of great honor, being sons of Israel’s first High Priest. Both had seen the Glory of God on the Mountain, Exodus 24:1 seems to indicate.

Yet … somehow … they sinned against the Lord, egregiously.

Perhaps they took “their own” censers (pans that can hold fire, hot coals) and approached the Lord … instead of the properly anointed censers God has recently ordained.

Perhaps they took their “fire” from the wrong source, not from the “Holy Fire” God had just miraculously sent to the brazen altar! (Leviticus 9:24 … “And there came a fire out from BEFORE THE LORD, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat.”)

Perhaps they went too far into the Holy Place, maybe even into the very Holy of Holies! “Before the Lord,” Moses recorded. Crass presumption at least!

Perhaps they just got “ahead” of God, rushing the Day of Atonement Rituals, stepping into their Father’s (the High Priest’s) shoes. Even after all God’s prior Warnings/Instructions!

Then again, based on a line or two from verse 9 of Leviticus 10, maybe these two men were intoxicated! Read this: “Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die:.” God commanding Aaron!

Or maybe their transgression included some of each of the foregoing mistakes!

Anyway … “There went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.” Verse 2, FIRE to kill disobedient priests, emanating from the MERCY SEAT Itself!

Wow!

A whole Batch/Series of Sermons could be preached from this singular (astounding) Event!

God killed Achan as a warning against theft!

God killed Uzzah as a warning against irreverence!

God killed Ananias and Sapphira as a warning against lying to the Holy Spirit!

And clearly, God killed Nadab and Abihu for their intrusion (when unqualified) into the August Presence of the Almighty!

God’s Holiness … a Serious Matter!

More tomorrow, the Lord willing.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Yes, often the Old Testament priests were the vehicle (mouthpiece anyway) for conveying God’s blessing(s) upon His people. Numbers 6:23 is specific, that whole paragraph in fact. “Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall BLESS the children of Israel, saying unto them, The LORD BLESS thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I WILL BLESS them.”

Wow!

But in our Text today, Leviticus chapter 9, at its very end (once the priests have been initially dedicated, cleansed, consecrated … along with the Tabernacle itself) Aaron (and Moses) were described as follows:

“And Aaron lifted up his hand toward the people, and BLESSED them, and came down from offering of the sin offering, and the burnt offering, and peace offerings. And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and BLESSED the people: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the people. And there came a fire out from before the LORD, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.” Verses 22-24, after blood sacrifice (in several forms) had been offered to God, obtaining His Pleasure, His Satisfaction.

Note that I have capitalized the verb “BLESSED” twice in the foregoing Text! Two times these men “blessed” God’s people, Israel, at God’s behest (better yet, at God’s command) in fact!

A double blessing, and too … a pair of acts that hold tremendous prophetic significance for the serious Bible student.

Let me show you …

Aaron (here at type of Christ) blesses the Jews after the shedding of Blood … then disappears into the Tabernacle! (Verse 22 and verse 23 … “And Aaron lifted up his hand toward the people, and blessed them, and came down from offering of the sin offering, and the burnt offering, and peace offerings. And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation.”)

This is a picture of Jesus (our Great High Priest) after shedding His Own Blood (Calvary) BLESSING His Disciples … then rising into the Heavens, into that glorious Heavenly Tabernacle!

Luke’s account of that Event, of Jesus Ascension: “And he (Jesus) led them (the Disciples) out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and BLESSED them. 51 And it came to pass, while he BLESSED them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.” Luke 24:50-51, priestly work, such blessing!

Wow!

Then immediately let’s go back to that second blessing mentioned in Leviticus 9, after Aaron came out of the Tabernacle. “And Moses and Aaron WENT INTO the tabernacle of the congregation, and (after a somewhat undetermined amount of time) CAME OUT, and BLESSED the people (again): and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the people. And there came a fire out from before the LORD, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.” Amazing!

A double blessing!

The second one being more glorious than even the first one!

The second one (clearly typical of Jesus’ Second Coming to His people, His Second Advent) … it also being accompanied God’s manifest Presence!

And Oh, how Jesus will bless His people (even to the point of saving Israel, that little Remnant) when He comes again, at the end of the Tribulation to set up His Millennial Kingdom!)

Wow!

Maybe that is why a lot of Bible Prophecy is Biblically called “blessed,” as in the “Blessed Hope!”

Praise the Lord!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Double Blessing!

Is not the Word of God amazing?

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It will be “granted” in today’s Lesson that “oil” in the Bible is often a symbol of the Holy Spirit of God.

Thus, when Aaron the High Priest of Israel was “ordained, dedicated” as the holder of that high and holy office … “Moses (directly obeying God) poured of the anointing OIL upon Aaron’s head, and anointed him, to sanctify him.” Leviticus 8:12

Psalm 133:1 recounts this scenario as well. “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious OINTMENT (OIL) upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments.”

First … the priest was washed in the “water” of the Word.

Next … he was soaked in the “oil” of the Holy Ghost!

Recently I saw a Book, the content of which centered on this very “coupling” … the Word of God and the Holy Spirit working together in a synergetic manner … empowering those who live for Jesus, and those who preach the Scriptures!

Jesus (“Christ” in fact means “The Anointed One”) was certainly so endowed! (In fact, our great High Priest, even at His Baptism, was filled with the Holy Spirit, visibly demonstrated as a Dove, descending from Heaven!)

John 3:34 says of Jesus and the Spirit: “For God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.” Unto Jesus, an immeasurable Anointing!

Other important things were done on that great Day of Consecration, to both Aaron and his sons. Detailed (but meaningful) ritual emphasizing the seriousness of their priestly service. I have here in today’s Lesson mentioned the two that have stood out in my mind.

The Word and the Spirit … when armed with Both, let us go forth to serve the Lord, let’s go preach the Greatest Book ever written!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

This is “olive oil” we have been discussing, not crude oil from the ground. Obtained by crushing the fruit of the olive tree. (Only when Jesus was “crushed” on Calvary did the Oil of the Holy Spirit fully flow, Pentecost!) John 7:39 … “The Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.”)

This is olive oil … that when applied “makes one’s face shine!” According to Psalm 104:15. The pleasant (almost visible) “glow” of the Spirit of God in one’s life.

This is olive oil … that provides “light” on those dark nights in ancient Israel, via little clay lamps!

This is olive oil that aids cooking, providing “food” for the hungry! And “taste” for the palate (the roof of the mouth) too.

This is olive oil that is used in “healing” (an antiseptic) wounds, sores! See Luke 10:34, the Parable of the Good Samaritan. “And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in OIL and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.”

Wow, there’s more!

But all of the foregoing uses typify the Holy Spirit in His marvelous Ministry with us yet today!

Ponder these two necessities … God’s WORD and God the HOLY SPIRIT … as you faithfully serve our Saviour!

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As both Aaron (the High Priest) and his sons (4 of them at the time of the writing of Leviticus 8) were ordained, consecrated, dedicated to serve the Lord, installed as priests of Israel … several actions were to be performed upon/unto them.

One (the first) of which was recorded as follows: “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments, and the anointing oil, and a bullock for the sin offering, and two rams, and a basket of unleavened bread; and gather thou all the congregation together unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And Moses did as the LORD commanded him; and the assembly was gathered together unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And Moses said unto the congregation, This is the thing which the LORD commanded to be done. 6 And Moses brought Aaron and his sons, and WASHED THEM WITH WATER.” Leviticus 8:1-6, note the capitalized (and underlined) clause.

We do not know the precise detail this “washing” involved, but their bodies were cleansed, nonetheless. But why? That is the question. Could they not have bathed at home, in their tents, prior to coming to the Tabernacle? (And maybe they did, even.)

This “washing” must teach some spiritual lesson, principle. More than simple (though important) physical hygiene.

And it does!

Any servant of God (be he Old Testament Priest or New Testament Pastor) must (essentially) be “washed“ in the water “of the Word of God!” Prior to his beginning his ministry! As an initial step!

Totally involved in the Word!

Cleansed by the Word!

Read Paul here in Ephesisns5:25-26 … “Christ loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the WASHING OF WATER by the WORD.”

Wow!

Psalm 119:9, a pertinent question asked and answered! “Wherewithal shall a young man CLEANSE his way? by taking heed thereto according to THY WORD.”

Now Jesus in John 15:3 … “Now ye are CLEAN THROUGH THE WORD which I have spoken unto you.”

The Word of God, typified by the Laver in the Old Testament Tabernacle, cleanses us from defilement. (Though only the Blood of Jesus washes away sin, mind you.)

And this is why, I strongly believe, these Priests (first of all) were publicly bathed (the “whole congregation” gathered around the door of the Tabernacle) … as a symbol of the purity God’s Word offers to bring to our lives.

The first necessity of any ministry … get “in” the Word of God! Maybe better said, get the Word of God “in” you!

The very Ark of the Covenant (also in the Tabernacle) housed three items, one of which was the “Tablets of Stone,” the written Word of God! And this Ark is (undoubtedly) a Picture of Jesus … God’s Son and our Saviour … Who had “in His very Being, His very Heart” … the Tablets of the good Word of God!

As I said … “in” the Word!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Preachers, this Lesson should be a real challenge to us all! To love God’s Word, and “meditate therein day and night!” To, as did the Bereans of old, “search the Scriptures daily.”

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On July 17 of this year (2019) we began a study of the Book of Leviticus. A Block of Scripture that holds far more pertinent information about our Lord Jesus than I ever imagined! Leviticus reveals the Heart of God the Father in amazing ways, too!

Today we are considering a fact, a truth, embedded (generally) in Leviticus chapter 8. I would like to compare the Typology behind the HIGH PRIEST and the other SONS OF AARON, who were also priests, mind you.

There was always just ONE High Priest holding Office. While there were MANY other priests aiding the work of the Tabernacle, the work of Worship, one might say.

“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Take AARON (the High Priest, singular) and HIS SONS (the other priests, plural) with him, and the garments, and the anointing oil, and a bullock for the sin offering, and two rams, and a basket of unleavened bread; and gather thou all the congregation together unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. “ Leviticus 8:1-3

My point today, quickly …

Aaron, then upon his death, his eldest surviving son (Eleazar) were the first two HIGH PRIESTS of ancient Israel. (Still keep in mind, only ONE of them at a time held that august office. Only Aaron until he died, then only Eleazar until he died.)

Now the Office of High Priest was (undoubtedly) a Picture of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Many Bible Verses validate that fact, that thought. Hebrews 9:11, for example … “But CHRIST BEING COME AN HIGH PRIEST of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle.”

“Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and HIGH PRIEST of our profession, CHRIST JESUS.” Hebrews 3:1

“Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.” Hebrews 4:14

And Jesus did not take this Title/Honor (High Priest) upon Himself, either! Hebrews 5:10 informs us that Jesus was: “Called of God (the Father) an HIGH PRIEST.” 

Yes, His Father made him Such, our great High Priest!

But now … what of the “sons of Aaron,” the number of whom grew as the years progressed. They are not specifically (even as a group) a “type” of Christ, nearly as much as they are a “picture/symbol” of those of us who are believers in the Lord Jesus Christ!

We are priests!

How so?

Revelation 1:5-6 tells us that Jesus has made us … “PRIESTS (plural) unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”

Wow!

Even Revelation 20:6 sheds light here. “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but THEY SHALL BE PRIESTS of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.”

I am discussing the “priesthood” of every true (born-again) believer today!

Peter writes of us: “But ye are a chosen generation, A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.” 1 Peter 2:9, again written to Christians.

And as priests, we today can do what no Old Testament believer (Jew or converted Gentile) could do … approach the very Mercy Seat of Almighty God! Approach His Very Throne!

We are, in fact, invited there! “Let us therefore come boldly unto the THRONE OF GRACE, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16

This Paragraph might say it better. Hebrews 10:19-22 …“Having therefore, brethren, boldness to ENTER INTO THE HOLIEST BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS, 20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21 And having an high priest over the house of God; 22 LET US DRAW NEAR with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.”

Wow again!

Yes, along the very lines of the “sons of Aaron,” we too are “priests” unto our great God! Because of the incorruptible Blood of our dear Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ!

THE HIGH PRIEST … JESUS!

The sons of Aaron, also priests, you and me as followers of Jesus, as Blood-washed Christians!

Hallelujah!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

That Jesus might always have the PREEMINENCE! Colossians 1:18 … “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.”

Amen!

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