Rob's Expository Sermon Preparation | Leviticus 10:1–7 (2)

Introduction:

· Your first day on the job – and theirs

· Understanding stories like this – ask: “Why is this story included?”

WHAT DOES THIS SHOW US ABOUT…

I) The Nature of Sin

A. Sin is our failure to honor God’s Word (vs. 1)

i. The setting: Triumph and tragedy in Israel’s worship

1. A connection to the previous chapter & the joy of God’s presence

2. But the joy turns to shock (& silence) as 2 out of 5 priests are killed

ii. Theories about what went wrong

1. Rookie mistake? The wrong kind of fire? Drunkenness? (vv. 8-9)

2. Slow motion: N&A disobeyed God’s commands (see chs. 8-9)

iii. A danger for us:

1. A generation of reshaping God àdownplaying obedience to God

2. EXAMPLE: “Throuples Are About to Put Love Triangles out of business”

B. Sin is approaching God in our own terms

i. The second part: Looking behind the curtain

1. N&A went into the MHP without authorization (see Lev. 16:2)

Leviticus 16:2 ESV

and the Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron your brother not to come at any time into the Holy Place inside the veil, before the mercy seat that is on the ark, so that he may not die. For I will appear in the cloud over the mercy seat.

2. No one dared approach a king without authorization (see Est. 4:11)

Esther 4:11 ESV

“All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that if any man or woman goes to the king inside the inner court without being called, there is but one law—to be put to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter so that he may live. But as for me, I have not been called to come in to the king these thirty days.”

ii. Sin is approaching God on our own terms

1. Hypocrisy is approaching God

2. Presuming a relationship with God apart from Christ

Transition:

II) God’s Response to Sin

A. God destroys that which is sinful

i. The holiness of God destroys that which is sinful

1. The nature of God: “A consuming fire” (Deut. 4:24)

Deuteronomy 4:24 ESV

For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.

2. God doesn’t just “send” fire, he IS fire: His nature makes no room for evil

ii. God’s Dealings with Sin:

1. The same fire that consumed the offering, now consumes priests (9:24)

2. The message is that God will either accept an offering, or destroy the sin

B. God will uphold the glory of his name

i. God will preserve his glory through the means of mercy he offers… (vs. 3)

1. God’s undeserved grace for sinners is reason for praising God’s name

2. EXAMPLE:

ii. …Or he will elicit worship on account of his justice that he displays

1. But, God’s justice will also make him worthy of praise (Ps. 51:4)

Psalm 51:4 ESV

Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.

2. Aaron’s silence likely indicates acceptance of God’s judgment (vs. 3)

Transition:

III) God’s Remedy for Sin

A. God is committed to providing priests for His people

i. How may we worship without fear?

1. Is God’s character a threat to us today when our worship isn’t sincere?

2. If you came to church today – and your heart isn’t in it;

ii. The fall…and rise of the priesthood that points to God’s provision

1. The priesthood appears threatened; will God’s presence be lost?

2. God graciously preserves the priestly line that will mediate his presence

B. God gives us the perfect priest that we need

i. Jesus our perfect priest enters God’s presence – and is destroyed

1. Jesus was a priest without flaw, who alone was worthy to enter God’s presence

2. Yet, the wrath of God breaks out against Jesus to bring him to death

3. There at the crosss, the mercy of God is made manifest, while the justice of God is satisfied – so that God’s name WILL be made great among the nations

ii. Jesus our perfect priest guarantees that we may worship without fear

1. Therefore: We worship God with reverence and awe

2. Therefore: We worship God confident that our priest has taoned once and for all, for our sin

Transition:

Conclusion

asd