sunday
JULY 24
In Deuteronomy 33, Moses invokes God’s blessings upon Israel, tribe by tribe. He then underscores that “ ‘happy are you, O Israel! . . . A people saved by the Lord’ ” (verse 29, NKJV). Indeed, these verses were meant to kindle confidence and hope in the people. If they identified themselves with the Lord, they would reap blessings and joy. The truest form of worship that brings happiness to the worshiper consists of acknowledging God as one’s Creator, Sustainer, Redeemer, and Lord.
Not Just Any Lifestyle (Leviticus 9; 10:1–11; Isa. 5:20, 21)
Because Nadab and Abihu made a sacrifice with ordinary fire that had not been taken from the altar of burnt offering as the Lord had instructed, they died immediately. They lost their lives because they were “wise in their own eyes,” calling good that which was actually evil (see Isaiah 5:20, 21, NIV).
Why couldn’t Nadab and Abihu distinguish that which was evil from that which was good, that which the Lord had commanded them to use? First of all, they “had not in their youth been trained to habits of self-control.”1
Their inclinations dominated God’s principles and commands until they could no longer recognize the importance of obeying Him. Second, the command God gave to Aaron and his remaining sons not to drink wine or strong drink before entering the sanctuary (Lev. 10:9) suggests that Nadab and Abihu offered unconsecrated fire because they had become drunk with strong drink beforehand.2 The wine had impaired their judgment of right and wrong, their ability to differentiate between that which was holy and that which was common.
Thus we learn that how we live our daily lives influences how we worship God. Nadab and Abihu teach us that our days must be occupied with conscious regard to His statutes, irrespective of where we find ourselves. Christians cannot indulge in just any lifestyle. All that they do must glorify God (1 Cor. 10:31).
Obedience or Sacrifice? (1 Samuel 1; 15)
Instead of obeying God, Saul had allowed himself to be consumed by presumption and self-interest. He made a burnt offering when he was instructed not to do so. He also greatly desired that the people of Israel should have confidence in him. He even would have sacrificed his son to secure himself as king, if no intervention had been made (1 Samuel 13; 14). He was, however, spared by God and given another commission—destroy the Amalekites. Yet even in this, by reserving some animals and sparing Agag, Saul disobeyed God. Although his excuse for doing so might have been reasonable, he still went against God’s orders; and God made it clear that Saul’s action had upset Him (1 Sam. 15:10, 11). The inspired words of Samuel underscore that obedience to God is as connected to worship as the head is connected to the body (verses 22, 23).
Even today, our loving Father does not “ ‘delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying’ ” His voice (verse 22, NIV). Thus, obedience to God and satisfying Him first in all things should be appreciated as a core element of worship. Unconditional obedience should, however, be a response to God’s love instead of a response to fear of punishment. Jesus says, “ ‘If you love Me, keep My commandments’ ” (John 14:15, NKJV).
Obedience to God in worship is evidence of trusting in Him. As Hannah went away in peace with Eli’s blessing, she was no longer distressed. That she trusted God is evident in her worship of Him. She returned home with His blessing, and He honored her with her request for a son, because “ ‘those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me shall be disdained’ ” (1 Sam. 2:30, NIV).
Face It Now or Later (Rev. 20:7–10)
Our exact duty is unequivocally outlined by King Solomon: “Fear God, and keep his commandments for that is the whole duty of everyone” (Eccles. 12:13, NRSV). A similar statement is found in Revelation 14:7: “ ‘Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come.Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water’ ” (NIV). The judgment will separate the wheat from the chaff; but if our worship is not based on obedience to God, if we do not differentiate between that which He has commanded and that which He has not, we will be identified with those who are consumed by the fire of Revelation 20:9. Of those who would be obedient and sincere in worshiping God, it shall be said, “Happy are you, O Israel.”
REACT
1. How might your lifestyle be affecting your judgment of what is good and what is bad? As you consider your answer, think about what you watch on TV, the type of friends you have, the Web sites you visit, and so on.
2. What daily resolutions would help you to better worship God in obedience?
3. Think of a time when you called good that which was really evil. What happened as a result? What made you change your mind?
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1. Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 360.
2. The SDA Bible Commentary, 2nd ed., vol. 1, p. 749.
Written by:Silas Owusu-Nkwantabisah, College Park, Maryland, U.S.A.
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