Date: Tue, 21 Mar 1995 11:00:55 +0100
Reply-To: t.benschop@pobox.ruu.nl
Sender: Christian explanation of the Scriptures to Israel
From: Teus Benschop
Subject: The Scriptures opened, 23
Contents
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1. Weekly reading, Lev.10:1,2 - Strange fire
2. Psalm 141:2
3. New Testament, John 4:19-26 - The Samaritan woman
4. Books
1. Weekly reading, Lev.10:1,2 - Strange fire
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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.
What is happening here, in our text? The fire of the LORD went out, and
devoured Nadab and Abihu, sons of Aaron, and they died. God's fire killed
them. Why that? What have they done? They "offered strange fire before
the LORD"; that was their fault. What does that mean, strange fire? This
will be explained. Nadab and Abihu took either of them his censer, put
strange fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered that unto the
LORD. They took strange fire, but God had commanded that the fire had to
be taken from the ever-burning fire on the altar. That ever-burning fire
was God's fire. Nadab and Abihu however, took strange fire. That means,
they took not fire from the ever-burning fire, but from elsewhere. God
had commanded that the priest, when offering, had to take it from off the
altar, like is written: "And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a censer, and
put fire therein from off the altar, and put on incense, and go quickly
unto the congregation, and make an atonement for them." (Num.16:46) "And
he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar
before the LORD, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small."
(Lev.16:12) So, this priests were not accurate in their work, but took
(for whatever reason) strange fire. This was their fault, and therefore
they were killed by God's fire.
One may ask if this was such a great sin? The priest had done all
according God's commandment, except the origin of the fire. They took a
censer, used incense, and offered. Only the fire was strange. Is this
such a great sin? The answer will be this: Though is might seem a little
error in humans' eyes, yet, God judges otherwise. God does see it
otherwise. He is a holy God. He had given a clear command, but the
priests transgressed it. God does not tolerate that His service will be
defiled or neglected. That the priests took strange fire, and not exactly
followed God's commandments, show us that they did the service of God in
an unholy way. They thought that it was not necessary to do all so
precisely. Just some offering, and all was well, thought they. But let we
learn from this that God is holy, and that also we have to be holy. "I am
the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall
be holy; for I am holy." (Lev.11:44) God's people will be holy, for He is
holy.
Just in the beginning of the tabernacle-service, God showed that all
had to be done exactly according to His will. Human inventions were to be
rejected. When God had allowed this error, just in the beginning of the
service, where had been the end? When God allowed this error, more errors
would follow. The priest would forget that the tabernacle-service was
holy. Therefore, to remind the people of His holiness, God punished this
sinner.
Today, the tabernacle is not there, neither the temple. Is it possible
that we, in our times, do sins like that of Nadab and Abihu? Yes it is
possible, even without a temple. Some examples will show you that.
- When we use other ceremonies than God expressly has commanded, we do
the same sin. For example, God commanded that the people must be baptized
in the Name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. When some
people use other names, they sin, and will be devoured by God's fire,
either in this life or in the times hereafter.
- Another like sin is when some people use other offerings than God has
commanded. While the temple is destroyed now, the people have invented
their own offerings, instead of them. Praying and learning is the new
offering. They have invented that the new offerings have the same value
as the old, as the burnt-offerings for example. But we know that these
self-invented offerings are an abomination in the sight of God. He has
commanded to offer offerings according to His commandment, and not
according to our distorted will. You will answer: Yes, but we have no
temple, therefore we do it without the commanded offerings now. I know
it, nevertheless, we cannot be without offering. How must this be solved,
will you ask? The answer is that we now have the eternal offering of
Jesus Christ, Who offered Himself on the cross. Therefore, the old
offerings have ceased and the temple, while it has lost its function, is
destroyed. Rejecting the eternal offering of Jesus Christ will deprive
you of your offering, and also of your expiation of your sins. Rejecting
Christ is rejecting God's offering. See in the priests Nadab and Abihu
what will happen to the people who invent their own way of offering.
- Spoiling the purity of the worship of God is another like sin. Adding
something of ourselves unto the worship is the same as taking some
strange fire and offering by that. All things which are invented by
ourselves, are like strange fire. All what we do in the service of God,
must have a solid foundation in the Holy Writings, lest we add strange
fire.
2. Psalm 141:2
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Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of
my hands as the evening sacrifice.
A Psalm of David. This man says: LORD, I cry unto thee: make haste unto
me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee. He cries unto the LORD
his God, and asks if God will hear him. Therefore, he asks if his prayer
might be set forth before God as incense, and the lifting up of his hands
as the evening sacrifice. These offerings were pleasant in the eyes of
God, and David asks if also his prayer may please Him.
"Let my prayer be set forth" before thee. He says not: I set my prayer
before thee, but he uses the wishing voice: "let my prayer be set forth".
This shows us that David was not able to make his prayer pleasing God.
Therefore he asks if it might be done by someone who as able to do that.
He wishes it, but is not able to do it by himself. We see herein how we
have to pray unto God. Not in a self-assured manner, for we do not find
in the Scripture that godly men have prayed in that way. Only the ungodly
pray so. We ought not to pray proudly, but we must do it like David. "Let
my prayer be set forth before thee".
Let my prayer be set forth "before thee". David prayed not to some
man, but unto God. God, who dwells in the high, and looks down lowly.
When we pray, we will keep in mind that we pray unto God, which will give
us the necessary reverence. Not reverence as for a tyrant, but reverence
as for a high God. Yet, he takes notice of His chosen, and though He
lives in heaven, He comes unto us.
Let my prayer be set forth before thee "as incense". What does that
mean, that the prayer was as incense? David refers to the daily offering
of the incense. The smell of the incense was sweet before God, like is
written: "And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning."
(Exod.30:7) The burning of the incense was pleasant before God. David
asks if his prayer might be as pleasant in God's eyes as the burning of
the sweet incense. He asks therefore if God will hear him, like he also
had done in the first verse of this Psalm: "Make haste unto me; give ear
unto my voice, when I cry unto thee." (Ps.141:1)
"The lifting up of my hands" as the evening sacrifice. It was common
among the men to lift up their hands when praying unto God. The Word of
God contains many examples thereof. "I will lift up my hands in Thy
name." (Ps.63:4) Another example is there in the book Job: "If thou
prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him;" (Job 11:13)
This shows us what the lifting up of the hands means. It is like the
lifting up of one's heart unto God. The outward lifting up of the hands
shows the inward preparing of one's heart unto God. In great longing for
God, one stretches out his hands to Him. Compare this with an example of
the common life. A woman will stretch out her hands in longing for her
husband, her beloved. When she stands before him, she stretches out her
hands, and hangs on his neck. This clearly shows how much she longs for
her beloved man, to be with him. Likewise must it be in our prayers unto
God. With a great desire to be with God we will pray unto Him.
There are more examples in the Bible. "If we have forgotten the name of
our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange god;" (Ps.44:20) They
have not forgotten their own God, the LORD, neither have the stretched
out their hands to a strange god. Strange gods aren't worth the longing
of us. At this moment, a question will arise. How is it with us? Do we
stretch out our hands unto strange gods, or only unto the one God? Many
stretch out their hands to the worldly goods, in great desire to have
them. These are their strange gods. Some long not for God, but for a wife
or husband. They long to another, but not to God. These are the strange
gods, for God has said that He must have the first place in our lives.
Some stretch out their hands to the goods of their neighbour, and
embezzle them. These are the strange gods.
There are still more examples in the Scripture. Look unto Solomon, who
stretched out his hands: "And Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD
in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his
hands toward heaven." (1 Kin.8:22).
Let the lifting up of my hands be set forth before thee "as the
evening sacrifice". Each evening, the priest offered the evening
sacrifice, according to God's commandment: "The one lamb thou shalt offer
in the morning; and the other lamb thou shalt offer at even."
(Exod.29:39) Because the evening sacrifice was instituted by God, when
the priests did so, it was pleasant in the sight of God. David asks if
his prayer might be as pleasant as the evening sacrifices. In other
words, O God, let my prayer please Thee; hear my voice.
Both the incense and the evening sacrifices were valueless without
fire to burn it. David compares his prayer with the incense, and his
lifting up of the hands with the evening sacrifice. But, as we just said,
they were without any worth when there was not fire. Was David's prayer
his fire? No, for he compared it with the incense. Was his stretching out
of his hands the fire? No, for he compares it with the evening sacrifice.
So, we ask, where is the fire? Of course, we must take this in
comparison. The prayer was compared with the incense. Likewise we ask,
what could be compared with the fire? The fire of David's prayer was the
grace of God's Spirit. Without this grace, our prayers are but words,
cold and without any value. I think, reader, that you experience how cold
your prayers are. Therefore, God's fire is necessary. Ask for His grace.
The Jewish teaching is that now the prayers are the new offerings. The
service of the temple has ceased, and therefore God accepts our prayers
as the new sacrifices. This however is absolutely false. This teaching
cannot be derived from David's saying in our text. Though David says:
"let my prayer be set forth as incense", this does not mean: let my
prayer be instead of incense. Neither does the second part mean that the
lifting up of his hands come instead of the evening sacrifice. Saying
this is inventing something what the text not says. Let my prayer be "as"
incense, and the lifting up of my hands "as" the evening sacrifice. That
means, let my prayer be pleasant in God's eyes, like the offerings are.
Further, there is another reason why the prayers cannot come in the stead
of the sacrifices. When that had been the case, then the sacrifices had
to be stopped already in David's time. But we know that is was quite
otherwise. In David's times, the great temple of Solomon was still to be
built. So, the sacrifices were far from holding up in his time.
David's prayer needed the fire of God's Spirit, otherwise it could not
be set forth before the LORD as incense. Incense which is not burning has
not the sweet smell as burning incense has. Likewise, our prayers, sent
up unto God in our own power, that is, without fire, have no smell before
God. They are absolutely unacceptable before Him. The fire of the Holy
Spirit is necessary. Our prayers have to be done with a believing heart.
When we pray our prayers in own strength, then we use strange fire to let
them smell. Our prayers, done without belief, are a stench in God's nose.
The following will happen unto the users of strange fire, that is the
prayers in own strength: "And there went out fire from the LORD, and
devoured them, and they died before the LORD." (Lev.10:2)
Therefore, let us do like David the prophet, and say: Let my prayer be
set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the
evening sacrifice.
3. New Testament, John 4:19-26 - The Samaritan woman
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19 The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.
Jesus has just said to this Samaritan woman, that she has had five
husbands, and that her present husband was not hers. Therefore, she
answers: Sir, while Thou have said my wicked life, which Thou could not
know, therefore I perceive that Thou are a prophet. She knew well that
prophets know more than common people, for God does reveal some things
unto them. This woman was an adulterer, and Jesus knew her ungodly life.
Perhaps this woman shamed herself for her wicked life, and she quickly
changed the subject. She changed the talk from her evil life to a
religious question. She begins to speak about the place for worship.
20 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in
Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.
The Samaritans say that we ought to worship on this mountain, mount
Gerizim, but the Jews say that it must be done in Jerusalem. Say me,
which mountain is the true? Are we right, or the Jews?
21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye
shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the
Father.
Jesus says: Woman, believe me, the hour comes, but is not at this moment,
that the special place of worship is neither on this mount, nor at
Jerusalem. So, be no longer concerned about the place of worship.
22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation
is of the Jews.
This is Jesus aswer on her question: Where must we worship? Our fathers
said here, and the Jews say at Jerusalem. The answer is that the Jews are
right. The true religion was given to the Jews, not to the Samaritans.
The Jews knew what they worshipped, but the Samaritans worship what they
know not. Ye worship ye know not what. That is, you have not a clear,
expressed command for your worship on mount Gerizim. The Jews however,
have God's expressed command, that Jerusalem is the place where He must
be worshipped. The salvation is of the Jews. They have God's Word, which
describes the way of true salvation. The Samaritans, though having the
books of Moses, were yet later; the salvation is not of them.
23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall
worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such
to worship him.
Woman, be no longer concerned about the place, here or in Jerusalem. For
the hour comes, and even is now, that the true worshippers shall worship
the Father no longer using the special rites connected to the temple in
Jerusalem, but in spirit and in truth. Those are the people who the
Father seeks. Be concerned, not about the place where, but about the way
how.
24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in
spirit and in truth.
I just said that you ought to worship the Father in spririt and truth,
isn't it? Now, I'll say why. The reason is that God is a Spirit.
Therefore, He must be worshipped in Spirit and in truth. God is not
bodily. For when He was bodily, He would be connected to one place, here
or in Jerusalem. You, woman, have too low ideas about God. Just as if He
is a man, and can but be in one place at once. No, it is quite otherwise.
He is a Spirit, and fills the whole earth. He can be worshipped wherever
you are; but remember: in Spirit and truth.
25 The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is
called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.
I know that Messias comes. All problems, which we now have, will He
solve. When He is come, He will tell us all things.
26 Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.
Jesus says unto her: I that speak unto you am the Messiah, which is
called Christ. I will tell you all things, for therefore I am come. I
will tell you all things, namely those who are necessary for the true
religion, the salvation of people, and for the true worship of God. I
will tell you how to worship God, namely in Spirit and in truth. I told
you just that God is not so bodily as you thought, but that He is a
Spirit.
The woman went back unto the city, and said to the people: "Come, see a
man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?"
(John 4:29)
4. Books
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Stephen Charnock, The New Birth
This re-publication of Stephen Charnock's masterly study is of first-rate
importance. He explains what regeneration is, how it takes place, and why
it is so urgently necessary.
ISBN 0 85151 500 2
544 pp. Cloth-bound.
Price around $23,00.
Ordering: ask your local bookstore or reply this description to
chr-exp-request@nic.surfnet.nl - Your order will be forwarded to a
bookshop. When ordering by reply, include your full name, address, ZIP-
code and state and/or country.
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Chr-Exp, a Christian explanation of the Tanach and the New Testament
Editor: Teus Benschop - t.benschop@pobox.ruu.nl
No copyrights on this publication
Institution Practical Bible-education, the Netherlands
End of The Scriptures opened, 23
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