This chapter continues from 1 Chr 23:1. David in his old age, prepared his house in order by first organizing the Levites before his son, Solomon succeeded him as the next king of Israel.

The names of Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamarfirst appear in Ex 6:23 as the four sons of Aaron. Nadab and Abihu were both were also singled out in Ex 24:1 together with Moses, Aaron their faither and the seventy elders of Israel. They climbed Mt Sinai and Ex 24:9 tells us that they met God. Then God called Moses to go further up the mountain to receive the two tablets of God’s Ten Commandments. In Ex 28:1, God also instituted the Levitical priesthood by first appointing Aaron and together with these four sons to serve Him as priests. In Exodus chapters 25-31, the instructions to build the tabernacle were given to Moses as well.

Lev 10:1-2 describes the turning point of Nadab and Abihu. They did not carry out the instruction of God concerning the duties of the Levites by offering unauthorized fire. God struck them and they died in the temple. This serves as a warning to the priests that come after them to prepare animal sacrifices and offer incenses according to the ways of God. God is holy. The priests are warned not to take the holiness of God for granted and treating it with contempt.

Thereafter, Zadok and Ahimelech served under David and performed the Levitical duties faithfully as their fathers, Eleazar and Ithamar did. These two priests were mentioned here to be involved with their king when David organised the duties of the Levites (v3). As the king of Israel, David also remembered the incident in 1 Chr 13 not to treat the holiness of God with contempt. David was not careful to appoint only Levites to transport the Ark of the Covenant. In trying to catch the ark when the oxen stumbled, Uzzah was struck dead before the presence of God and the eyes of David.

Dear brothers and sisters, God has made us His priests who can come before His holy presence as a virtue of what Christ has done for us. Though we do not have to take care of a physical temple, our body is now the temple of God and His Holy Spirit resides in us (1 Cor 3:16; 6:15). Therefore, in the same way, we are not to God’s holiness lightly. Peter exhorts us in 1 Pet 1:14-16, “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.””

Heb 12:14 (NIV) also tells us that, “Without holiness, no one shall see the Lord.” The ESV and other bible versions translate it in the context of Heb 12:12-17 (ESV) below. The writer of Hebrew exhorts us to live in peace with people around us as well to be sexually moral.

“Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.”

Prayer : Dear God, you are holy. Thank you for reminding us to be holy because you are holy. In all our relationships at home, at work, with friends and in church, may your Sprit guide and lead us to treat other people in the way that honors your holy name. This, I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.