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Numbers 3:4

The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 3:4

The Pulpit Commentary · Joseph S. Exell and contributors · Public domain

STRANGE FIRE

There are various kinds of fire used in the service of God which, if not as hateful in his sight as that offered by Nadab and Abihu, are "strange." There is a fire which is appropriate and acceptable, because kindled by God; all others are "strange fire, which he commanded not" (Le ). E.g.—

I. ILLEGITIMATE ZEAL, as seen in every kind of persecution (see ). Yet a writer on the origin of the Inquisition quotes the passage in justification of the burning of heretics: "Lo! fire the punishment of heretics, for the Samaritans were the heretics of those times" (Prescott's ‘Ferdinand and Isabella,' 1:319, n.). See . But let the zeal run in the path marked out for it by Christ towards enemies (), backsliders (), or heretics (, ).

II. UNAUTHORISED SERVICES; whether offered by unauthorized persons, as Korah, who yet had the true fire (chapter 16:17, 18), or Saul (), or Uzziah (.); or by God's servants, but in ways alien to his mind (Illus; Uzzah, , ; ). Such are the "voluntary humility" and "neglecting of the body" condemned in , and all similar austerities. The fire God approves must be presented by accepted worshippers in an appointed way.

III. SUPERSTITIOUS DEVOTIONS. These may be presented through Christ "the way," and yet marred by ignorant fears of God, or unworthy fancies, or errors intertwined with God's truth in the many ways known to ancient or modern superstition (; ).

IV. ARTIFICIAL EMOTION. We need never dread the emotion caused by God's own truth, used in legitimate ways. Truth is like solid fuel that ought to keep up a glowing heat, whether of alarm (; ) or of joy (). But emotion excited apart from the communication of appropriate truth may be disastrous; or at best like a blaze of straw, soon leaving only blackness and ashes. All such "strange fire" tends to the injury, or even the destruction, of the offerers (). To worship God in truth we must ourselves be "accepted in the beloved," enlightened by the Holy Spirit, and must present spiritual sacrifices kindled by his own celestial fire of love.—P.

HOMILIES BY D. YOUNG

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