In this episode we continue studying the book of Leviticus. In this episode, Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu offer strange fire before the Lord and they are slain by the Lord before the sanctuary.

After they were slain, the Lord gave a commandment, that priests could not drink wine or strong drink when they go into the tabernacle.

Here’s the text:

Leviticus 10:9 Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations:

So apparently, Nadab and Abihu were drunk and attempted to make sacrifices on behalf of the people.

And God said, he was to be glorified before the people.They were to serve Him with a reverent and respectful spirit. And of course that couldn’t happen if they were drunk. They were sanctified and holy men, called to perform their duties with excellence and dignity.

We note that God did not say, the priests couldn’t drink wine or strong drink but said they couldn’t drink wine or strong drink and go into the tabernacle or they would die. And this was a perpetual statute.

God was not and is not against people drinking if it is done in decency and in order. When they held one of the feasts noted in Deuteronomy chapter 14 verse 26, God said, they could have wine or strong drink another word for liquor.

Here's the text:

Deuteronomy 14:26 And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there before the LORD thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household,

Deuteronomy 14:27 And the Levite that is within thy gates; thou shalt not forsake him; for he hath no part nor inheritance with thee.

Jesus turned water into wine at a wedding for his first miracle.

So we can’t say God is against drinking but he is against his people getting drunk and harming others, he is against people getting drunk and dishonoring his name and his house.

So he says, in Isaiah chapter 5 starting at verse 11.

Isaiah 5:11 Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!

Isaiah 5:12 And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the LORD, neither consider the operation of his hands.

Isaiah 5:13 Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge: and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst.

Isaiah 5:14 Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it.

Isaiah 5:15 And the mean man shall be brought down, and the mighty man shall be humbled, and the eyes of the lofty shall be humbled:

Isaiah 5:16 But the LORD of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, and God that is holy shall be sanctified in righteousness.

After making a perpetual commandment, that those who serve him cannot go into the tabernacle, after drinking wine or strong drink; God told them, they had to learn the difference between holy and unholy, clean and unclean.

And this would be done by teaching them his statutes. As the people were called to be Holy in the Old Testament, we are called to be Holy in the New Testament.

Peter reminds us to be holy because God is holy, in 1 Peter chapter 1 starting at verse 13. Here’s the text:

1Peter 1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

1Peter 1:14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:

1Peter 1:15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

1Peter 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

1Peter 1:17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:

1Peter 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

1Peter 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

1Peter 1:20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

1Peter 1:21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

1Peter 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

1Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

1Peter 1:24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:

1Peter 1:25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.