Don’t Impair Your Judgment

Today’s passage is Leviticus 10:8-20. With a humble heart, see what sticks out to you in this passage.  Is there a verse, a phrase, or a lesson you think the Holy Spirit may be highlighting for you in this passage?  After you’ve thought about the passage yourself a bit, read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go!

Leviticus 10:8-11 (NIV)
⁸  Then the LORD said to Aaron,
⁹  “You and your sons are not to drink wine or other fermented drink whenever you go into the Tent of Meeting, or you will die. This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come.
¹⁰  You must distinguish between the holy and the common, between the unclean and the clean,
¹¹  and you must teach the Israelites all the decrees the LORD has given them through Moses.”

On verses 8-11:  Why did God tell Aaron in verses 8-9 that he and his sons must not drink wine when they go to meet with Him in the Tent of Meeting?  It’s because as priests Aaron and his sons could not afford to have their judgment impaired by anything, including alcohol.  As worship leaders, they needed a clear mind to distinguish what God considered clean from what God considered unclean (verse 10).  As teachers of God’s decrees, they needed a clear mind to instruct the people wisely and effectively (verse 11).

In fact, yesterday in Leviticus 10:1-2, we read about a lapse in judgment by Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu.  Was that lapse of judgment because Nadab and Abihu were drunk on wine while they served in the worship service?  It’s not clear.

What’s the lesson here?  As priests in God’s kingdom, we must be self-controlled and alert.  We must not allow anything to impair our judgment when we’re making important decisions.  It’s for this reason the apostle Paul would say to his disciple Timothy, “keep a clear mind in every situation” (2 Timothy 4:5).  Elsewhere Paul says, “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery.  Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit.” (Ephesians 5:18)  What are some situations, substances or activities you need to be especially careful around so as not to allow your judgment to be impaired?

Leviticus 10:12-20 (NIV)
¹²  Moses said to Aaron and his remaining sons, Eleazar and Ithamar, “Take the grain offering left over from the offerings made to the LORD by fire and eat it prepared without yeast beside the altar, for it is most holy.
¹³  Eat it in a holy place, because it is your share and your sons’ share of the offerings made to the LORD by fire; for so I have been commanded.
¹⁴  But you and your sons and your daughters may eat the breast that was waved and the thigh that was presented. Eat them in a ceremonially clean place; they have been given to you and your children as your share of the Israelites’ fellowship offerings.
¹⁵  The thigh that was presented and the breast that was waved must be brought with the fat portions of the offerings made by fire, to be waved before the LORD as a wave offering. This will be the regular share for you and your children, as the LORD has commanded.”
¹⁶  When Moses inquired about the goat of the sin offering and found that it had been burned up, he was angry with Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s remaining sons, and asked,
¹⁷  “Why didn’t you eat the sin offering in the sanctuary area? It is most holy; it was given to you to take away the guilt of the community by making atonement for them before the LORD.
¹⁸  Since its blood was not taken into the Holy Place, you should have eaten the goat in the sanctuary area, as I commanded.”
¹⁹  Aaron replied to Moses, “Today they sacrificed their sin offering and their burnt offering before the LORD, but such things as this have happened to me. Would the LORD have been pleased if I had eaten the sin offering today?”
²⁰  When Moses heard this, he was satisfied.

On verses 12-20:  Moses notices that Aaron and his sons did not eat the leftover meat from the sin offering, even though they were required to eat it according to the law (Lev 6:26).  Aaron explains that he did not think it was appropriate for him to eat the meat considering the death of his sons Nadab and Abihu (v19).  When Moses hears Aaron’s response, he is satisfied and does not press the issue further.  This suggests to me that God, whom Moses represents, is compassionate toward those who are hurting and who have lost people who are dear to them.  As the church we should exercise the same kind of compassion as well for those who are hurting.

Heavenly Father, I pray that I would not let any situation or substance impair my ability to make important decisions.  Thank You for being a compassionate God to those who are hurting. May I see the people around with similar eyes of compassion.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN!