In Leviticus 10, a couple of very promising young priests were suddenly killed. These two young men were Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu. They had been consecrated to the ministry (ch. 8). They had actually feasted with Moses, Aaron and the 70 elders of Israel in the presence of the LORD (Ex. 24). They were in line to be high priest in the place of their father someday. But they “offered profane fire before the LORD” in Leviticus 10 and God struck them dead. What happened? Why did God take such drastic actions? What is “profane” fire?
Having been consecrated to the priesthood, these two young men apparently decided to offer worship to the Lord on their terms, not God’s. They used the censors they were supposed to use and they offered incense in the place they were supposed to offer it, but the offering was “profane” – common, not holy to the LORD. They worshipped, but not according to God’s commands.
God is the author of worship, not us. God has described what worship should look like and commanded us to offer our worship in certain ways. We don’t decide what worship looks like; God decides. He is a holy God, and He will be worshipped in a holy manner. “By those who will come near Me, I must be regarded as holy…” (Lev. 10:3)