“Now the Lord spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they offered profane fire before the Lord, and died; 2 and the Lord said to Moses: “Tell Aaron your brother not to come at just any time into the Holy Place inside the veil, before the mercy seat which is on the ark, lest he die; for I will appear in the cloud above the mercy seat.3 “Thus Aaron shall come into the Holy Place: with the blood of a young bull as a sin offering, and of a ram as a burnt offering. 4 He shall put the holy linen tunic and the linen trousers on his body; he shall be girded with a linen sash, and with the linen turban he shall be attired. These are holy garments. Therefore he shall wash his body in water, and put them on. 5 And he shall take from the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats as a sin offering, and one ram as a burnt offering. 6 “Aaron shall offer the bull as a sin offering, which is for himself, and make atonement for himself and for his house. 7 He shall take the two goats and present them before the Lord at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. 8 Then Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats: one lot for the Lord and the other lot for the scapegoat. 9 And Aaron shall bring the goat on which the Lord’s lot fell, and offer it as a sin offering. 10 But the goat on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the Lord, to make atonement upon it, and to let it go as the scapegoat into the wilderness.” Leviticus 16:1-10
Lord God,
A terrible day. Two sons of Aaron had gone against what was set down as God’s orders for offering incense and though seemingly still doing a good thing, making an offering, had offended You. Disobedience. They died. Everyone would be shocked and grieving. You are not to be mocked and called it was said to be profane, not sacred or holy. You knew their actions and their hearts. It is a sombre warning.
Paul in the new testament warns us to consider ourselves before coming to worship and take bread and wine in what we call communion to remember Christs sacrifice. Some who have not have got sick or died. (1 Corinthians 11:29-30). Jesus, Your Son warned us not to bring our gifts to the alter if we hold any altercations with our brothers in our hearts (Matthew 5:23-24).
None of us can be good enough to come to You and that is why we celebrate communion and remember Your gift of holiness to us. It is a sombre warning to not become over familiar, but come humbly having done our best to thank You for keeping us holy. You know our weaknesses our failures. The things we struggle with and the things that can’t always be put right. Life can be confusing Father. But help us to come to Your throne daily and in communion services with open, honest hearts, just as we are, humbly for forgiveness and to find Your rest.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Tuesday 3rd February 2026
Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea:
A great High Priest whose name is Love,
Who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on his hands,
My name is written on his heart.
I know that while in Heav’n he stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart,
No tongue can bid me thence depart.
When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look and see him there,
Who made an end of all my sin.
Because the sinless Saviour died,
My sinful soul is counted free,
For God the just is satisfied
To look on him and pardon me,
To look on him and pardon me.
Behold him there, the risen Lamb,
My perfect, spotless righteousness,
The great unchangeable I AM,
The King of glory and of grace.
One with himself I cannot die;
My soul is purchased by his blood.
My life is hid with Christ on high,
With Christ, my Savior and my God,
With Christ, my Savior and my God.
Lyrics: Charitie Lees Smith