Leviticus 9:7-10:20 / Mark 4:26-5:20 / Psalm 37:30-40 / Proverbs 10:6-7
Scripture is full of comparison and contrast – the wicked and the godly, evil and good, clean and unclean… We see a lot of this in the 4 Gospels, especially through the parables that Jesus taught. Today there is both good and evil at work in the earth, and it’s difficult and painful to look evil in the face. I’ve seen and heard things over the past year that have rocked me. But still, God is good.
There was a phrase in Leviticus 10 that caused me to stop, followed by a sentence. The phrase is “And Aaron was silent”, and the sentence is in verse 10 – “You must distinguish between what is sacred and what is common…”
First, why was Aaron silent? His sons had just been consumed by the fire of God for not following His prescribed protocols in the Tabernacle. I realize this seems harsh to some; it’s hard to fathom myself. But I think we forget, as I spoke of a few days ago, that God is both love and justice. If He tells us to do things a certain way, to go contrary to that will bring a consequence of some kind.
Aaron was silent, because he understood what had happened: the justice of God had been meted out.
That brings me to distinguishing between what is sacred and what is common. First, let me say that if we’re in Christ, we have become sacred, holy, and set apart because of His sacrifice on the cross. And it is from that place that we may judge for ourselves between good and evil.
There is so much happening in our nation – evil is being called good and good being called evil. And don’t think God doesn’t notice what’s happening. He does. It is because of His great love that we are not consumed. Yet, evil will be judged. Sometimes we are concerned that evil goes unpunished, but it does not. Again, God sees.
Justice is something I have prayed for a lot lately. Sometimes, it’s the only word I can get out of my mouth because my heart is so heavy. And I know God is bringing justice. Some may think this post is sobering, and it is. But remember that God’s love means nothing without the balance of His justice. If we had all love, justice would have no weight. And if we had all justice, love would have no weight.
Lord, in Your wrath, remember mercy… (Habakkuk 3:2)
