This Is How It Happens

by R. Darke, Victoria, B.C. | Category: General | Jan 1974

An unusual altar appeared in the midst of Israel one day, and it was not long before it was given pre-eminence over the altar of God. Where did it originate? Who was the maker?

Ahaz, the ruler of Judah, and father of good king Hezekiah, went to Damascus on a visit to the king of Assyria. There he saw an altar that took his fancy. Possibly it had many attractive features, and he thought it would add to the decor of the court of God's dwelling. So he sent a pattern of it to Urijah the priest, and instructed him to make one like it. When Ahaz arrived home the new altar was ready, and he "drew near unto the altar, and offered thereon" (2 Kings 16:12). Burnt offerings, meal offerings, and drink offerings, were all offered by king Ahaz, and he also sprinkled the blood of his peace offerings upon the altar (v.13). But no mention is made of a sin offering I

Then came the time when the brazen altar of the Lord was moved out of its place, and the Assyrian altar, which Ahaz now called his altar (v.14), became the great altar (v.15). On it Urijah offered the sacrifices of all the people of the land. "Thus did Urijah the priest, according to all that king Ahaz commanded" (v.16); but certainly not according to what the Lord commanded.

This story is surely a warning to us today of the ease with which things foreign to God and His word can be brought into His house. Ahaz and others might have rationalized that it was a beautiful altar he had seen in Assyria, and that it was a good idea to introduce it into Israel. More sacrifices could now be offered with an additional altar. But it must never be forgotten that the house belongs to God, and He must decree what is to be done there. In connexion with the Tabernacle in the wilderness Moses was warned, "See... that thou make all things according to the pattern that was shewed thee in the mount" (Heb. 8:5). This makes it abundantly clear that although God gave to consecrated men and women the responsibility for the making of the house and its furniture, He alone was the Architect and Designer. For the building of the Temple, it is written that king David gave the pattern to his son Solomon (1 Chron. 2811), and concerning it David said, "All this ... have I been made to understand in writing from the hand of the LORD, even all the works of this pattern.... Be strong and of good courage, and do it;" (vv. 19,20). Although Moses, David and Solomon were all capable, wise, and godly men, they were not allowed to introduce any of their own ideas into the building of God's dwelling. It is important for us to be aware that what men do in Christendom today, with the best intentions in the world, can be without the Lord's authority. Plans, programmes, and techniques are devised, and many things introduced to attract people, which are contrary to the Scriptures. But we are in the place of divine authority, and are no part of Christendom where men's ideas are followed without compunction. We must be obedient to His word.

Good intentions are not always good enough, and this David found out to his dismay. When Israel recovered the Ark of the Covenant from the Philistines, David was so overjoyed that he provided a new cart for it to be transported from the house of Abinadab. Knowing David's love for the Lord, we can be sure that the cart was made of the very best materials, and by the very best craftsmen. But this did not prove that it was being done according to the mind of the Lord. All the singing, and the playing with harps, psalteries, timbrels, and cymbals, "with all their might", did not change a wrong action into a right one. The oxen drawing the cart became restive and stumbled, an Israelite, Uzza by name, stretched out his hand to hold the ark, and in a moment the judgement of God came upon him, and Uzza died. David's good intention cost a man his life. God had decreed that none ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites, and David's substitute could not possibly meet with God's approval (1 Chron. 13:114; 15:2). But this is how these things happen.

What shall we say of the two sons of Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, who each took his censer as ordained priests of Israel, put fire therein, laid incense thereon, and came before the LORD? Everything appeared to be in order, but it was not. They offered what God calls "strange fire". It was of their own making. It was not divine fire which was used to light the altar of burnt offering (see Lev. 9:24). Did it really matter? After all, fire was being used, and the incense would burn just as fragrantly. God does not ask us to reason and decide what we think is best. He desires hearts that are obedient; disciples who are willing to follow His direction. If Nadab and Abihu did not appreciate the great importance of divine fire, they were learn to their sorrow. Fire from the presence of the Lord immediately devoured them, and their second cousins were chosen to carry their remains in their coats, from before the sanctuary to a place outside the camp (Lev. 10:1-7).

Do let us take to heart that God wants us to live and build according to His direction. If we learn the secret of this in God's house today, we will be less concerned about what others outside the house are doing.

R. Darke, Victoria, B.C. | Jan 1974
General