"I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace."–Leviticus 10:3
God is a holy and jealous God. He will not give His glory to another. Everything He does is to this end, to glorify Himself! Here is an example of this clearly illustrated in the death of Aaron's sons. Their crime was that they had offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded not. The punishment? Death!
Imagine the heartache and grief that Aaron bore not only as the representative of the people, but as the father of Nadab and Abihu. Nevertheless, God's glory and sanctity are far more important than even earthly relationships. So it is written, "Aaron held his peace." There are two ways to understand this.
1. Aaron kept silent before the Lord. This literally means that he was awestruck at the justice of God in killing his sons. His silence was an acknowledgement that God was right in what He did. He took sides with God against even his own family.
Was he cold hearted and callused? No! This is an evidence of saving grace when we bow to God as sovereign Lord and judge and acknowledge His way as right. May God grant us that grace not to murmur at His providence, nor complain of the severity of what He decrees, but to patiently resign to his will with contentment.
2. Aaron rested.
Twice in Scripture, this word peace is translated "rest." Aaron was not simply refraining from speaking, but the word indicates calmness in the face of calamity. Aaron knew that what his sons had done in offering strange fire was the most heinous crime any could commit. The offerings and sacrifices were a type of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Old Testament High Priests were a representation of His Person and Work as Substitute and Mediator of His people, Hebrews 9. There is nothing more precious to God than His Son. To belittle the type was to disparage the Son. Therefore God exercises justice in punishing any who seek to come to Him in any other way.
Is this truth any less important today? What is the end of those who are indifferent to the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and presume to come to God as they wish? The wrath of God is upon them, John 3:36.
How worshippers today ought to tremble in fear being in congregations where the sovereign, redeeming Christ is not THE ONLY WAY. True worship is not a convenience but a command. The ONLY acceptable sacrifice is still the Lord Jesus Christ, his atoning death and his absolute righteousness. Every part of our worship must be addressed to God in HIM, or else it is strange fire. The songs we sing, the prayers we evoke, the Word we hear, must be done in the knowledge of Christ alone, or else it is vain worship and worthy of condemnation, Mark 7:7; John 4:24.