The whole of our Christian life is divinely measured by God’s Word. We cannot worship at the divinely measured golden altar until our self life and flesh is crucified at the brazen altar.
God spoke to Moses in Exodus 25:40: “And look that thou make them after their pattern, which had showed thee in the mount.”
Worship, praise, prayer, and intercession are divinely measured at the golden altar. Remember, the altar was foursquare. Everything done at the golden altar had to line up with Scripture. Severe retribution came from God if any service or ministry before God was not executed correctly.
Regarding the anointing oil which was also divinely measured Exodus 30:33 states: “Whosoever compounded any like it, or whosoever putteth any of it upon a stranger, shall even be cut off from his people.”
Regarding the incense to be used at the golden altar, representing prayer and worship, Exodus 30:37, 38 states: “And as for the perfume which thou shalt make, ye shall not make to yourselves according to the composition thereof: it shall be unto thee holy for the LORD. Whosever shall make like unto that, to smell thereto, shall even be cut off from his people.”
Leviticus 10:1-3 tells the story of Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, who offered strange fire: “And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censor, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD. Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is that the LORD spake, saying I will be sanctified in them that come night me, and before all the people I will be glorified.”
When David sought to bring the ark of God’s presence, which was also divinely measured back to Jerusalem, he did not seek God for His divine plan for the way it was to be carried. Therefore, when Uzza put up his hand to steady the ark when the oxen began to stumble, God was angry. 1 Chronicles 13:10 says: “And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzza, and he smote him, because he put his hand to the ark: and there he died before God.”
Nadab and Abihu were out of divine measurement when they offered strange fire. Uzza was out of divine measurement when he put up his hand to steady the ark. From the moment you stepped on to the hallowed ground of the tabernacle from the brazen laver to the ark of the covenant, you had to observe the divine measurement. Substituting your own measurement would cost you your life.
People say that all of this only pertained to the Old Testament. We are now under grace. Therefore, nothing of the divine measurement applies. Excuse me! What about Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5:1-11? They failed to measure up to the divine measurement and lied to the Holy Ghost. It cost them their lives.
Just because we do not see the Ananias and Sapphira situation happening these days does not mean that God’s judgment day is over.
1 Corinthians 3:11-15: “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be; burned, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.”
Be encouraged.
Colin Campbell