Leviticus 10:9-10

The terminology is very clear here. The instruction is aimed directly at the priests, but we should not think that its intent is limited to them only in that specific circumstance. We are to be kings and priests under Jesus Christ, and Peter directly called the church "a holy priesthood." Even now, at the very least, the entire church is a body of those who are priests in training under our High Priest Jesus Christ. The spirit of the context is instruction to you and me. The context showed that Nadab and Abihu were under the influence of alcohol while performing their duties in and about the tabernacle. The alcohol motivated them to act casually about their responsibilities.

Now alcohol fogs the mind. It reduces inhibitions. It relaxes self-control. It diminishes a person's ability to perform. It motivated them to act casually about their responsibilities. Alcohol also diminishes a person's physical capabilities as well. Though God permits us to use alcohol, it most assuredly must be handled with considerable care.

Leviticus 10:9-10

This gives an indication that maybe this was the reason they did what they did. They may not have been drunk, but they may have been drinking. Remember, it was a period of great celebration. The Tabernacle had been erected, Aaron had been installed as High Priest, and the sons were installed in the priesthood, and the Levites with them. Undoubtedly, there was a lot of celebrating going on. And it seems to indicate simply by the placing of the verses that Nadab and Abihu had been drinking. They weren't thinking properly when they did what they did. Alcohol has a way of deluding a person into thinking that he is in control when he is not.

Leviticus 10:8-11

It seems as though in certain occasions when something is just beginning that God retains His pattern, and He does something really devastating so the people get the right understanding that His holiness is not to be tested.

These verses provide a very strong hint that Nadab and Abihu were under the influence of alcohol when they committed the act of putting the strange fire to an unholy use.

Leviticus 10:8-11

The context in which this command appeared leads everybody to believe that the reason that Nadab and Abihu did what they did was because they were under the influence of a drug—alcohol—enough that they were not in as complete control as they normally would have been. Did you notice the mention of holy and unholy there?

Leviticus 10:8-11

So a physical source of energy should never be used as a substitute for the power of the Holy Spirit. This is why alcohol should not be imbibed before preaching. Some ministers in the past have been known to have done that and that was wrong to do.