We are in chapter nine of Leviticus with our word for today which is a phrase. מִלִּפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה from the presence of YHWH or the LORD, from before YHWH or the LORD. It is used 15 times in the Old Testament. We find our phrase used in the sense of people leaving God. The first time our phrase is used in the Bible is a good example of leaving which we find Cain doing right after he kills his brother. Genesis 4:16 Then Cain went away מִלִּפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה from the presence of the Lord and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden. Jonah is another example of leaving. Jonah 1:3, 10 Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.” But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish מִלִּפְנֵ֖י יְהוָ֑ה from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord …  Then the men were exceedingly afraid and said to him, “What is this that you have done!” For the men knew that he was fleeing מִלִּפְנֵ֖י יְהוָֽה from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them. And Jonah found out that there are always consequences to leaving God and his will for your life. Our phrase is used to identify the source of fire on specific occasions. We find our phrase used when executing judgment. Leviticus 10:1-3 Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it and laid incense on it and offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, which he had not commanded them. And fire came out מִלִּפְנֵ֥י יְהוָ֖ה from before the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord. Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord has said: ‘Among those who are near me I will be sanctified, and before all the people I will be glorified.’” And Aaron held his peace. God had clearly instructed the priests how to offer sacrifices that would honor and glorify him. Aaron’s sons failed to do so and suffered the consequences of their sin. It is vital to not forget how Holy and powerful God truly is as the Holy Spirit reminds us in this Psalm. Psalm 97:5 The mountains melt like wax מִלִּפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה מִ֝לִּפְנֵ֗י אֲד֣וֹן [literally before YHWH before the lord or master or sovereign] before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth. We have another reference to fire but this time in a good way with our phrase which we find in reference to the tabernacle worship. Leviticus 16:11-13 Aaron shall present the bull as a sin offering for himself, and shall make atonement for himself and for his house. He shall kill the bull as a sin offering for himself. And he shall take a censer full of coals of fire from the altar מִלִּפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה before the Lord, and two handfuls of sweet incense beaten small, and he shall bring it inside the veil and put the incense on the fire before the Lord, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is over the testimony, so that he does not die. This is how our phrase is used in our chapter today. Leviticus 9:24 And fire came out מִלִּפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה from before the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the pieces of fat on the altar, and when all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces. This is really amazing that God would show himself in such a way. The first time the altar is used God lights the fire himself that consumes the offering. This fire gives credibility to the work which is what an ordination service is all about. There is no more important work than being used by God to help connect to him in worship. One of the first things said about Jesus by John the Baptist at the start his public ministry that would end in his sacrificial death for our sins were these words. John 1:29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! I’ll close with another use of our phrase that ties joy, which is a part of worship, to salvation. 1 Chronicles 16:33-35 Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy מִלִּפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth. Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! … “Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather and deliver us from among the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise.