ISBE
Not always with judgement
Fire in the Old Testament is specially associated with the Divine presence, e.g. in the making of the Covenant with Abraham (
Gen_15:17), in the burning bush. (
Exo_3:2-4), in the pillar of fire (
Exo_13:21), on Sinai (
Exo_19:18), in the flame on the altar (
Jdg_13:20). Yahweh was "the God that answereth by fire" (1Ki_18:24, 1Ki_18:38). In the Law, therefore, sacrifices and offerings (including incense) were to be made by fire (
Exo_12:8,
Exo_12:9,
Exo_12:10;
Lev 1). Fire from Yahweh signified the acceptance of certain special and separate sacrifices (
Jdg_6:21; 1Ki_18:38; 1Ch_21:26). In
Lev_9:24 the sacrificial fire "came forth from before Yahweh." The altar-fire was to be kept continually burning (
Lev_6:12,
Lev_6:13); offering by "strange fire" (other than the sacred altar-fire) was punished by "fire from before Yahweh" (
Lev_10:1,
Lev_10:2). Fire came from heaven also at the consecration of Solomon's Temple (2Ch_7:1).
Fire was an emblem (1) of Yahweh in His glory (
Dan_7:9); (2) in His holiness (
Isa_6:4); (3) in His jealousy for His sole worship (
Deu_4:24;
Heb_12:29;
Psa_79:5; perhaps also
Isa_33:14); (4) of His protection of His people (2Ki_6:17;
Zec_2:5); (5) of His righteous judgment and purification (
Zec_13:9;
Mal_3:2,
Mal_3:3; 1Co_3:13, 1Co_3:15); (6) of His wrath against sin and punishment of the wicked (
Deu_9:3;
Psa_18:8;
Psa_89:46;
Isa_5:24;
Isa_30:33, "a Topheth is prepared of old";
Mat_3:10-12;
Mat_5:22, the Revised Version (British and American) "the hell of fire," margin "Greek, Gehenna of fire"; see
Isa_30:33;
Jer_7:31;
Mat_13:40,
Mat_13:42;
Mat_25:41, "eternal fire"; Mar_9:45-49; see
Isa_66:24;
2Th_1:7;
Heb_10:27;
Jud_1:7); (7) of the word of God in its power (
Jer_5:14;
Jer_23:29); (8) of Divine truth (
Psa_39:3;
Jer_20:9;
Luk_12:49); (9) of that which guides men (
Isa_50:10,
Isa_50:11); (10) of the Holy Spirit (
Act_2:3); (11) of the glorified Christ (
Rev_1:14); (12) of kindness in its melting power (
Rom_12:20); (13) of trial and suffering (
Psa_66:12;
Isa_43:2;
1 Pet 17; 1Pe_4:12); (14) of evil (
Pro_6:27;
Pro_16:27;
Isa_9:18;
Isa_65:5); lust or desire (
Hos_7:6;
Sirach 23:16; 1Co_7:9); greed (
Pro_30:16); (15) of the tongue in its evil aspects (
Jam_3:5,
Jam_3:6); (16) of heaven in its purity and glory (
Rev_15:2; see also
Rev_21:22,
Rev_21:23).