The Zeal of Phinehas
Minister: | Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: | 12/29/2019 AM |
Text: | Numbers 25:7-13 |
Psalters: | 168, 84, 184, 291 |
Installation of Elders and Deacons |
- The sad setting.
- The great spiritual weakness in the nation generally at this time.
- The Moabites and Midianites, acting on the advice of Balaam (31:16; Rev. 2:14), wanted to make Israel curse-able to God.
- “Israel joined himself unto Baal-peor” (3) and “separated themselves unto that shame” (Hosea 9:10b).
- Generally, the nation fell into sin, for the 24,000 who died in the plague were all guilty of this sin (Deut. 4:3,4).
- It seems that many of the leaders and heads of the tribes were guilty (4).
- Their sin was openly and brazenly committed by Zimri, a Simeon prince (6-8).
- God responded by leading Israel back into the way of a constant, humble repentance.
- “The anger of Jehovah was kindled against Israel” (3b). This anger was out of His undeserved love.
- God demanded Christian discipline on the leaders who sinned: they were stoned to death and their bodies hung (4).
- And God sent a plague which killed thousands of the guilty (9; Deut. 4:3; I Cor. 10:8).
- God’s mercy and faithfulness were also displayed positively.
- The godly in Israel responded to the sinful display by weeping at the door of the tabernacle (6b).
- Phinehas exercised a holy zeal, taking a sword and publicly executing divine justice on the sin and sinners (7,8).
- Phinehas “made an atonement for the children of Israel” (13b).
- God rewarded Phinehas’ zeal by giving him “My covenant of peace…even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood” (12,13).
- “The anger of Jehovah was kindled against Israel” (3b). This anger was out of His undeserved love.
- Important lessons for all, but especially for the elders of the church.
- Let us heed the warning of this incident, especially the danger of spiritual ease in times of prosperity.
- Remember Phinehas for his zeal, i.e., his excited jealousy for God and His glory).
- This zeal of Phinehas was fulfilled in Jesus, who not only appeased God’s wrath, but satisfied it by bearing it Himself.