The zeal of the Lord
This may come as a surprise, but my husband and I sometimes disagree. I’ll offer you a few examples:
1) We share different opinions on Ford Broncos. I don’t think it’s the “cool” vehicle on the road anymore since we see them quite frequently. Zach disagrees because the Sport model doesn’t qualify as a true Ford Bronco.
2) He thinks I steal all the blankets during the night. I claim there’s a statute of limitations on nighttime blanket thievery.
3) Every few days, I prepare meatless dinners for our family as a healthy, affordable meal. My husband, however, thinks carnivorously.
Despite our rather trivial differences, I’m impressed that we share a mutual admiration for the lesser-known Old Testament priest Phineas. When Phineas witnessed an Israelite blatantly transgressing God’s law for holiness, he acted with righteous passion. God said, “He was as zealous for my honor among [the Israelites] as I am” (Numbers 25:11). And God promised, “He and his descendants will have a covenant of a lasting priesthood, because he was zealous for the honor of his God” (v. 13).
Phineas is introduced again in Joshua chapter 23 where he is sent to investigate a matter of perceived unfaithfulness to God. He is not reckless, but quick to listen and discern rightly. Phineas is also named in Psalm 106 (v. 30) with wording that matches the description of Abraham’s faith which “was credited to him as righteousness.” (v. 31; Genesis 15:6).
According to J. C. Ryle, “Zeal in Christianity is a burning desire to please God, to do His will, and to advance His glory in the world in every way possible” (Practical Religion). Religious zeal can be misplaced, as noted by Paul who was zealous in persecuting the church (Philippians 3:6). Paul’s encounter with the risen Christ resulted in pursuing Christ and the crown of life instead of his own distorted image of self-generated righteousness.
We’ve discussed zeal in relation to Phineas and Paul, now consider Isaiah’s description of God’s zeal in advancing his own glory by fighting his foes and saving his people:
Photo by Sydney Angove on Unsplash
The Lord looked and was displeased
that there was no justice.He saw that there was no one,
he was appalled that there was no one to intervene;so his own arm achieved salvation for him,
and his own righteousness sustained him.He put on righteousness as his breastplate,
and the helmet of salvation on his head;he put on the garments of vengeance
and wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak.(Isaiah 59:15b–17).
Fascinating that Christians are now called to put on similar armour to enable us to “stand against the devil’s schemes” (Ephesians 6:11). As the ESV Bible study notes explain, “These are aspects [the breastplate and helmet] of God’s and the Messiah’s own character and work (as depicted in Isaiah) with which Christians are now equipped.”
What a comfort that as we wage war against the forces of darkness, God has not only equipped us for the battle, but has already made a spectacle of these evil forces on the cross! (Colossians 2:15). Our battle with sin and the devil, with the world and our own lusts is one that we fight through the power of the risen Lord who has overcome! (Ephesians 1:19–21).
