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.
1. The great spiritual weakness in the nation generally at this time.
2. The Moabites and Midianites, acting on the advice of Balaam (31:16; Rev. 2:14), wanted to make Israel curse-able to God.
3. “Israel joined himself unto Baal-peor” (3) and “separated themselves unto that shame” (Hosea 9:10b).
  1. 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).
  2. It seems that many of the leaders and heads of the tribes were guilty (4).
  3. 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.
1. “The anger of Jehovah was kindled against Israel” (3b). This anger was out of His undeserved love.
  1. God demanded Christian discipline on the leaders who sinned: they were stoned to death and their bodies hung (4).
  2. And God sent a plague which killed thousands of the guilty (9; Deut. 4:3; I Cor. 10:8).
2. God’s mercy and faithfulness were also displayed positively.
  1. The godly in Israel responded to the sinful display by weeping at the door of the tabernacle (6b).
  2. Phinehas exercised a holy zeal, taking a sword and publicly executing divine justice on the sin and sinners (7,8).
  3. Phinehas “made an atonement for the children of Israel” (13b).
3. God rewarded Phinehas’ zeal by giving him “My covenant of peace…even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood” (12,13).
Important lessons for all, but especially for the elders of the church.
1. Let us heed the warning of this incident, especially the danger of spiritual ease in times of prosperity.
2. Remember Phinehas for his zeal, i.e., his excited jealousy for God and His glory).
3. This zeal of Phinehas was fulfilled in Jesus, who not only appeased God’s wrath, but satisfied it by bearing it Himself.