2 Kings 15:32-16:20; Jeremiah 50:21-46; Titus 2:9-3:15
Phinehas…has turned back My wrath from the children of Israel, because he was zealous with My zeal among them. Numbers 25:11, NKJV
Zimri had brought a pagan prostitute into Israel’s camp. This was intolerable for righteous Phinehas, who rose up in holy zeal and executed Zimri and the woman. God honoured Phinehas with a promise of an everlasting priesthood. Remaining silent when God’s name is being disgraced is sin. Carnality in the Church or unholy civil edicts should cause us to do more than to sorrow privately. Believers are to expose the unfruitful works of darkness and to beseech the Lord to act against such corruption (Eph. 5:11). —W. A. H.
And if I’m ever constrained to stay with men of lives profane,
I’ll set a double guard that day, nor let my talk be vain. —Isaac Watts