A Zealous Stand for Purity: From Phinehas’s Javelin to God’s Covenant of Peace

Listen to today’s passage – Numbers 25 – 26

Follow along on Blue Letter Bible – Numbers 25  

Second Milers also read – Romans 5 – 8; Proverbs 24; Psalms 121 – 125

Listen to this morning’s Scripture Song – Proverbs 27:15

Read the “0224 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by Charles Spurgeon.

 “And, behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from among the congregation, and took a javelin in his hand; And he went after the man of Israel into the tent, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel.” – (Num 25:6-8)

In Numbers 25, Israel—poised at the edge of the Promised Land—fell into deadly compromise. Seduced by Moabite and Midianite women (influenced by Balaam’s wicked counsel), they joined in idolatry and immorality, provoking God’s fierce anger. A plague broke out, claiming thousands. Then, in brazen defiance, one Israelite man paraded a Midianite woman into his tent right in front of Moses and the weeping assembly.

Phinehas, grandson of Aaron, couldn’t stand by. Filled with holy zeal, he took a spear and ended the offense decisively. God commended him: this act turned away wrath, stopped the plague, and secured a covenant of an everlasting priesthood for Phinehas (Numbers 25:10-13). It was a strong message: God demands separation from sin and idolatry—no excuses, no half-measures.

We face similar pressures today. Cultural influences flood in through media, relationships, and even some church circles—pushing compromise on morality, truth, and biblical fidelity. Too many believers (and leaders) look the other way or accommodate the “Midianite women” of our age. Yet Scripture is clear:

“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” – (Eph 5:11)

“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” – (2 Cor 6:14-18)

We are, or soon will be, who we hang around. Unequal yoking leads to spiritual downfall—just as it did for Israel.

But here’s the beautiful hope we must cling to: Phinehas’s act brought temporary relief from judgment, yet God points forward to something greater—a covenant of peace:

“10 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 11 Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, hath turned my wrath away from the children of Israel, while he was zealous for my sake among them, that I consumed not the children of Israel in my jealousy. 12 Wherefore say, Behold, I give unto him my covenant of peace: 13 And he shall have it, and his seed after him, even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was zealous for his God, and made an atonement for the children of Israel.” (Num 25:10–13)

In Ezekiel, God promises His restored people:

“26 Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore.” (Ezek 37:26)

And in Isaiah:

“For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee.” (Isaiah 54:10)

This covenant of peace isn’t earned by our zeal alone—it’s fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the ultimate High Priest. Through His sacrifice, wrath is fully turned away, not just stayed temporarily. We receive peace with God (Romans 5:1), inner peace that guards our hearts (Philippians 4:7), and the security of an everlasting relationship. Zeal for purity—like Phinehas’s—flows from gratitude for this peace, not fear of judgment. It motivates us to stand boldly, lovingly confront compromise, and separate from darkness so we can walk in the light of God’s unchanging mercy.

In a world that celebrates compromise, may God raise up modern Phinehases—zealous yet gracious—who proclaim both the call to holiness and the assurance of His covenant of peace. Stand firm, believer. The God who rewarded Phinehas is the same who seals us in everlasting peace through Christ.

What are your thoughts? How has God called you to stand against compromise while resting in His peace? I’d love to hear in the comments.

Note – today’s blogpost is a refreshed version of the previous post – “A Strong Message”

 


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Different by Design: God’s Call to Holiness

Listen to today’s passage – Leviticus 19 – 21

Follow along on Blue Letter Bible – Leviticus 19

Second Milers also read – John 13 – 14; Proverbs 10; Psalms 51 – 55

Listen to this morning’s Scripture Song – Psalm 34:1 – 4

Read the “0210 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by Charles Spurgeon.

Read a previous post from this passage – “Love Thy Neighbor As Thyself“

“Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy.” – (Leviticus 19:2)

“And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the LORD am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine.” – (Leviticus 20:26)

In today’s reading from Leviticus, we see God’s intention for there to be a difference in the people of Israel from the world that surrounded them; or actually, would surround them when they finally entered into the land of Canaan where God was bringing them. God warns them not to be like the people of the land. God was removing them (the Canaanites, etc.) from the land because of their sinful lifestyles. God’s people would have to be different, or God would expel them out of the land as well.

In the three chapters that we have read today there are many different commandments from the Lord regarding how they were to be a holy people, set apart from the rest of the world. I will not take the time to deal with all of them, but I will mention a few here in this devotion. Think about the world we live in today as we examine these thoughts; and see if we, as Christians, are as “set apart” as we should be. Let’s take a quick look at how the children of Israel were to be different:

  • They were to be different morally.

Much of chapter 20 deals with sexual sins such as adultery, homosexuality, and even bestiality. God says that the previous inhabitants of the land were all guilty of these things. The people in our world today are also very perverted in their ability to live morally pure lives. We live in an era where cultural messages increasingly normalize behaviors the Bible clearly calls sin, from casual hookups to redefining God’s design for sexuality. Yet God’s people are called to pursue purity in a world that celebrates ‘freedom’ at any cost.

  • They were to be different in their compassion for others.

They were to make provisions in their crops for the poor and the stranger. God reminds them that they were strangers at one time. He wanted them to leave the corners of their fields, and the gleanings for people who needed help. How concerned are we today about helping people? Many of us have been blessed by God with abundance. God wants us to share part of that blessing with others. I think the key here is that God wants us to remember that it all comes from him anyway. We are often like the kid who was eating with his dad at McDonalds. When his dad reached for a french fry out of his son’s meal, the son pulled them away. Not very wise considering the dad supplied the meal in the first place, and would be the supplier of many future meals.

I have to pause here and say that God’s people are typically very generous, especially when there is a need presented to them. There have been many cases at our church where people found out that a family was struggling financially and they stepped up to do what they could to help.

  • They were also to be different in their faith.

The people of the land were very superstitious. They worshipped all kinds of “gods” and idols. Some were even guilty of sacrificing their own children. God wanted the people of Israel to stay far away from all of that stuff. No wizards; no witches; no familiar spirits; no divination; no astrologers; no soothsayers; none of that junk. God wants his children to be wholly dependent upon Him; and He does not want to share His glory; or His worship with anybody, or anything else.

Today’s idols may not be stone statues, but they’re just as real: careers that consume us, screens that demand our attention, comfort we refuse to sacrifice, or even our own opinions elevated above God’s Word. They may not be little statues, but they are there none the less. An idol is anything that comes between us and God.

  • They were to be different in their respect for the older folks.

I think that we are getting away from this in our world as well. There used to be a time in America when Granddad and Grandma were the patriarchs and matriarchs of the family. They were deeply revered and respected by their children and grandchildren. It isn’t like that any more; but we need to get back to it. Today, even young children will mock their elders, and answer back to them. Christian parents need to be very careful that they do not tolerate such behavior in their children. This will become increasingly important in our American culture as the Baby Boomers, a large segment of our population, continues to age.

  • They were to be different in their business dealings.

They were to be fair and honest with people; never cheating them with unjust balances and such. The world today is replete with people who will are trying to steal money away from others. There are myriads of scams out their designed to rob others. God’s people should never be involved in any business dealing that is not providing a good product or service at a fair price.

These were just a few thoughts from the passage. There are many more examples contained in the text. But how do we fare today in this present world that we live in? Are we any different from them? Or are we just like them with the exception of the “fish emblems” on our cars. As time goes by, there ought to be more and more of a striking difference between God’s people and the people of this world. Just a thought.

And, just in case you thought holiness was just an Old Testament principle, consider what Peter said:

“13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” (1 Pet 1:13–16)

Lord, help us to be truly set apart—not in pride, but in humble obedience to You.

May our lives reflect Your holiness more each day. Amen.


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Creeping Things

Listen to today’s passage – Leviticus 11 – 12

Follow along on Blue Letter Bible – Leviticus 11 

Second Milers also read – John 5 – 6; Proverbs 6; Psalms 31 – 35

Listen to this morning’s Scripture Song – Psalm 18:3 & 46

Read the “0206 Evening and Morning“ devotion by Charles Spurgeon.

Read a previous post from this passage – “Provision for the Poor“

How would you like to wake up with one of those creepy crawly things (above – top image) on top of you? I thank the Lord that this particular bug is not native to our area. It is found far away from here in the Philippines. Remind me to never go there. The worst that we have to deal with here in southern NJ is the Camel Cricket (above – bottom image), which is an ugly looking critter, but is also harmless. In our text today, God warns the people of Israel to not touch critters such as these:

“29 These also shall be unclean unto you among the creeping things that creep upon the earth; the weasel, and the mouse, and the tortoise after his kind, 30 And the ferret, and the chameleon, and the lizard, and the snail, and the mole. 31 These are unclean to you among all that creep: whosoever doth touch them, when they be dead, shall be unclean until the even.” (Lev 11:29–31)

“41 And every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth shall be an abomination; it shall not be eaten. 42 Whatsoever goeth upon the belly, and whatsoever goeth upon all four, or whatsoever hath more feet among all creeping things that creep upon the earth, them ye shall not eat; for they are an abomination. 43 Ye shall not make yourselves abominable with any creeping thing that creepeth, neither shall ye make yourselves unclean with them, that ye should be defiled thereby. 44 For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 45 For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.” (Lev 11:41–45)

In our passage this morning, God is explaining to the children of Israel which animals, fish, and bugs were safe for them to eat or touch. Frankly, I am not sure what the specific reasons were that God declared certain animals to be clean and others to be an “abomination.” The people of God just had to obey the laws God gave them by faith, believing that the omniscient God that created the universe knew better about what was best for them.

  • In Genesis 1, God creates “creeping things” and calls them good.
  • But after the Fall and in the Law (Leviticus 11), many become symbols of uncleanness—things that crawl low to the ground, associated with decay, swarming, or hidden movement.
  • Israel was to avoid them entirely (not eat, not touch in ways that defiled) to maintain separation and purity as God’s holy people.
  • Key verse: Leviticus 11:44-45 – “Be holy, for I am holy.”
  • While we’re not under those food laws today (Mark 7:19; Acts 10), the principle of avoiding defiling influences remains.

We know that in the New Testament period we are not under law regarding any of these things, and we will not face judgment for touching or eating any of these animals, etc. However, I can’t help but think that God had  good reasons for banning these critters from the menus of the Israelites.

My thought this morning is not regarding what we should or shouldn’t eat. However, I got to thinking about all of the “creeping things” that God wants us to stay away from today. There are a lot of things out there in the world that will hurt us if we “touch” them or partake of them. For instance, many of the philosophies that spew out this world system are “creeping things” that shouldn’t be touched, and certainly shouldn’t be allowed to enter into our minds. There are also many doctrinal heresies coming from some theologians with liberal perspectives that attack the very foundation of our belief system. We should steer clear of these “creeping things” as well.

Modern “Creeping Things” to Avoid
  • Creeping Doctrines / False Teachings
    • These “creep” into churches subtly (Jude 1:4; 2 Timothy 3:6 – false teachers “creep into houses”). Examples:
    • Liberal theology that undermines Scripture’s authority, the deity of Christ, or salvation by grace alone.
    • Prosperity gospel twists that prioritize wealth over holiness.
    • Progressive redefinitions of sin (e.g., excusing immorality under “love” or “inclusion” without repentance).
    • Avoid: Test everything against Scripture (Acts 17:11); don’t “touch” compromising teachings.
  • Creeping Worldly Philosophies / Mindsets
    • Things that crawl along the ground of culture, pulling us downward. Examples:
    • Materialism/consumerism that makes us hoard instead of trust God.
    • Relativism (“your truth/my truth”) eroding absolute moral standards.
    • Fear-driven anxiety or bitterness that creeps in through constant news/social media exposure. Avoid: “Set your mind on things above” (Colossians 3:2).
    • Guard your heart (Proverbs 4:23).
  • Creeping People / Influences / Companions
    • Toxic relationships or “creepy” ungodly perspectives that defile by association (1 Corinthians 15:33: “Evil communications corrupt good manners”). 
    • Cynical, gossiping, or divisive people who drain faith.
    • Influencers/entertainers promoting immorality, occult, or anti-God views.
    • Compromising friendships that slowly normalize sin.
    • Avoid: While we love and witness to them , we don’t yoke unequally (2 Corinthians 6:14) or let them “creep” into close fellowship.
  • Creeping Personal Habits / Sins
    • Small things that start low and grow: Examples: Unchecked entertainment (porn, violent media), bitterness taking root (Hebrews 12:15), or little compromises in integrity.
    • Avoid: Confess quickly; “flee youthful lusts” (2 Timothy 2:22).

Paul used similar terminology in his final letter to Timothy

“1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (2 Tim 3:1–7)

Again, I am not saying that we shouldn’t love these people and we should definitely try to reach them with the gospel, but we shouldn’t run with them either, allowing their lifestyles and doctrines to influence us. We’re free in Christ, but called to holiness. Love sinners, hate sin. Reach out without being contaminated.

The “creeping things” today are not the same as in Moses’ day, but they are to be avoided nonetheless.

What creeping things are trying to creep into your life today, and what will you do to avoid them?


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