Over the years, I have had a number of men share this statement with me. It goes like this, “I know I am told to be a priest in my home, but I’m unsure what that really looks like.”
This week, we are given Scriptural pictures of priests in action. And believe it or not, those pictures involve a very descriptive word. That word is “jealous.” Let’s take a look into this word puzzle.
In the Hebrew context, the word jealous is often defined as zeal, meaning a “focused desire, characterized by passion and commitment.” In the Old Testament, zeal is found 16 times and zealous 6 times; in the New Testament, zeal is found 5 times and zealous 7 times.
To find a real Bible hero who exemplified zeal or jealousy, look no further than Phinehas in the Book of Numbers, chapter 25. He displays one of the first steps men must take to be priests in the home. That step is to conquer the god of lust and debauchery. Why is this important? According to the Apostle John, “God is Spirit.” (Jn. 4:24) Therefore, if our spirit is given over to gods of flesh, how will we be able to worship in the Spirit?
Phinehas saw the plague being waged against the family of Israel and he took immediate action to stop it. When you read the story of Phinehas, consider Yahweh’s promise to him:
Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 11 “Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has averted My wrath from the sons of Israel in that he was jealous with My jealousy among them, so that I did not destroy the sons of Israel in My jealousy. 12. Therefore say, ‘Behold, I am giving him My covenant of peace; 13 and it shall be for him and for his descendants after him, a covenant of a permanent priesthood, because he was jealous for his God and made atonement for the sons of Israel.’”
If you recall from earlier studies, it was Eleazar who remained faithful to Yahweh and was given the priestly garments of Aaron. Phinehas was the son of Eleazar. The high priests for Israel were chosen from Eleazar’s line for seven generations, until the time of Eli, who was of the house of Eleazar’s brother Ithamar. The sons of Eli brought corruption into the temple.
Years later, when King David was very old, his son Adonijah, a crowd favorite, set himself up as king, even though David’s other son Solomon was to take the throne at David’s death. Adonijah had some supporters, including Abiathar the priest from the line Ithamar—the house of Eli.
On the other side, supporters of King David and his son Solomon, we have another priest named Zadok who is in the line of Eleazar. He, along with Nathan the prophet, stepped forward to save the House of Israel by anointing Yahweh’s chosen king. (read 1 Kings 1 & 2)
Because of Zadok’s action, the high priest role was returned to the line Eleazar, father of Phinehas. Later in the writings of Ezekiel (44:15-24), we learn that the line of Zadok are the priests who minister to Yeshua, fulfilling the promise of Yahweh to Phinehas—a permanent priesthood.
What can we learn from Phinehas and Zadok?
- They both protected the family of Israel.
- They both had a zeal or jealousy to worship only Yahweh God.
- They both took action when no one else would.
- Both of these men recognized the government of God and not the governments of man.
Hence, we do have a Biblical picture of what a priest looks like. A priest protects their family. A priest only worships Yahweh God. A priest is willing to take action to save his family. And a priest seeks to follow the commands of God’s government.
I know there are many who look for a more complicated picture. But is it complicated? In your other readings for this week, you will see the prophet Elijah keeping it simple. He wants to save the family of Israel. He steps forward in action. He makes an altar to worship the only true God. He calls for Israel to recognize God’s kingdom over the kingdom of Baal.
In the Book of John, Chapter two, we also see a picture of Yeshua displaying a very similar jealousy for His Father, by making a stand against corruption, greed, and false religion. He turns over money tables and drives out false leaders who were damaging the families of Israel. Upon doing so, his disciples remember a key Biblical prophecy found in Psalms 69:9 concerning Yeshua, “Zeal for Thy house will consume Me.”
My prayer is for us to find passion and zeal for God’s Kingdom. With all the busyness of man, spiritual matters are put on the back burner rather than the front burner. Let’s make the ways of Yahweh a priority. Find the priesthood of Phinehas and Zadok in your own life. Be willing to worship the one true God of Elijah. And finally, be passionate about the house of worship by accepting Yeshua has your Messiah.
Be blessed,
Rollyn