When we Americans hear about a religious Zealot, we get the mental picture of either some guy with a long beard, dressed in a biblical robe carrying around a placard reading "The End Is Near". Or the other end of the spectrum, some religious extremist wearing a vest loaded with explosives and shrapnel, holding onto the switch. The term zealot isn't used very much anymore; it has been replaced by the less negative terminology of 'overly aggressive supporter', or 'extremist'.
But, what does zeal mean? Is zeal bad? Zeal is defined as:
zeal [ zeel ] noun Definition: enthusiasm: energetic and unflagging enthusiasm, especially for a cause or idea - comes from 14th century. Via late Latin zelus< Greek zēlos "eager rivalry". (MSN Encarta dictionary)
To be enthusiastic about something isn't bad, people are enthusiastic about going fishing, camping, grilling outdoors, cars, … any number of things, yet live 'normal' lives. We could look at some of those more extreme people, like the Cheese Heads from Minnesota, members of the 'Dog Pound' from Chicago, you know the type I'm referring to here, the ones that go to a football game in the winter and take their shirts off to expose the letter they have painted on their body (they really shouldn't take their shirt off 'cause it ain't pretty anymore). And I'm sure that when Monday or Tuesday shows up, and they're back at their jobs, we would consider them 'normal' people, maybe with a slightly bent 'enthusiasm' about a sporting event or team (try to talk with our Pastor during a K-State game).
It's when our enthusiasm gets out of control, or we become 'overly enthusiastic' (i.e.: fanatical), that we start reaching that danger level. We've all seen this happen at these various sporting events, crowds, or individuals, get out of control and problems ensue. When we let our zeal get out of control, and not listen to our hearts attitude is when we are in the 'danger zone'.
In my Bible studies, I have been going through the Book of Numbers again. In Numbers Ch. 25 we have the Bibles record of the first Zealot, Phinehas the grandson of Aaron:
The Lord said to Moses, "Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, has turned my anger away from the Israelites; for he was as zealous as I am for my honor among them, so that in my zeal I did not put an end to them.
Therefore tell him I am making my covenant of peace with him. He and his descendants will have a covenant of a lasting priesthood, because he was zealous for the honor of his God and made atonement for the Israelites." (Numbers 25:10-14 NIV)This is a sad story of disobedience, disrespect and dishonor of the Lord. It is also a story of redemption of Israel by the 'Zeal for Gods Honor' by Phinehas. The Lord could see that Phinehas' heart was where it was supposed to be.
Another zealot for the Lord was Elijah the Prophet. In 1 Kings 18:16 – 19:16 we have a record of his 'Zeal for the Lord' and the Lords honor of this zeal. In both of these instances (Phinehas and Elijah) the word translated to zeal from the Hebrew is kana (meaning, zeal, ardor, fervor, desire, devotion, jealousy or envy) here we can see the dual existence of good intentions and bad. This word was translated in the Septuagint (Greek translation of the Torah) as zealo from which we get our word zeal, from which you see, above, is pretty close in definition. From the old Hebrew translation and the modern translation we can see that zeal can be a good quality (indicating passionate concern for others , striving for the good, and desiring righteousness) or a negative quality (indicating unrighteous jealousy, envy, pride, and malice) depending on the heart's motivation and the nature of circumstances.
The 'natural man' of these modern times tends to live by the credo of "I have the right to think or feel whatever I want." Morality is a matter of individual, subjective preference, and that leaves us in a state of continual flux. Like a sailor on a dark night hanging a light bulb on the top of his mast, and trying to guide his boat home on the sightings taken off that light, rather than the North Star. Yet these 'modern' people, who live by the creed of 'to thine own self be true', become zealously incensed if you point out to them that there is a moral law that permeates the universe, and that we will be held morally accountable. These are the people who tolerate any and all sin and willful ignorance, except any anger against sin.
Jesus, in His time, faced some of his fiercest opposition from the 'Zealots of the Law', the Pharisees. These Rabbis were the teachers of the law, the gate keepers of Jewish Identity and tradition, who were originally founded in the time of Ezra to help teach the people who returned from Babylon, the proper and traditional way of Jewish living. But they became so entangled in the minutia of the Law that they forgot the true intent of the Law was to lead the people to be a blessing unto all the nations.
The 'Zeal of the Lord' (Kinat Adonai) represents His passion and eagerness to help those who are trusting in Him. Mans zeal is always pointed in a wrong direction since self justification – of any sort- leads to the 'law of sin and death' (Romans 6:19-23). I am going to let John Parsons of Hebrew4Christians.com finish this out:
We do not need to manufacture enthusiasm or zeal for our 'religion'. No, we simply need to trust in the zealous, passionate, and irrepressible love of God for our lives. The same passion that led Jesus to die upon the cross is present to you today, if you have the faith to believe. God is the beginning and the end of our salvation: Kinat Adonai Tzeva'ot ta'aseh zot: "The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this (Isa 9:7).
Baruch HaShem
No comments:
Post a Comment