Psalm 106:30
But Phinehas stood and intervened, and the plague was restrained.
But Phinehas stood and intervened, and the plague was restrained
But Phinehas
The name "Phinehas" is of Hebrew origin, meaning "mouth of brass" or "oracle." Phinehas was the grandson of Aaron, the brother of Moses, and served as a priest. His actions are recorded in Numbers 25, where he zealously defended God's honor during a time of national sin. Phinehas is a model of righteous indignation and courage, standing firm in his faith amidst widespread apostasy. His lineage as a priest underscores the importance of spiritual leadership and the responsibility to uphold God's standards.

stood
The Hebrew root for "stood" is "amad," which conveys the idea of taking a firm position or making a stand. This word implies not just physical standing but also a moral and spiritual stance. Phinehas's action was not passive; it was a deliberate and courageous decision to confront sin. In a world where moral relativism often prevails, Phinehas's example challenges believers to stand firm in their convictions and to act decisively in defense of God's truth.

and intervened
The term "intervened" comes from the Hebrew "palal," which means to intercede or mediate. Phinehas's intervention was both physical and spiritual, as he acted to stop the sin that was bringing God's judgment upon Israel. This highlights the role of intercession in the life of a believer, where prayer and action go hand in hand. Phinehas's intervention is a foreshadowing of Christ's ultimate intercession for humanity, standing in the gap to reconcile us to God.

and the plague
The "plague" refers to the divine judgment that had come upon the Israelites due to their sin with the Moabite women and their worship of Baal of Peor, as described in Numbers 25. In the biblical context, plagues often symbolize God's righteous anger and the consequences of disobedience. This serves as a sobering reminder of the seriousness of sin and the need for repentance and atonement.

was restrained
The Hebrew word for "restrained" is "atsar," meaning to stop or hold back. Phinehas's zealous action halted the plague, demonstrating the power of righteous intervention. This act of restraint signifies God's mercy and willingness to forgive when His people turn back to Him. It underscores the biblical principle that God is just but also compassionate, providing a way for restoration and healing when His people repent and seek His face.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Phinehas
A priest, the grandson of Aaron, who is noted for his zealous action in stopping a plague among the Israelites by executing judgment on those who were sinning.

2. The Plague
A divine punishment that came upon the Israelites due to their sin of idolatry and immorality with the Moabite women, as described in Numbers 25.

3. Israelites
The chosen people of God who were wandering in the wilderness and often fell into sin and rebellion against God.

4. Moab
The region and people who led the Israelites into sin through idolatry and immorality.

5. The Tabernacle
The dwelling place of God among the Israelites, where Phinehas executed judgment to stop the plague.
Teaching Points
Zeal for God's Holiness
Phinehas's action demonstrates the importance of having a zeal for God's holiness and righteousness. Believers are called to uphold God's standards in their lives and communities.

The Power of Intercession
Phinehas's intervention shows the power of standing in the gap for others. Christians are encouraged to intercede in prayer for their communities and nations.

Consequences of Sin
The plague serves as a reminder of the serious consequences of sin. Believers should be vigilant in avoiding sin and leading others away from it.

Leadership and Responsibility
Phinehas's leadership in a time of crisis highlights the responsibility of spiritual leaders to act decisively against sin and guide others in righteousness.

God's Mercy and Justice
The restraint of the plague after Phinehas's action illustrates God's mercy in response to righteous acts, balanced with His justice against sin.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Phinehas's action in Psalm 106:30 reflect the character of God, and what can we learn from it about responding to sin in our own lives?

2. In what ways can we demonstrate a zeal for God's holiness in our daily interactions and decisions?

3. How does the account of Phinehas encourage us to take a stand in prayer and action against the moral and spiritual challenges in our society today?

4. Reflect on a time when you witnessed or experienced the consequences of sin. How did it affect your understanding of God's justice and mercy?

5. How can spiritual leaders today emulate Phinehas's example in guiding their communities towards righteousness and away from sin?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Numbers 25
This chapter provides the detailed account of the sin of the Israelites with the Moabite women and the subsequent plague, highlighting Phinehas's zealous act that stopped the plague.

Exodus 32
Similar to the incident with Phinehas, this chapter describes how Moses intervened on behalf of the Israelites when they sinned with the golden calf, showing the importance of intercession and leadership.

1 Corinthians 10
Paul references the events of the Israelites in the wilderness, including the incident with Phinehas, as a warning to Christians to avoid idolatry and immorality.
The Atonement of PhinehasR. Tuck Psalm 106:30
The Nevertheless of God's MercyS. Conway Psalm 106:1-48
Contempt of the InheritanceD. King, LL. D.Psalm 106:24-31
Contempt of the Pleasant LandDean Vaughan.Psalm 106:24-31
Despising God's GiftsA. Maclaren, D.D.Psalm 106:24-31
HeavenW. R. Hutton, M.A.Psalm 106:24-31
The Persistency of SinHomilistPsalm 106:24-31
People
Aaron, Abiram, Baalpeor, Dathan, Ham, Phinehas, Psalmist
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Checked, Disease, Executed, Executeth, Farther, Got, Interposed, Intervened, Judgment, Phinehas, Phin'ehas, Plague, Prayer, Restrained, Standeth, Stayed, Stood, Stopped, Wrought
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Psalm 106:13-39

     8705   apostasy, in OT

Psalm 106:28-31

     4843   plague

Psalm 106:30-31

     1350   covenant, with Israel's priests
     8157   righteousness, as faith

Library
June the Twelfth Waiting for the Spectacular
"The waves covered their enemies.... Then believed they His words." --PSALM cvi. 1-12. Their faith was born in a great emergency. A spectacular deliverance was needed to implant their trust in the Lord. They found no witness in the quiet daily providence; the unobtrusive miracle of daily mercy did not awake their song. They dwelt upon the "special" blessing, when all the time the really special blessing was to be found in the sleepless care which watched over them in their ordinary and commonplace
John Henry Jowett—My Daily Meditation for the Circling Year

Israel at the Red Sea
"A few more rolling years at most, Will land me on fair Canaan's coast.' And then I shall have no more warfare, no more fighting, no more disturbance; but I shall be at peace." "Not quite as thou desirest," says God. "Oh! thou little one; I have more to teach thee ere thou art prepared for my palace." Then he commences to lead us about, and bring us into straits and perils. The sins which we thought had utterly left us are hunting us behind, while impassible floods block up the way. Even trembling
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 2: 1856

Why are Men Saved?
"The hand that made us is Divine." If we listen to the rippling of the freshet at the mountain side, to the tumbling of the avalanche, to the lowing of the cattle, to the singing of the birds, to every voice and sound of nature, we shall hear this answer to the question, "God is our maker; he hath made us, and not we ourselves." The next question, as to design--Why were these things made?--is not so easy to answer, apart from Scripture; but when we look at Scripture we discover this fact--that as
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 3: 1857

Sin: Its Spring-Head, Stream, and Sea
It may help us to escape out of the meshes of our natural depravity, if we look back and see the causes of our fathers' sins. To confess our personal sin will tend to keep us humble; and in view of the Lord's mercy, which has spared and pardoned us, a sense of our guilt will make us grateful. The less we think of ourselves the more we shall think of him whose "mercy endureth for ever"; and if we see where our fathers' sins began, and how they grew, and what they came to, we may hope that the Spirit
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 37: 1891

The Waters of Meribah
'Then came the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, into the desert of Zin in the first month: and the people abode in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there. 2. And there was no water for the congregation: and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron. 3. And the people chode with Moses, and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the Lord! 4. And why have ye brought up the congregation of the Lord into this wilderness,
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Fourteenth Day. The Holy one of God.
Therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.'--Luke i. 35. 'We have believed and know that Thou art the Holy One of God.'--John vi. 69. 'The holy one of the Lord'--only once (Ps. cvi. 16) the expression is found in the Old Testament. It is spoken of Aaron, in whom holiness, as far as it could then be revealed, had found its most complete embodiment. The title waited for its fulfilment in Him who alone, in His own person, could perfectly show forth
Andrew Murray—Holy in Christ

Man's Misery by the Fall
Q-19: WHAT IS THE MISERY OF THAT ESTATE WHEREINTO MAN FELL? A: All mankind by their fall lost communion with God, are under his wrath and curse, and so made liable to all the miseries in this life, to death itself, and to the pains of hell for ever. 'And were by nature children of wrath.' Eph 2:2. Adam left an unhappy portion to his posterity, Sin and Misery. Having considered the first of these, original sin, we shall now advert to the misery of that state. In the first, we have seen mankind offending;
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

Our Status.
"And he believed in the Lord: and he counted it to him for righteousness." --Gen. xv. 6. The right touches a man's status. So long as the law has not proven him guilty, has not convicted and sentenced him, his legal status is that of a free and law-abiding citizen. But as soon as his guilt is proven in court and the jury has convicted him, he passes from that into the status of the bound and law-breaking citizen. The same applies to our relation to God. Our status before God is that either of the
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit

Twenty Second Sunday after Trinity Paul's Thanks and Prayers for Churches.
Text: Philippians 1, 3-11. 3 I thank my God upon all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every supplication of mine on behalf of you all making my supplication with joy, 5 for your fellowship in furtherance of the gospel from the first day until now; 6 being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ: 7 even as it is right for me to be thus minded on behalf of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as, both in my bonds
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. III

Elucidations.
I. (Deadly Sins, cap. ix., p. 356.) To maintain a modern and wholly uncatholic system of Penitence, the schoolmen invented a technical scheme of sins mortal and sins venial, which must not be read into the Fathers, who had no such technicalities in mind. By "deadly sins" they meant all such as St. John recognizes (1 John v. 16-17) and none other; that is to say sins of surprise and infirmity, sins having in them no malice or wilful disobedience, such as an impatient word, or a momentary neglect of
Tertullian—The Five Books Against Marcion

Rest for the Weary
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. W hich shall we admire most -- the majesty, or the grace, conspicuous in this invitation? How soon would the greatest earthly monarch be impoverished, and his treasures utterly exhausted, if all, that are poor and miserable, had encouragement to apply freely to him, with a promise of relief, fully answerable to their wants and wishes! But the riches of Christ are unsearchable and inexhaustible. If millions and millions
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 1

The Second Commandment
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am o jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of then that hate me; and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.' Exod 20: 4-6. I. Thou shalt not
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners:
A BRIEF AND FAITHFUL RELATION OF THE EXCEEDING MERCY OF GOD IN CHRIST TO HIS POOR SERVANT, JOHN BUNYAN; WHEREIN IS PARTICULARLY SHOWED THE MANNER OF HIS CONVERSION, HIS SIGHT AND TROUBLE FOR SIN, HIS DREADFUL TEMPTATIONS, ALSO HOW HE DESPAIRED OF GOD'S MERCY, AND HOW THE LORD AT LENGTH THROUGH CHRIST DID DELIVER HIM FROM ALL THE GUILT AND TERROR THAT LAY UPON HIM. Whereunto is added a brief relation of his call to the work of the ministry, of his temptations therein, as also what he hath met with
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Obedience
Take heed, and hearken, O Israel; this day thou art become the people of the Lord thy God. Thou shalt therefore obey the voice of the Lord thy God, and do his commandments.' Deut 27: 9, 10. What is the duty which God requireth of man? Obedience to his revealed will. It is not enough to hear God's voice, but we must obey. Obedience is a part of the honour we owe to God. If then I be a Father, where is my honour?' Mal 1: 6. Obedience carries in it the life-blood of religion. Obey the voice of the Lord
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

Psalms
The piety of the Old Testament Church is reflected with more clearness and variety in the Psalter than in any other book of the Old Testament. It constitutes the response of the Church to the divine demands of prophecy, and, in a less degree, of law; or, rather, it expresses those emotions and aspirations of the universal heart which lie deeper than any formal demand. It is the speech of the soul face to face with God. Its words are as simple and unaffected as human words can be, for it is the genius
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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