Zeal for God

What is zeal? In English, the word means an "eagerness and ardent interest in pursuit of something." In Greek, the words (zeal/, zealous/, to be zealous/) are translated both zeal and jealousy (and sometimes desire, envy, or covet). It means to earnestly desire something in a protective sense -- a fierce protectiveness. As a man is "jealous" for his wife, wishing not to share her in an intimate way with any other man, so God is "jealous" or "zealous" for His people. He is protective and will not share their loyalty and love for him with false Gods, idols, or worldly distractions. If we are zealous/jealous for God, we are fiercely (fanatically?) protective of him, his people (the church), and his reputation.

Definition of Zeal

Ps 69:9 for zeal for your house consumes me, and the insults of those who insult you fall on me.

Ps 119:139 My zeal wears me out, for my enemies ignore your words.

All Christians are Called to be Zealous

Jn 2:17 "Zeal for your house will consume me." (Jesus was zealous.)

Ro 12:9-13 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. (It is a command to be zealous and have fervor. This is built by faithful, diligent service to God.)

Pr 23:17 Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord.

Num 25:11 he (Phinehas) was as zealous as I am for my honor (God is zealous for his own honor)

Some Objects of Zeal Described in the Bible

Jn 2:17 ...for God's house ("Zeal for your house will consume me.")

Ac 21:20 ...for the law (many Jews who had believed) (would be highly concerned about departures from the Law taught by Paul)

Ac 22:3 ...for God (Paul was zealous, as a young Jew, persecuting the church and pursuing them to other cities)

Gal 1:14 (extremely) ...for the traditions of my fathers (Paul's former zeal for falsehood proves him to be a man with authority to speak about the radical nature of his conversion.)

Num 25:13 ...for the honor of his God (when Phinehas killed the adulterer)

2 Sam 21:2 ...for Israel (Saul tried to annihilate the Gibeonites from Israel)

Zeal can be Misguided

Pr 19:2 It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty and miss the way.

Ro 10:1-4 they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge (zeal for God cannot save a person if it is not based on the knowledge of the righteousness that comes from God)

2 Co 8:22-24 he is zealous, and now even more so because of his great confidence in you (zeal marks a brother as an example to be admired and accepted as a faithful Christian)

Gal 4:17-18 Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may be zealous for them. It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, ... (the Judaizers in Galatia were zealous to create a faction in the church)

Php 3:6 as for zeal, persecuting the church (Paul used his zeal in a destructive manner before he became a Christian)

2 Sam 21:2 Saul was zealous for Israel and tried to annihilate the Gibeonites from Israel, but this bloodshed caused God to send a drought during David's reign.

The Zeal of God

Nu 25:11-13 he (Phinehas) was as zealous as I am for my honor among them, so that in my zeal I did not put an end to them

Dt 29:20 The Lord will never be willing to forgive him; his wrath and zeal will burn against that man.

2 Ki 19:31 For out of Jerusalem will come a remnant ... The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

Isa 9:7 He will reign on David's throne ... The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

Isa 26:11 O Lord, your hand is lifted high, but they do not see it. Let them see your zeal for your people and be put to shame

Isa 37:32 For out of Jerusalem will come a remnant ... The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

Isa 42:13 The Lord will march out like a mighty man, like a warrior he will stir up his zeal; with a shout he will raise the battle cry and will triumph over his enemies.

Isa 59:17 He put on righteousness as his breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on his head; he put on the garments of vengeance and wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak.

Isa 63:15 Look down from heaven and see from your lofty throne, holy and glorious. Whare are your zeal and your might? Your tenderness and compassion are withheld from us.

Eze 5:13 When I have spent my wrath upon them, they will know that I the Lord have spoken in my zeal.

Eze 36:5 this is what the Sovereign Lord says: In my burning zeal I have spoken against the rest of the nations, ...

Eze 38:19 In my zeal and fiery wrath I declare that at that time there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel.

Eze 39:25 I will now bring Jacob back from captivity and will have compassion on all the people of Israel, and I will be zealous for my holy name.

The Zeal of Old Testament Characters

2 Sam 21:2 Saul was zealous for Israel and tried to annihilate the Gibeonites

1Ki 19:10-14 I (Elijah) have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites ... are trying to kill me

2 Ki 10:16 Jehu said, "Come see my zeal for the Lord." ... When Jehu came to Samaria, he killed all who were left there of Ahab's family