Psalm 69:7-10…“It is zeal for your house that has consumed me; the insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” vs. 9
In the Gospel of John Jesus begins his ministry by cleansing the temple, and John writes that his disciples remembered this verse from Psalm 69 as they watched him chase out the sheep and cattle while overturning the tables of the moneychangers. His zeal had taken control of him, maybe even replacing his good judgment. He loved the temple so much and he hated to see it being profaned. Some would say that ultimately his zeal meant his death. It gave ammunition to his religious enemies.
Sometimes that’s what happens when we become passionate about some good thing. We throw all of our energy into supporting a cause or protesting injustice, and we are so convinced about the rightness of our position that we risk losing friends and being estranged from family members. And sometimes if we get involved in demonstrations or civil unrest we never quite know what the consequences of our actions will be. It’s conceivable that we could be arrested.
Most of us aren’t willing to take such risks, maybe because we don’t have enough passion for the cause, or maybe because we don’t like confrontation. There are many reasons for remaining on the sidelines in moments of tension. But thank God for the prophets and for those bold enough to make a stand! It’s because of people like them that injustices can be overcome!
Thought for the Day: Do I ever have passion for anything? How do I keep a lid on my zeal?
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