BIBLE STUDY MANUALS: PSALM 106:30 - DEEDS ARE ACCOUNTED RIGHTEOUS TO ONE AS REWARDS BY GOD

PSALM 106:30

DEEDS ARE ACCOUNTED RIGHTEOUS TO ONE AS REWARDS BY GOD

I) [PS 106:28]:

"They [the Israelites] yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor and ate sacrifices offered to lifeless gods"

A) THE ISRAELITES YOKED, I.E., SUBMITTED THEMSELVES TO WORSHIP THE LIFELESS, I.E., FALSE gods OF BAAL OF PEOR

The Israelites evidenced worship and sacrifices to the lifeless, i.e., false gods of Baal of Peor.

II) [Ps 106:29]:

(v. 29) "They [The Israelites, (vv. 4, 7)] provoked the LORD to anger by their wicked deeds, and a plague broke out among them.

A) THE WICKEDNESS OF THE WORSHIP AND SACRIFICE TO LIFELESS, I.E., FALSE GODS PROVOKED THE LORD TO ANGER AND A PLAGUE BROKE OUT AMONG THEM

The worship and sacrifice of the Israelites to false gods - considered wicked deeds by the LORD, provoked the LORD to anger and a plague broke out among them as a result.

III) [Ps 106:30]:

(v. 30) "But Phinehas stood up and intervened, and the plague was checked.

A) PHINEHAS STOOD UP AND INTERVENED FOR THE ISRAELITES AND THE PLAGUE WAS CHECKED BY THE LORD

Phinehas stood up and intervened for the Israelites, implying an action of some kind which when taken caused the LORD to have the plague checked.

IV) [Ps 106:30-31]:

(v. 30) "But Phinehas stood up and intervened, and the plague was checked.

(v. 31 NKJV) "And that was accounted to him for righteousness to all generations forevermore."

A) PHINEHAS' INTERVENTION CAUSED THE PLAGUE TO BE CHECKED WHICH ACTION WAS CREDITED BY THE LORD TO PHINEHAS AS RIGHTEOUSNESS TO HIM IN SOME MANNER SUCH THAT THE ACCOUNTING WOULD BE FOR ALL GENERATIONS FOREVERMORE

Phinehas' intervention was credited by the LORD to Phinehas as righteousness in some manner such that this accounting to him would be "to all generations forevermore". This is not to say that Phinehas received eternal life as a result of this nor that all generations of Israel or of the whole world were be credited with righteousness. The text does not stipulate either.

B) ETERNAL LIFE IS NOT IN VIEW, BUT A REWARD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS FOR GOOD DEEDS IS

Eternal life is not in view in this passage as there is no context developed in that direction. Words such as salvation, eternal life, etc., do not appear in the text.

Furthermore, since salvation is depicted throughout the bible as a free gift;

and since the definition of reward is, "Something given or received in recompense for worthy behavior or in retribution for evil acts," [http://www.dictionary.com];

then the depiction of Phinehas being accounted righteous by the LORD on the basis of his action of worthy behavior which accounting is to all generations forevermore has in view a reward - one which is eternal. But not in view is the reception of eternal life itself since it is a gift not a reward.

C) NUMBERS CHAPTER 15 PROVIDES MORE DETAILS AS TO THE RIGHTEOUSNESS CREDITED TO PHINEHAS

1) [Numbers 25:1-2]:

(v. 1) '''While Israel was staying in Shittim, the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with Moabite women,

(v. 2) who invited them to the sacrifices to their gods. The people ate and bowed down before these gods.

a) THE INDULGING OF SEXUAL IMMORALITY WAS A SACRIFICIAL RITUAL TO THE gods OF BAAL AS WELL AS THE EATING AND BOWING DOWN TO THEM

(v. 1) '''The [Israelite] men began to indulge in sexual immorality with Moabite women, (v. 2) who invited them to the sacrifices to their gods. The people [Israel] ate and bowed down before these gods. =

The indulging of sexual immorality by the Israelite men with the Moabite women here was a sacrificial ritual to the gods of Baal and evidently became a regular practice of the Israelite men]

2) [Numbers 25:1-3]:

(v. 1) '''While Israel was staying in Shittim, the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with Moabite women,

(v. 2) who invited them to the sacrifices to their gods. The people ate and bowed down before these gods.

(v. 3) So Israel joined in worshiping the Baal of Peor. And the LORD's anger burned against them."

a) THE WORSHIP OF BAAL BECAME A REGULAR PRACTICE OF THE ISRAELITES WHICH KINDLED THE LORD'S ANGER

"So Israel joined in worshiping the Baal of Peor. And the LORD's anger burned against them." =

[As a result of some of the Israelite men indulging in sexual-immorality-worship-of -Baal, "all Israel joined in worshipping the Baal of Peor." Notice that the worship of Baal involved sexual immorality as part of the worship, (v. 1). The eating and bowing down before the gods of Baal evidently became a regular practice of the Israelites also as part of the worship of Baal. These worship activities of Baal kindled the LORD's anger toward Israel]

3) [Numbers 25:4]:

(v. 4) The LORD said to Moses, "Take all the leaders of these people, kill them and expose them in broad daylight before the LORD, so that the LORD's fierce anger may turn away from Israel."

a) MOSES WAS COMMANDED BY THE LORD TO PUT TO DEATH IN BROAD DAYLIGHT ALL THE LEADERS WHO WERE BOWING DOWN TO BAAL IN ORDER TO TURN THE LORD'S FIERCE ANGER AWAY FROM ISRAEL

The LORD then said to Moses to take all the leaders of the Israelites who were bowing down before the gods of Baal and put them to death and expose them before the LORD in broad daylight in order to turn away the LORD's fierce anger from Israel. Evidently punishment of some kind from the LORD upon Israel is in view as an expression of the LORD's fierce anger, so the punishment in view would be severe]

4) [Numbers 25:5]:

(v. 5) "So Moses said to Israel's judges, "Each of you must put to death those of your men who have joined in worshiping the Baal of Peor."

a) MOSES DELEGATES TO THE JUDGES TO KILL ALL WHO WERE WORSHIPPING BAAL, NOT JUST THE LEADERS

Notice that Moses delegated to the Judges to "put to death those... worshipping... Baal" a noticeable departure from only the leaders which the LORD commanded.

5) [Numbers 25:6-9]:

(v. 6) "Then an Israelite man brought to his family a Midianite woman right before the eyes of Moses and the whole assembly of Israel while they were weeping at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.

(v. 7) When Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, saw this, he left the assembly, took a spear in his hand

(v. 8) and followed the Israelite into the tent. He drove the spear through both of them - through the Israelite and into the woman's body. Then the plague against the Israelites was stopped;

(v. 9) but those who died in the plague numbered 24,000."

a) PHINEHAS' INTERVENTION WHICH RESULTED IN THE LORD'S STOPPING THE PLAGUE WAS TO PUT TO DEATH AN ISRAELITE MAN AND MIDIANITE WOMAN EVIDENTLY INVOLVED IN SEXUAL IMMORALTY IN THE WORSHP OF BAAL

(Ps 106:30) "But Phinehas stood up and intervened, and the plague was checked.

(Compare with Num 25:7-8, 12-13)

Phinehas' intervention which resulted in the LORD's stopping the plague was to put to death an Israelite man and Midianite woman evidently involved in Baal worship. Their sexual intercourse is implied as a sacrifice to Baal to which God commanded such Israelites be put to death. Notice that this is indeed the same account in view as in Psalm 106:30-31 by virtue of Phinehas' intervention in both being described as that which prompted the LORD's stopping of the plague. This is further corroborated in the next 3 verses.

6) [Num 25:10-13]:

(v. 10) '''The LORD said to Moses,

(v. 11) "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.

(v. 12) Therefore tell him I am making My covenant of peace with him.

(v. 13) 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." '''

a) PHINEHAS' REWARD FROM THE LORD WAS A RIGHTEOUSNESS ACCOUNTED TO HIM AND TO ALL GENERATIONS FOREVERMORE - A COVENANT OF PEACE AND A LASTING PRIESTHOOD TO HIM AND TO ALL OF HIS DESCENDANTS FOREVERMORE

(Ps 106:30) "But Phinehas stood up and intervened, and the plague was checked. (v. 31 NKJV) And that was accounted to him for righteousness to all generations forevermore"

(Compare with Num 25:7-8, 12-13)

(v. 7) '''When Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, saw this, he left the assembly, took a spear in his hand (v. 8) and followed the Israelite into the tent. He drove the spear through both of them - through the Israelite and into the woman's body. Then the plague against the Israelites was stopped... (v. 12) "Therefore tell him I [the LORD] am making My covenant of peace with him. (v. 13) 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." ''' =

The righteousness which was accounted by the LORD to Phinehas "to all generations forevermore" in Ps 106 is more specifically described in Numbers 25 as a "covenant of peace" with Phinehas and of "a lasting priesthood" for Phinehas and "his descendants"

The "lasting priesthood" of Numbers 25 is stipulated in Psalm 106 as one which will last forevermore with a view to its still being in effect in the Eternal Kingdom pointing to the eternal existence of Phinehas and his descendants. This is not to say that Phinehas' intervention was what caused him to have everlasting life nor that of his descendants. On the other hand, an eternal reward is in view for Phinehas and those of his descendants who will enter into the Eternal Kingdom. The righteousness to him [Phinehas] for all generations forevermore accounted to Phinehas by the LORD is described in Numbers 25 as His "covenant of peace with him [Phinehas]" and a "covenant of a lasting priesthood." Evidently this is a righteousness from God credited to Phinehas which provides a covenant, i.e., an agreement between God and Phinehas for God to be at peace with that individual as well as a covenant of a lasting priesthood. This priesthood is to be an office designated by God which office has intrinsice in it an accounting of righteousness - an honor from God for one to exercise such a priesthood and a reminder to those from Whom that honor was bestowed and Who the priest represents.

E) THE PASSAGES OF PSALM 106 AND NUMBERS 25 DO NOT STIPULATE THAT PHINEHAS' CREDIT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS IS ONE WHICH IS TOWARD THE RECEPTION OF ETERNAL LIFE

The passages of Psalm 106 and Numbers 25 do not stipulate that the LORD's credit to Phinehas is toward the reception of eternal life. There are no words which create the context wherein the reception by Phinehas' intervention of eternal life is in view. The passages declare that the righteousness credited to Phinehas is inherent in an everlasting priesthood for Phinehas and his descendants forevermore. This cannot be construed as a declaration that because Phinehas intervened that he received eternal life. On the other hand an implication can be inferred that an everlasting covenant of peace, priesthood and righteousness can only be bestowed on one who has everlasting life. The means by which Phinehas and his descendants acquire eternal life, however, is not stipulated in either passage. Other passages need to be consulted to get this information.

F) PASSAGES IN SCRIPTURE STIPULATE THAT THE RIGHTEOUSNESS ACCOUNTED TO ONE BY THE LORD TOWARD ETERNAL LIFE IS BY FAITH, NOT BY DEEDS - NOT A REWARD BUT A GIFT

1) [Eph 2:4-10]:

(v. 4) "But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,

(v. 5) made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved.

(v. 6) And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,

(v. 7) in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

(v. 8) For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -

(v. 9) not by works, so that no one can boast.

[Notice that being saved in this passage is unto a heavenly destiny, i.e., eternal life which is described as a "gift of God", (not a reward) via a completed action moment of "faith" alone (perfect participle), "not by works", "not from yourselves", i.e., not via any human doing]

2) [Compare Titus 3:3-7]:

(v. 3) "At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.

(v. 4) But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared,

(v. 5) He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,

(v. 6) whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior,

(v. 7) so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life."

[Notice that the kind of salvation in view here is one which brings the sure hope [Greek ='elpida'] of eternal life. And that salvation unto eternal life is not by any righteous things one does. Hence if Scripture is non-contradictory, (and it is), the righteous thing that Phinehas did in Numbers 25 does not contribute to his salvation unto eternal life]

G) PASSAGES IN SCRIPTURE TEACH THAT GOOD WORKS ARE TO BE PERFORMED AFTER ONE IS SAVED UNTO ETERNAL LIFE - NOT BEFORE AND NOT TO GET OR KEEP ETERNAL LIFE

1) [Eph 2:4-10]:

(v. 4) "But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,

(v. 5) made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved.

(v. 6) And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,

[Notice that an eternal destiny in heaven is depicted as a sure secure destiny]

(v. 7) in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

(v. 8) For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -

(v. 9) not by works, so that no one can boast.

(v. 10) For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

["For" = because, i.e., once one has been saved and thus becomes God's workmanship then comes the obligation of the already and forever saved individual to do works, not to gain salvation or keep it - he already has that forever. To what specific end these works are to be performed is not stipulated here except it is evidently not to gain eternal life. Other passages clarify that these good works are to be rewarded]

2) [Compare 1 Cor 3:11-15]:

(v. 11) "For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.

[Notice that the foundation of ones eternal destiny has already been laid: "which is Jesus Christ - after which comes the capacity to build on this foundation which work is rewarded if it survives]:

(v. 12) If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw,

(v. 13) his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work.

(v. 14) If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward.

(v. 15) If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames."

H) PASSAGES IN SCRIPTURE STIPULATE THAT THE RIGHTEOUSNESS ACCOUNTED BY THE LORD TO ONE AS A RESULT OF DEEDS RESULTS IN ETERNAL REWARDS FOR THE ALREADY HEAVENBOUND INDIVIDUAL

1) [Compare Mt 6:19-20]:

(v. 19) "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.

(v. 20) But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal."

[Doing something with the intended result of storing up treasures in heaven instead of on earth, i.e., the eternal rewards vs. the short lived temporal/earthly rewards is in view as something received for deeds done - a concept foreign to the reception of the free gift of eternal life which the latter is not a reward. Notice that it is implied that ones eternal destiny is already established as heaven after which that heavenbound individual is commanded to store up treasures in heaven for themselves, persumably for enjoyment when they get there - an implied eternal destiny. Those not yet bound to heaven are obviously not being addressed, for treasures in heaven will do them no good unless they get there in the first place!

A further implication here is that there is some action one must do in such a manner in the temporal life in order to store up such heavenly treasures. Hence we can conclude that these actions do not go toward providing the eternal destination in heaven which is not by deeds but by faith as a free gift. But these deeds certainly do go toward enriching one's eternal existence when the ones addressed in this passageinevitably get there.

2) [Compare Rev 19:8]:

“And it was given unto her that she should array herself in fine linen, bright and pure: for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.“

The righteous acts which the saints performed resulted in the eternal reward of fine linen, bright and pure for the saints to wear. The reception of eternal life is not in view as a result of the righteous acts of the saints. The presence of the saints in heaven is not what the fine linen evidently represents. The fine linen is a reward for the righteous actions of those saints in their mortal lives.

3) [Compare Mt 5:43-6:6]:

(v. 43) "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'

(v. 44) But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

(v. 45) that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

(v. 46) If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?

(v. 47) And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?

(v. 48) Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

[Notice that individuals addressed are described as 'brothers', not 'pagans', 'sons of your Father'. They are exhorted to be perfect 'as your heavenly Father is perfect', i.e., believers are in view, not unbelievers, i.e., those who are destined to the Eternal Kingdom]

(v. 6:1) "[Believers] Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

(v. 2) So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.

(v. 3) But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

(v. 4) so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

(v. 5) And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.

(v. 6) But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."

[Notice that acts of righteousness when properly performed receive a reward from the "Father in heaven". Such rewards to be received might well be construed here as eternal, not temporal considering the context of "Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand, (v. 4:17). In this case, the presumption is made that those performing such acts of righteousness are already destined for heaven - confirming the continuation of the context of the previous chapter in Matthew which has believers in view as well as the Eternal Kingdom which our Lord was speaking of when He preached in verse 4:17: "Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand". By what means this eternal destiny is attained is not stipulated here. On the other hand other passages in Scripture stipulate that good works are performed by an individual only after one is saved unto eternal life, (Eph 2:8-10 )

Note that believers destined to the Eternal Kingdom are being addressed, continuing the context from the previous section of Matthew. These believers are exhorted to do acts of righteousness in a proper way for the reception of rewards. Eternal rewards then are in view, not eternal life]

4) [Compare 1 Cor 3:11-15]:

(v. 11) "For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.

(v. 12) If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw,

(v. 13) his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work.

(v. 14) If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward.

(v. 15) If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames."

[Notice with this second look at 1 Cor 3:11-15 that believers destined to heaven are in view and eternal rewards will be meted out to those who do the valuable works of gold, silver and costly stones. The eternal destiny for all believers has been established as secure in Jesus Christ alone in verse 11, which destiny is secure even for those believers who suffer the loss of all their works due to lack of living faithful lives]