Zeal

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A single-minded desire, characterised by enthusiasm and devotion. In Scripture it is often directed towards God, but God is also credited with zeal for his people and for the honour of his name. Misdirected or inappropriate zeal can degenerate into fanaticism.

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Zeal for God

1 Kings 19:9–10 ESV
There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.”
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Zeal for God’s house

Psalm 69:7–9 ESV
For it is for your sake that I have borne reproach, that dishonor has covered my face. I have become a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my mother’s sons. For zeal for your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.
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Zeal for God’s service

Romans 12:11 ESV
Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.
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Zeal for God’s law

Acts 21:20 ESV
And when they heard it, they glorified God. And they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed. They are all zealous for the law,
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Zeal for the nation

2 Samuel 21:2 ESV
So the king called the Gibeonites and spoke to them. Now the Gibeonites were not of the people of Israel but of the remnant of the Amorites. Although the people of Israel had sworn to spare them, Saul had sought to strike them down in his zeal for the people of Israel and Judah.

God’s zeal

Manifested in wrath against sin

Isaiah 42:13 ESV
The Lord goes out like a mighty man, like a man of war he stirs up his zeal; he cries out, he shouts aloud, he shows himself mighty against his foes.
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Manifested in concern for his people

Isaiah 26:11 ESV
O Lord, your hand is lifted up, but they do not see it. Let them see your zeal for your people, and be ashamed. Let the fire for your adversaries consume them.
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Misdirected zeal

Proverbs 19:2 ESV
Desire without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way.
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Zeal for national identity: the Zealots

Acts 1:13 ESV
And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James.
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