Numbers 25 tells the story of Aaron’s grandson, Phinehas. During a national crisis he acted quickly to honor God and to save the people. God commended his action and said, “I give to him My covenant of peace” (Numbers 25:11-12). Psalm 106 adds an inspired commentary.
[Israelites] provoked the LORD to anger with their deeds, and a plague broke out among them. Then Phinehas stood up and intervened, and the plague was stayed. And that was counted to him as righteousness from generation to generation forever (Psalm 106:29-31).
“That was counted to him as righteousness”
These words remind us of Genesis 15:6 in which Abraham’s faith was reckoned as righteousness. Here in Psalm 106, Phinehas’ action was reckoned as righteousness. God did not change between Genesis and Psalms. In God’s currency, faith and its corresponding action are two sides of the same coin.