Thoughts of a Servant

Had a good conversation with my roommates about this subject– but it definitely got me thinking.  I heard a pastor start talking about how God is Jealous and he wants us to worship him.  I knew I had this fear, but I couldn’t define it– Consider if someone was jealous on this earth and they wanted us to praise them, we would consider it arrogant and self-praising. . . But for some undefinable reason it is okay for God to say that?  I had to research this, because I know that my perception of the world jealous was skewed and it is really in the realm of zeal that he longs for us.

Russell brought up a good concept, he mentioned the word recognition in his blog–  This is what we all strive for.  Everything in our life was us in our pursuit for greatness, from the garden of Eden, to Babylonia, to Rome, to America.  To us playing sports, to anything that we do.  But why do we seek this greatness?  Because we feel that forgiveness isn’t enough.  We feel as though we have to earn our spot in Heaven.  But when God tells us that his greatness is unparalleled, and that we should praise him, it is because he is pious.  Let me explain a little further…

I was reading Deuteronomy32 today, and my prayers / questions were surely answered.  I saw this verse that completely worded my question:

16 They made him jealous with their foreign gods

and angered him with their detestable idols.

The Holy Bible : New International Version, electronic ed. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996). Dt 32:16.

Where God sees us praising false gods and He becomes jealous.  But not soon after that verse he answered:

The LORD will judge his people 
and have compassion on his servants 
when he sees their strength is gone
and no one is left, slave or free. 
37 He will say: “Now where are their gods, 
the rock they took refuge in, 
38 the gods who ate the fat of their sacrifices 
and drank the wine of their drink offerings? 
Let them rise up to help you! 
Let them give you shelter!

39 “See now that I myself am He!
There is no god besides me.
I put to death and I bring to life,
I have wounded and I will heal,
and no one can deliver out of my hand.
40 I lift my hand to heaven and declare:
As surely as I live forever,
41 when I sharpen my flashing sword
and my hand grasps it in judgment,
I will take vengeance on my adversaries
and repay those who hate me.
42 I will make my arrows drunk with blood,
while my sword devours flesh:
the blood of the slain and the captives,
the heads of the enemy leaders.”

43 Rejoice, O nations, with his people,f, g
for he will avenge the blood of his servants;
he will take vengeance on his enemies
and make atonement for his land and people.

The Holy Bible : New International Version, electronic ed. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996). Dt 32:36–43.

He makes it clear that we cannot even fathom the Glory he obtains, along the same reason we cannot see Jesus’ face.  And in actuality, if someone here were to give themselves praise, it would have been out of sinful nature as they want acknowledgement to counter their transgressions… But God has no transgressions– only glory.

Jealousy actually stems to different contexts, and in the bible it is more about striving & deep longing than it is to take advantage of:

And even more importantly, the jealousy God has here is more of zeal:

If we were to look at the jealousness of God, it is actually a Jealousy from an individual that has no rival claim to deity and sovereignty.  He alone is God, all else is His creation.

To worship the creature, rather than the Creator, is to rob God of His uniqueness and incomparability (vv. Deut 35, 39; Ac 17:22–28; Rm 1:25). The Hebrew word translated “jealous” (qannaʾ) also means “zealous.” God’s jealousy is an expression of His intense love and care for His people and His demand that they honor His unique and incomparable nature.

Ted Cabal, Chad Owen Brand, E. Ray Clendenen, Paul Copan, J.P. Moreland and Doug Powell, The Apologetics Study Bible: Real Questions, Straight Answers, Stronger Faith (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2007). 273.

 

In the end, we have to remember that our God is in pursuit of us.  He is not waiting for us to come to Him– he is in zealous pursuit for his lost sheep, and should we turn our lives He will celebrate! God doesn’t want to share our devotion (Deuteronomy 4:24).