Date: September 20, 2012
To: The Body of Christ
From: Aldwin and Wendy Naruse
Subject: Our daily devotional journal
Re: Jealousy of God
The Jealousy of God
Envy, indignation, to desire eagerly, to desire to have.
Intolerant of rivalry or unfaithfulness, flirting, covetous, demanding, envious, green eyed, grasping, mistrustful, suspicious, doubting, questioning, (Doherty)
Covet, desire to have, envy, desire eagerly, provocation (Vine)
Exclusive single mindedness of emotion may be morally blameworthy or praiseworthy. It depends if the object of jealousy is the self or some cause beyond the self. In the former case, the result is envy or hatred for others. In the New Testament, it is the antithesis (opposition, contrast) of love and hence the enemy of true fellowship. However, the other possibility of divine jealousy is a consuming single minded pursuit of a good end. (Brindle)
The positive usage is frequently associated with the marriage relationship where the jealousy for the exclusiveness for the relationship is the necessary condition of its permanence. Scripture also witness to a positive application of jealousy. It finds this idea a highly relevant term to denote God’s holy zeal for the honor of his name and the good of his people who are bound to him in the marriage covenant. In this sense, the jealousy of God is the essence of His moral character, a major cause for worship and confidence on the part of his people and the grounds for fear for His enemies. (Marshall)
Psalm 78:58
For they provoked Him to anger with their high places, And moved Him to jealousy with their carved images.
The Israelites brought their sins with them when they settled in Canaan. The children were like their fathers and brought their own corruption into their new habitation. They sometimes seemed devoted to God, but they presently turned aside and provoked him to anger with their carved images. Idolatry was the sin that most easily beset them, which they often professed their repentance. But however, they often relapsed and repeated them. When God heard the cry of their iniquity which came up before Him, He was wroth (angry, wrathful) . He deserted His tabernacle among them. He removed their defense which was upon that glory. God never leave us until we leave Him. When His people treacherously forsook Him, He justly forsook them and all His glory departed. He gave them all into the hand of His enemies. Those that God forsake become easy prey to the destroyer. (Henry 663)
Commentary:
God is jealous when His children turn their love and devotion to other gods. When we do this, we become estranged from God. God created us for Him. He desires and deserves total devotion and allegiance from us. And when we give all of our time, energy and focus on other gods (TV shows, our hobbies, our car, our children, our social parties, another person, and the like), we provoke God to anger. God’s jealousy is a good jealousy because we were bound to Him in covenant when we accepted Jesus Christ as Lord. God commands us to love, honor and respect Him. He is the only One who has the right to demand that of us. God is the creator. We are children of God through Jesus Christ. We become legitimate heirs.
Proverbs 6:34
For jealousy is a husband’s fury; Therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.
commentary:
When a wife commits adultery, the punishment is death. She shall be reminded of this sin all the days of her life. Her adultery will be punished just as fire burns clothing and coal burns feet. When a woman is married, she has no business even looking at another man, for whatever reason. Just her curiosity alone is adultery. If she is married, why would she need to look at other men? What reasons can she have to warrant this unfaithful behavior? Is looking a sin? Is the American culture promoting satan? Are we not to avoid even the appearance of evil? Why do we look and smile at strangers? Is it to be friendly or is this part of the lust of the eyes? Why do women look and smile at other men when they are married already? What happens when eye contact is exchanged? Is it not the start of a negative soul tie? What does it mean when a stranger comes up to a woman as asks her “do you have the time?”
Whenever a man and a woman who are not married to each other exchanges eye contact, a negative soul tie is established. It all starts with just “one look.” This is called the lust of the eyes. If he sees something he likes, he will think about it and if he does this long enough, he will want to take action. People don’t just commit adultery. When they say things like “it just happened, I didn’t mean to,” that is a lie from the pits of hell. It happened because one or both individuals took interest in the other and started thinking about having sex with that person. This is called the lust of the flesh. If that thought was allowed to grow, it is only a matter of time before the forbidden act is manifested. And when they have rationalized their sin or want of sin, they have given themselves a justification to commit adultery. They will say things like, “ Oh, but he is so kind to me, or no one ever took time to care about me, or my husband does not meet my needs at all.” These are their justification for committing adultery. They think that they have really valid reasons to commit adultery. This is called the pride of life.
● Sisters, do you know that if you are married and you have long conversations with another man or share a meal together or even smile at another man at work, or fantasize about him that is adultery?
● Did you know that if you are married, just thinking about another man is adultery, even if you are just thinking that he is a nice guy, a kind person, a thoughtful man?
● Do you know that if you think that your pastor is such a good speaker and that he is so spiritual that you are indeed committing adultery?
● Do you know that idols come in many forms? It could be an actor, a pastor, or co-worker?
● Did you know that if you are married and you praise another man, that you have just committed adultery?
● Did you know that you can commit adultery with another man even if you are not in the same room as him or have never even spoken to him? It all stems from the heart.
The Bible tells us to guard the affections of the heart. But women today are so vulnerable. They become such easy prey to the men who are nice and kind to them. These men say things like “your husband just doesn’t know what he has” or “If I was your husband, I would take really good care of you” or “you deserve better than this.” These men (wolves in sheep’s clothing) know that women are emotional creatures and are in need of attention and affection and these men gladly offer themselves to provide that for the women. What the women don’t realize is that because they refuse to submit to their husbands and the Lord Jesus Christ, they will listen to what their itching ears want to hear. They will open up their hearts to a man who gives them “sweet talk” and they will start thinking things like “how nice if only my husband was like this guy” or “why can’t my husband pay me this kind of attention.” They begin to entertain these ungodly thoughts of men and then they second guess their husbands. This is how the devil gets
his foot in the door and starts to cause havoc in a marriage. Women, be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. Wake up and smell the rat !!! Don’t fall for the deceitful words of a “smooth talker.” He is from the pits of hell.
2 Tim 3:1-6
But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! 6 For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts,
2 Peter 2:1-3
But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.
2 Peter 2:12-14
12 But these, like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption, 13 and will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you, 14 having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children.
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2 Peter 2:17-19
17 These are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. 18 For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error. 19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage. The reason is when you are married and you are a believer, your sole affection and devotion is supposed to be for your heavenly husband, Jesus Christ and your earthly husband only and no one else. If you have feelings for another man, even if it is just sympathy or empathy or just feeling sorry for another man, it is adultery.
And if you are a believer and single, did you know that your sole affection and devotion is supposed to be for your heavenly husband, Jesus Christ, only? You are not to have eyes for any man out there. You were married to Jesus Christ when You said “yes” to Him. A single woman looking at men is adultery to Jesus Christ. It is a violation against God’s law.
Ezekiel 39:25
“Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: ‘Now I will bring back the captives of Jacob, and have mercy on the whole house of Israel; and I will be jealous for My holy name—
Deuteronomy 4:24
For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.
2 Cor 11:2
2 For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
commentary:
There are two kinds of jealousy: a godly jealousy and an ungodly jealousy.
A picture of godly jealousy:
“Those who love freedom seek to guard against whatever threatens the freedom of others. Paul proved his love for the church by seeking to protect it from false teachers. Paul's godly jealousy sought to keep the Corinthians from going astray. He encouraged them to live for Christ. Paul refused to commend himself as he preached the gospel rather he commended Christ. Godly jealousy is a protective jealousy. Parent's jealousy over their children seeks to protect them from what is harmful. This type of jealousy forgets about itself. It is revealed through thoughtfulness for the other. This is a powerful ceaseless motive straight from the heart of God.” (Davis)
2 Cor 5:12-15
12 For we do not commend ourselves again to you, but give you opportunity to boast on our behalf, that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart.13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; or if we are of sound mind, it is for you.14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.
A picture of ungodly jealousy:
Ungodly jealousy is envy. “Envy is an undue, zealous desire for what someone else has or is. Envy is a sinful attitude that gives birth to sinful actions. Envy leads you to do things contrary to God's will to achieve your goals. Paul identifies envy as one of the works of the flesh.” (Winstead) This type of jealousy is of the flesh and it is evil. It is a partnership with the devil. It stems from greed and lust and is to be avoided at all cost. Those who continue to rationalize and justify their thinking and attitude will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Galatians 5:19-21
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
John 2:17
And His disciples remembered that it is written [in the Holy Scriptures], Zeal (the fervor of love) for Your house will eat Me up. [I will be consumed with jealousy for the honor of Your house.]
Commentary:
Jesus had just turned over the moneychangers’ tables. He is jealous of His Father’s house. The temple was dedicated for prayer, but the merchants used it for their business, to make money. They were disrupting the peace of the temple. Jesus was executing a righteous anger toward the money changers.
God is a jealous God. His jealousy stems from His great love for us, His children. His jealousy for us makes Him constantly watch over us and protect us from the evil one. We watch over our children and seek to protect them from danger because we love them. How much more God does that for us. God paid the ultimate price to redeem us back when He sent His only Son, Christ Jesus, to die for us. There is no one on this earth who deserves total and absolute love and devotion from us except God. He has every right to be jealous of us, His children, because He created us. We belong to Him. Why would God not be jealous after He sacrificed His only begotten son, paid the ransom to redeem us and then watch us get entangled with the world and become estranged from Him? Why do we think that we can accept the gift of God, who is Jesus Christ, be healed and delivered from satan’s grip and then go right back into our sin like a dog returning to his vomit and not
provoke God to jealousy? We need to be careful. We are crossing a fine line when we sin with our eyes open. We are messing with eternity and it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Hebrews 6:1-6
Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do if God permits.
4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.
Husbands ought to consider and wise up because husbands give their wives independence. They are being foolish because they should have a godly jealousy for their wives. They should watch over them and protect them from the world. If not, satan will be right there accommodating them and to snatch their wives .
The duties of husbands toward their wives are as follows:
Love - Ephesians 5:25-33
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. 28 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. 30 For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. 31 “For this reason a man sh all leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
Live with for life - Matt 19:3-9
3 The Pharisees also came to Him, testing Him, and saying to Him, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?” 4 And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female, 5 and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? 6 So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.” 7 They said to Him, “Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?” 8 He said to them, “Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. 9 And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery.”
Be faithful to - Mal 2:14-15
14 Yet you say, “For what reason?” Because the Lord has been witness Between you and the wife of your youth,
With whom you have dealt treacherously; Yet she is your companion And your wife by covenant.
15 But did He not make them one, Having a remnant of the Spirit? And why one? He seeks godly offspring. Therefore take heed to your spirit, And let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth.
Be satisfy with - prov 5:18-19
18 Let your fountain be blessed,
And rejoice with the wife of your youth.
19 As a loving deer and a graceful doe,
Let her breasts satisfy you at all times;
And always be enraptured with her love.
Instruct - 1 cor 14:34-35
34 Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. 35 And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church.
Honor - 1 pet 3:7
7 Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.
Confer with - Gen 31:4-16
4 So Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field, to his flock, 5 and said to them, “I see your father’s countenance, that it is not favorable toward me as before; but the God of my father has been with me. 6 And you know that with all my might I have served your father.
Provide for - 1 Tim 5:8
8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
Rule over - Gen 3:16
16 To the woman He said: “I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; In pain you shall bring forth children;
Your desire shall be for your husband, And he shall rule over you.”
Conclusion:
Therefore, be faithful to God and love Him with all your heart, soul and might. That means, the Lord Jesus comes first and then your earthly husband, second. May we cease from provoking God to anger by loving God and our husbands more than anyone or anything else on earth.
Work cited
1. Abraham, Kenneth A., The Matthew Henry Study Bible King James Version. Thomas Nelson Inc.:Nashville, TN 1994.
2. Marshall, Howard I., A.R. Millard, J.I. Packer, and D. J. Wiseman. New Bible Dictionary. Downer's grove: Intervarsity Press, USA. 1996.
3. Vine, W.E, Vines Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, Blue Letter Bible, 1940.
4. Brindle, Wayne A., The King James Study Bible, Thomas Nelson Publisher: Nashville, TN 1988.
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5. Doherty, Kathleen M., and E. Ward Gilman, The Merriam Webster Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, Incorporated: Springfield, MA, 1989.
6. Davis, Jim, Conflicting Spirits of Jealousy, http://www.focusongod.com/2Corinthians-11_1-33.htm,
7. Winstead, Richard, Envy and Jealousy, http://userwww.service.emory.edu/~cmadd01/envy.html
8. Broomall, Wick, The Open Bible Expanded Edition. Nashville: Thomas Nelson publisher, 1985.
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