The Jealous God

I've arrived at chapter 17 in Packer's book Knowing God. Immediately I think about jealousy in my own life and cannot seem to marry that word anywhere with God! Jealousy as defined by me is very similar to coveting. I want what someone has or more specifically I want to be where someone is or in the position of prominence that they hold. The result of this attitude is inner bitterness and anger and an attempt to do everything I can to attain to my desirable results.

Personal illustration: Recently I went hunting with a friend. We were both in a tree stand with equal opportunity, but he had the nice gun and the prime spot for deer. On top of that - he has already shot several deer this year - which means he will only shoot if something with big horns comes through. Meanwhile in my head I am in the tree, low to the ground, in a new spot, with a gun that is not designed to shoot deer. You already know where my mind went when we came out of the woods and I found out he had seen 5 deer and they were all too small for him to shoot.

Is divine jealousy the same way? Does God react in this way when things "go wrong" on the earth? Packer's question had me captivated: "How can jealousy be a virtue in God when it is a vice in men?"

He poses two facts to answer these questions that are helpful.

1. Biblical statements about God's jealousy are anthropomorphisms - that is, descriptions of God in language drawn from the life of man. He says: "The reason why God uses these terms to speak to us about Himself is that language drawn from our own personal life is the most accurate medium for communicating thoughts about Him that we have."

God uses these words for our better understanding. These words however can stand alone in their meaning with God - apart from the affects of sin that may result from these attitudes in our hearts.

2. There are two sorts of jealousy among men, and only one of them is a vice. Vicious jealousy is an expression of the attitude,'I want what you've got, and I hate you because I haven't got it.'
But there is another sort of jealousy - zeal to protect a love relationship, or to avenge it when broken.

"... He demands from those whom He has loved and redeemed utter and absolute loyalty, and will vindicate His claim by stern action against them if they betray His love by unfaithfulness."

May God help us come to appreciate this jealousy for the love that is woven into it's very fabric. This jealousy is designed for our good and for His name sake. We can view this jealousy as harsh and cruel, but the effect that God has intended is in the very least - the opposite. I love my Savior more today because of His divine jealousy. I am free to relinquish the sinful jealousy of my heart to the righteous impeccable jealousy of God purchased for me in the death of His Son.

DT