Definition Of God S Jealousy
It is a sin when we desire or we are envious or we are jealous of someone because he has something that we do not have.
Definition of god s jealousy. But here is the truth god s jealousy is different than ours. It is a different use of the word jealous when god says. The jealousy of god s people for god to receive what he is owed. It is a sin as god points out in this commandment to worship or serve anything other than god.
God s point of view is not our point of view. God s jealousy is linked to his love. I would say that definition is closer to god s jealousy. It is used by those who serve god and see others unjustly withholding the honor owed god.
He isa jealous god. The bible clearly teaches that god is a jealous god. We judge him by human standards but he is not human. Exodus 20 5 states you shall not bow down to them other gods or serve them for i the lord your god am a jealous god how are we to understand god s jealousy when the bible also says that jealousy is a sin galatians 5 20.
But his jealousy is a great comfort to those who keep their covenant vows and become strangers and exiles in the world. God s jealousy is not indicative of weakness or a character flaw on his part but it is a part of his holy omnipotence. This word qana in the hebrew 1 kings 19 14. Zeloo in the greek 2 corinthians 11 2 is also translated eager envious zealous.
This is where the marriage analogy reappears. This is justified because all people were god s people first he created every single person. Jealousy just does not sound like it can be good in anyway. He will pursue his holy purposes and in his zeal he will accomplish all the set out to do.
In deuteronomy 4 24 god is described as a consuming fire a jealous god giving the idea that he will judge because of his jealousy. He is intolerant of our being unfaithful to him in the sense of our worshiping something or someone besides him and he is vigilant in guarding our virtue for it ultimately harms us to worship false gods and not have the benefits of god s love and blessings see the article on worship. God is possessive of the worship and service that belong to him. In the bible it talks about god being jealous in regards to his people worshipping idols.
The derivative which is the more specific term jealousy is the one god uses in exodus 34 when he describes himself and i have to say i find this highly significant. Godly jealousy can be easily misunderstood when considering a scripture such as exodus 20 5 which says in the context of the second commandment for i the lord your god am a jealous god visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations.