Part 8 | The Only True God–God is Jealous

The burden against Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.  God is jealous, and the LORD avenges; The LORD avenges and is furious. The LORD will take vengeance on His adversaries, and He reserves wrath for His enemies; The LORD is slow to anger and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked. (Nahum 1:1-3)

The “supposed” dilemma goes something like this:

• God is love” (1 John 4:8)
• Love is not jealous (1 Corinthians 13:4)
• God is jealous (Nahum 1:2))

How then asks the sceptic, “can God be jealous when several verses say God is love and 1 Corinthians says love is not jealous?” Is there a contradiction here in the Scriptures in regards to God and His character? Or could it be that we need to study God’s Word and look at further evidence of the meaning of jealousy? Jealousy is frowned up as a negative emotion. It carries with it a heavy and negative weight in today’s usage of the word. Isn’t it true that we pity the man who is jealous of his colleague’s success? We frown upon people who react to a neighbour’s newly found fortune by becoming overcome with jealously. Aren’t we troubled to hear of a jealous husband who distrusts his wife or a work colleague who deliberately sabotages someone’s work so they don’t get promoted.

Jealousy is spoken of in the scriptures in a positive light and a negative light. It is desirable because it is a communicable attribute of God, but it is also listed among the sins which believers are warned against. However, it is not possible for God to have a sinful attribute and God’s Word certainly doesn’t call sin something which is in God. Therefore, let us study the negative and positive use of jealousy in the Scriptures and make a clear distinction.

NEGATIVE JEALOUS VERSES

And the patriarchs, becoming envious, sold Joseph into Egypt. But God was with him (Acts 7:9)

Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. (Romans 13:13)

For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish, and that I shall be found by you such as you do not wish; lest there be contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults; (2 Corinthians 12:20)

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy ; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; (1 Corinthians 13:4)

idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, (Galatians 5:20)

For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. (James 3:16)

These verses show us that jealousy is not pleasing to God. It is listed among sins such as heresy, hatred and idolatry and the believer is commanded to repent of it, turn from it and not to be jealous in a sinful way. But the question is what is sinful jealousy?

The Othello Syndrome

“Othello, the Moor of Venice” is a tragedy by William Shakespeare written in approximately 1603. It is the story of betrayal, racism, love, murder and jealousy.  This fictional story provides a backdrop to understanding “jealousy” in its most heinous and degrading form. In the play Othello murders his wife Desdemona, as a result of a false belief that she has been unfaithful. He is convinced that she is unfaithful and her fidelity, loyalty, devotion to her husband is brought into question. In the story Othello is brainwashed by certain characters in the story and heeds their counsel and thus the story unravels of suspicion, jealousy, betrayal and eventual murder.

English psychiatrist John Todd (1914-1987) named a morbid form of jealousy “The Othello syndrome”. It is often called delusional jealousy and is a psychiatric disorder in which a person holds a delusional belief that their spouse or sexual partner is being unfaithful.

An affected person typically makes repeated accusations of unfaithfulness based on insignificant or minimal evidence, often citing seemingly normal or everyday events or material to back up their claim. They may also take great pains to test their partner’s fidelity and can go to considerable lengths to monitor their behaviour and movements. This may be taken to extremes, such as “private-eye” type surveillance outside of the partner’s residence or workplace, following them into the bathroom in case their partner has an illicit meeting or even hearing the voice of the perceived lover.

The reason I shared this example is to demonstrate that this negative jealous eventually leads to further sin. In Othello, jealousy leads to gossip, backbiting, deceit, lying, hatred, suspicion and eventually murder. These are all opposites of what 1 Cor 13 and the fruits of the Spirit.

Obsessive Jealousy

The sin of delusional jealousy can lead to obsessive love, which in turn leads to other moral sin.

• An unhealthy relationship whereby one person is emotionally obsessed by the other.
• The person obsessed cannot accept the other person to be happy when they are suffering.

We often see this type of obsessive relationship where jealousy takes control amongst young immature couples and teenagers. In the extreme cases, obsessive jealousy can be the cause of stalking, rape, and murder, among other things.

Clearly these characteristics of jealousy are not to be found in God. The Bible says this about God:

• You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, and cannot look on wickedness. (Hab 1:13)
• God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. (1 John 4:16)
• Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. (James 4:8)

POSITIVE JEALOUS VERSES

But earnestly desire (zēloute) the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way. (1 Corinthians 12:31)

Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts… (1 Corinthians 14:1)

Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy… (1 Corinthians 14:39)

The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously? (James 4:4-6)

For I am jealous (zēlō) for you with godly jealousy (zēlō). For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it! (2 Corinthians 11:2-4)

A godly jealousy is the clear distinction here. It is the complete opposite of the suspicious and negative jealousy. A godly jealousy desires the good of the Church and the believers. It is a moral attribute of God which is communicable and can be shared. Paul here is expressing through his godly jealousy, the communicable attribute of God.

A true jealousy, a godly jealousy, Paul felt for the Corinthians, is one that arises from a deep passion for the welfare of another. It becomes careless of self, and it is always manifested in a tenderness and a thoughtfulness about someone else. It may never cease, because it is a powerful motive, just like the jealousy in both God’s and Paul’s hearts. Paul likens his jealousy to that of a father who has betrothed his daughter to a young bridegroom.

Word Definition

The word “jealous” is translated in the Old Testament from the Hebrew word qin’ah, and in the New Testament from the Greek word zelos. The root idea behind both words is that of “warmth” or “heat” which signifies a deep emotion one can have for someone. The Hebrew word for jealousy carries with it the idea of “redness of the face that accompanies strong emotion.”

NAHUM

Author: The author of the Book of Nahum identifies himself as Nahum (in the Hebrew “Consoler” or “Comforter”) the Elkoshite (1:1).

Purpose of Writing: Nahum did not write this book as a warning or “call to repentance” for the people of Nineveh. God had already sent them the prophet Jonah 150 years earlier with His promise of what would happen if they continued in their evil ways. The people at that time had repented but now lived just as bad if not worse than they did before. The Assyrians had become absolutely brutal in their conquests. Now Nahum was telling the people of Judah to not despair because God had pronounced judgment and the Assyrians would soon be getting just what they deserved. God has spoken to comfort His people and to let them know He was about to do take decisive action on an enemy which quite frankly could not be brought down.

Brief Summary: Nineveh once had responded to the preaching of Jonah and turned from their evil ways to serve the Lord God Jehovah. But 150 years later, Nineveh returned to idolatry, violence and arrogance (Nahum 3:1-4). The book of Nahum concerns itself primarily with one theme, the fall and destruction of Nineveh. This violent and bloody city had raped and pillaged God’s people and the surrounding kingdoms with no mercy. Sadly, the Ninevites did not heed’s Nahum’s warning and the city was brought under the dominion of Babylon.

Assyrian Cruelty

When we read of the bloodshed and violence in the Old Testament I want you to remember the historical context of each judgement and indictment pronounced by Yahweh. There was always a reason and justification for the wrath and vengeance of God. Whilst God exercise patience with the wicked Kingdoms, His fury eventual poured out.

Regarding the extreme cruelty of Assyria, their own records bragging of their victories is proof enough. Far from trying to cover their brutality, they actually gloried in it. Their monuments and histories brag about how “space failed for corpses” and about “how unsparing a destroyer is Assyria’s goddess Ishtar.” They brag about how high the pyramids of human heads were which they built from their conquered foes and how they burned cities and impaled human beings and cut off hands and flayed bodies and so forth.

The Assyrians had become absolutely brutal in their conquests. They were notorious for hanging the bodies of their victims on poles and putting their skin on the walls of their tents among other atrocities. Not only were they brutal, but they boasted about it, flaunted it, bragged about it and advertised their cruelty. Visit the British Museum (room 9) to see the Assyrian Collection and you will see a glimpse of their kingdom and violence. It is in this context that Nahum prophesied and God brought down His fury by overthrowing the Assyrians.

One of the ancient monuments discovered in the ruins of ancient Assyria has this inscription by King Ashurbanipal (reign began in 883 BC.) of a conquered city:

Their men, young and old, I took as prisoners. Of some I cut off the feet and hands; of others I cut off the noses, ears, and lips; of the young men’s ears I made a heap; of the old men’s heads I built a minaret.

Why does Nahum Start with God’s Jealousy?

Consider for a moment the content of this book and the horrific backdrop in which this was written. It is graphic and contains the language of warfare. It does not make for sweet lullaby stories. On the surface, this book reads like it is primarily concerned with people. We have involved here the people of God, the Assyrians, Babylonians and various other kingdoms. However, notice something very peculiar about this book.

As I have studied the book of Nahum over the last few days, the Lord showed me that this book, whilst dealing with human warfare, is primarily concerned with Himself. Notice how the book of Nahum begins with an attribute of God. When we think about the attributes of God, the most common ones on the tip of our tongue would be holy, love, mercy, eternal and maybe faithful. Jealousy as an attribute of God is used quite sparingly compared to all the other attributes of God in scripture. What is interesting is how the prophet Nahum evokes God’s jealousy at the beginning of a book which appears to be primarily concerned with human warfare.

God’s Jealousy for His Own Glory

I would submit to you that God is first and foremost concerned about His own glory, more than anything else. More than humans, Israel and anything else, God is concerned about His own glory and His own reputation.

For My own sake, for My own sake, I will do it; For how should My name be profaned? And I will not give My glory to another. (Isaiah 48:11)

I am the LORD, that is My name; and My glory I will not give to another, nor My praise to carved images. (Isaiah 42:8)

God does everything for His own glory. He loves Himself and the reason He has allowed everything and anything is for His own glory. This assertion should not come as news to us. Scripture is relentless in reminding us that God does everything for His praise. God loves to be praised, honoured and given glory. God is immense in caring for His own reputation and honour because He is jealous for His own glory. God is excited about God.

Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.”  When Jesus heard that, He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it. Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was.” (John 11:1-4)

I find this portion of scriptures absolutely incredible. We read of an assured, calm and confident Jesus, who knows exactly what He is doing. However within this incident we can begin to understand the length Christ goes to, to bring glory to His own name. There are three observations which can be made here which God wants you to know about Himself.

1. Verse 6 – Jesus very deliberately allowed Lazarus die. He had the authority and the power to raise Him from the dead even where there were geographical boundaries. Yet He was no hurry and let Him die.
2. Verse 4 – His primary goal through this sickness was not Lazarus to be healed or for the family to be spared the grief, but that God’s name and His Son would be glorified through it. He was motivated by a passion, a jealousy, a zeal for the glory of His own self.
3. Verse 5 – The secondary reason we see is the love for His people. Whilst God is jealous for His own honour, glory and reputation, He is also motivated by a love for Mary and Martha.

This sheds further light to help us understand the book of Nahum. In the context of understanding Nahum, God did everything for the glory of God. He chose to respond to Israel’s plight primarily to bring honour to His own name. He is jealous for His own glory and then for His people. He refuses to allow the Assyrians to walk over God’s heritage and consider Him as nothing.

In John we see again the words of Jesus just before His crucifixion. His chief and primary concern is the glory of God. Jesus confirmed that the mission He came to do, had been accomplished, namely to glorify God on earth. Jesus was zealous and jealous for God’s glory on earth. This is what primarily concerned Him before His death.

It is a rebuke to the prosperity gospel and the gospel which teaches He did everything primarily for you. I want you to understand that He did everything for Himself. Not in a selfish way, but in a way which He deserves because He will not share His glory with another.

Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was. (John 17:1-5)

And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:1-10)

Why did He do it all? Creation, the garden, the fall, the cross? So that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. God is jealous to guard this glory which belongs only to Himself. He will not allow His own to give glory anything else other that Himself. Your affections and worship belong to God alone. He will jealously guard this.

• God loves Himself more than He loves you
• God’s number 1 priority is His own glory
• God relentlessly pursues His own glory
• He loves you and I as demonstration of His grace and kindness.

Narcissism, Megolomanic or Egotism

God’s love for Himself is not narcissistic, megalomaniac or egotistic. In a human being that is a detestable characteristic and we look upon that with shame and disgust. When a human does this, they are saying they are better than everybody else, higher than everybody else, their opinion matters most etc. We don’t like to be around people who constantly sing their own praises. It becomes a detestable relationship and arrogance and boasting soon follow.

However, God loves His own praise because He is infinitely worthy. He is royal, majestic, the giver of life, merciful and graceful to creatures who are not.

Oprah, a hero of tens of millions of television viewers expressed her own beliefs without any understanding of the Bible. Oprah went on to explain how she had been a Baptist until she heard a charismatic Pastor make the statement that God was a jealous God.  She told her viewers in her opinion God was simply love and God being described as a Jealous God made her really stop and think.  She had a difficult time in church in her youth, when the minister spoke of God as being jealous. She said that she couldn’t understand why God would be jealous of her.

God’s Jealousy for His Bride

Holy jealousy means that one is appropriately possessive of something that belongs to him or her. For example, a husband is not willing to share his wife’s affections, heart or body with any other man because she is his. She may be happy to share his gifts and energies with the body of Christ and the larger world, but his heart belongs exclusively to her. That is a kind of holy and entirely appropriate jealousy. Perhaps a practical example will help us understand the difference. If a husband sees another man flirting with his wife, he is right to be jealous, for only he has the right to flirt with his wife. This type of jealousy is not sinful. Rather, it is entirely appropriate. Being jealous for something that God declares to belong to you is good and appropriate. Jealousy is a sin when it is a desire for something that does not belong to you. Worship, praise, honour, and adoration belong to God alone, for only He is truly worthy of it. Therefore, God is rightly jealous when we worship, praise, honour, or adoration is given to idols.

The Bible gives us illustrations, spiritual meanings (anthropomorphisms) of God being married to His believers. We are called the bride of Christ and He is called the groom. The most intimate relationship God has setup on earth is marriage. There is no other relationship like it. It is the highest form of intimacy and it is this relationship which God spiritually unites Himself together with His Church. Not only does He love His bride, He shed His blood for her. Therefore, we belong to God because He has purchased us with His own blood and He will jealousy guard what belongs to Him.

Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. (Acts 20:28)

Beloved there would be more concern if the God of the Bible was not jealous for His glory and for His bride. It would mean that nothing important was at stake or that God did not take too seriously His honour or relationships. The Scriptures say this regarding His bride:

For your Maker is your husband, The LORD of hosts is His name; And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; He is called the God of the whole earth. (Isaiah 54:5)

Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife (Revelation 21:9)

I will betroth you to Me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to Me (Hosea 2:19)

Tags: God is Jealous, Jealous, Jealousy, Oprah Winfrey, Othello, Othello Syndrome, William Shakespeare

Category: Latest Article