What is the most prominent attribute of God

What is the most prominent attribute of God in the Elijah story – particularly in 2 Kings 1? “The Lord your God is a devouring fire. He is a jealous God. ” (Deut 4: 24) THE JEALOUSY OF GOD WHAT IS IT? WHAT DOES IT DEMAND OF US? HOW CAN WE MEET THAT STANDARD?

WHAT IS IT? OT and NT (1 Cor 10: 22) tell us God is jealous. “My name is jealous. ” (Ex 34: 14) Jealousy is a sin (Rom 13: 13, 1 Cor 3: 3) – so how can God be jealous? The Bible has two meanings for jealousy. 1. Normal sinful jealousy = envy & selfishness. (e. g. King Saul with David) = love is replaced by hate.

2. Godly jealousy – “I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy…” (Paul – 2 Cor 11: 2) Paul confronts them in anger, concerned they were being lead astray, risking their relationship with God (not because of selfishness) – angered love that stays love. “Go and confront the messengers and ask them ‘Is there no God in Israel? ’” (2 Kgs 1: 3) God’s jealousy = angered love, seeking to rescue a crumbling relationship. (2 Pet 3: 9)

WHAT DOES IT DEMAND OF US? – a covenantal relationship, like marriage. 1. Priority – 75% of God’s jealousy is provoked by idolatry (loving anything more than God – Ex 20: 3 -4) It’s natural for a spouse to say ‘I must have priority’ = the only way a marriage can work. 2. Faithfulness – No matter how hard it is, we must strive to honour and obey God.

Two reasons for faithfulness & obedience a) God is jealous for his own honour, glory & praise. He is insistent on your perfection – resents disobedience & rebellion. “Of all powers God forgives the most, but condones the least. He is pleased with little but demands all. ” (C. S Lewis) Is God self-centred? Absolutely! One true God & King of kings – There is no competition!

b) God is jealous for your beauty and joy = the holier you get, the wiser, happier and less flawed you will be. Marriage = we commit to love for better or for worse, but it doesn’t mean we don’t want to get rid of the ‘worse’. Satan’s (sin’s) lie = if you give God your priority & obedience you will miss out. God’s truth = I want you to flourish, but that only comes on the other side of faithfulness.

3. Intimacy – “I will claim you as my own people, and I will be your God. ” (Ex 6: 7) Our motivation for priority & faithfulness is love = ‘your wish is my command. ’ “We are to look at the 10 Commandments romantically. ” (Timothy Keller) God is looking for obedience motivated by love – not just out of duty or for reward (God owes me).

HOW DO WE MEET THAT STANDARD? – Priority, faithfulness & intimacy = a high bar. “You are not able to serve the Lord, for he is a holy and jealous God. He will not forgive your rebellion and your sins. ” (Josh 24: 19) Sin = spiritual ‘adultery’. We all sin & deserve death (Rom 3: 23, 6: 23) Jealousy of God is complex – combines wrath & justice with grace & love.

Ephesians 5: 23 = Jesus is the groom & we’re the bride = God literally giving himself to us. “Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy & clean” - to be presentable to a jealous God (vs 25 -26). Human jealousy = hate replaces love & wants to destroy the lover who rejects them. Godly jealousy = there is anger but always love, and He is willing to be destroyed for the all who reject Him.

The cross solves our problem – Jesus gets our judgment (fire) and we get His righteousness. Jesus’ righteousness = God can stay with us and not reject us. Look to the cross & fill your heart with His amazing grace and love. Let it motivate you to be zealous for God – to give Him the priority, faithfulness & intimacy He deserves.