Jealousy

[Eduard]

Isn't God described in the OT a jealous God? If this is true, then why is jealousy sometimes seen as a sin? As far as I know, God is described as jealous and God does not sin. Opinions?


I know we cannot really compare God being jealous with human jealousy but still.

[Lazarus Short]

We have only to look at the long rants God ranted against His wives, Israel and Judah, as they went after other lovers than Him.  He was fully justified, and in time, He sent both of them packing.  There's most of the OT in a nutshell.

[jabcat]

I saw something that said those things rightfully belonged to Him, whereas when "we" covet/are jealous, we're wanting something somebody else has that's not rightfully ours. 

[Lazarus Short]

God owns everything, and ownership has its perks.

[lomarah]

I had a glimpse of His jealousy for me once. I "saw" that all of those things that hurt me (sin/demons) He is going to destroy in His mighty jealousy for me. (And of course the same goes for all of His people everywhere.) His Spirit is the only one we should be joining with. Anything else is adultery (idolatry) and He will destroy those things because we are His alone and He is jealous for us.  :cloud9:

[Eduard]

What if I am married and some other man is talking to my wife? That's the kind of jealousy I was referring to.

[Molly]

We have only to look at the long rants God ranted against His wives, Israel and Judah, as they went after other lovers than Him.  He was fully justified, and in time, He sent both of them packing.  There's most of the OT in a nutshell.

Yes, it is.  He divorces Israel [and she goes missing, scattered throughout the nations], but he stays married to Judah because she will produce the Son of God.

Then in the NT he remarries Israel and the two sticks [Judah and Israel] become one in his hand.

That's the NT in a nutshell.

His jealousy is for his wife, his bride--we belong to Him--we, who are the especially people, chosen in him before the foundation of the world.





3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;

9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:

10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.


--Eph 1

[jabcat]

Eduard, I see it this way;  she's rightfully yours, you have a right (and obligation) to be jealous.  IMO, it goes back to the example of God's jealousy being just, because things are rightfully His.  In the instance of your wife, she's rightfully yours (the two become one flesh).

To me, much has to do with context and rightly dividing.   :2c:

[Warhawk17]

Eduard, I see it this way;  she's rightfully yours, you have a right (and obligation) to be jealous.  IMO, it goes back to the example of God's jealousy being just, because things are rightfully His.  In the instance of your wife, she's rightfully yours (the two become one flesh).

To me, much has to do with context and rightly dividing.   :2c:

I would say that's about right. Jealousy is a morally neutral word. That kind of jealousy would be out of love for your wife and your desire to never lose her, therefore it is good. There are many forms of bad jealousy though, many of which I have been guilty of at some point. That can include being jealous of someone who has more money than you, a bigger house, a hotter wife  :LH:, a better job, or a better football or baseball team to cheer for (although for me that's all in fun). If you get jealous about petty stuff like that, you're life will be miserable. To enjoy your life to the fullest, you have to accept yourself how God made you.

[Eduard]

I agree, I meant the kind of jealousy you would feel about your wife, not being jealous as in coveting, I don't think God can covet because He made everything there is.

[Warhawk17]

I agree, I meant the kind of jealousy you would feel about your wife, not being jealous as in coveting, I don't think God can covet because He made everything there is.

Well said!  :iagree:

[jedi1989]

I think feelings jealousy, anger, lust, ambition etc. all have their place. We are all made in the image of God and these emotions are put in us for a reason.  Ie. It is perfectly normal to feel jealous when your spouse betrays you, or when your efforts are not rewarded justly, or anger when you see the weak being bullied.
The challenge for us to control these urges and channel them in the right place.

[jbertonbounds]

The scripture says be angry without sinning.
Eph 4.26 - "Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger" [ESV]

[misszoolander]

He is jealous because he loves us, no?

I think it's pretty simple, we were made to love God, God already loves us, if we commit adultery against him, then out of his love he is jealous.

Well thats how I see it  :Peace2: :2c:

[jbertonbounds]

He is jealous because he loves us, no?

I think it's pretty simple, we were made to love God, God already loves us, if we commit adultery against him, then out of his love he is jealous.

Well thats how I see it  :Peace2: :2c:

:thumbsup: :iagree:

[shawn]

I had a glimpse of His jealousy for me once. I "saw" that all of those things that hurt me (sin/demons) He is going to destroy in His mighty jealousy for me. (And of course the same goes for all of His people everywhere.) His Spirit is the only one we should be joining with. Anything else is adultery (idolatry) and He will destroy those things because we are His alone and He is jealous for us.  :cloud9:

Whooo!  Now that is a good word this morning.

[ded2daworld]

Envy is not jealousy
Covetousness is not jealousy.
When interpreted in either of these 2 ways, jealousy is a sin.
Of course, God cannot be envious of anyone or covet anything a person thinks he has.
Jealousy can be wanting to protect and keep from harm those loved, since love never forces,
God weeps in jealousy when his beloved runs off to harm herself by lusting after other "gods"

(as has been said here already in a different way)

[Eduard]

 :iagree: Well said.

[jbertonbounds]

A Favorite Song

"How He Loves Us"
David Crowder Band

He is jealous for me,
Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden,
I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realize just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.

And oh, how He loves us so,
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us all

He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.
Yeah, He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.

We are His portion and He is our prize,
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes,
If grace is an ocean, we're all sinking.
So Heaven meets earth like an unforeseen kiss,
And my heart turns violently inside of my chest,
I don't have time to maintain these regrets,
When I think about, the way...

He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.
Yeah, He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.

[lomarah]

I love that song too jb. And the uniqueness of David Crowder. I can always tell when one of his songs comes on the radio before he even starts singing. :)