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Godly Jealousy |
Can Jealousy Be Good? | |||
Jas 3:13-18 Notice what is associated with jealousy in this passage. It is bitter. It is demonic. It is accompanied by every evil. It is the exact opposite of wisdom. Why? Because wisdom begins with the fear of God, and jealousy is an expression of pride. Pride and godly fear cannot co-exist. Notice, now, the behavior we are to cultivate, if we are to be a righteous people, is one of peace, integrity, and gentleness. This is the behavior we are called to exhibit, as we show love for one another. It is the same attitude that Paul requires of the Christian. Ro 12:10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; So how is it Paul also tells us this, in the very same letter? | |||
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Obviously, Paul's motives in that passage seem to be acceptable, but do the ends justify the means? Is he simply justifying an evil act by seeking a good result? Isn't this the very hypocrisy that James warns us away from? Of course, we know that there's more to it than that, but looking at this passage, the oddness of there being a 'good' jealousy really struck me. We see other examples of God sanctifying an otherwise poor attitude, and this probably shouldn't surprise us as much as it does. We have heard of godly anger. It is possible, Paul tells us to be angry without sinning. How then is it ever sinful? Or, how is such a sinful thing ever good? We ought to see in this another example of our own fallen state. God created us with the full emotional spectrum we know today, but in His creation, the emotions were pure. As with everything else about man, our emotions have been corrupted by sin. A careful look at Scripture can help us to sort out which parts of these emotions are clean. | ||||
Can God's Jealousy Be Bad? | ||||
Ex 34:14 for you shall not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God. God's word not only declares Him jealous, it names Him Jealous! In fact, the word used to declare Him jealous in this verse is used only in reference to Him. It is no other's jealousy but His. In Him there is no evil, nor can there be, so, if He is jealous, then jealousy in itself is not the problem. Over and over in Scripture, we find references to God's jealousy. The following verse is but one, particularly familiar example. Dt 32:21 'They have made Me jealous with what is not God; They have provoked Me to anger with their idols. So I will make them jealous with those who are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.' In fact, this very verse is used by Paul to make plain to the Jews that our acceptance by God has been in the plan from the start. When we look upon this verse, we should read it as a mission statement. This is God's purpose in us: to make them jealous! Does He, then, want us to provoke an evil emotion in them? No way! Although this has often been, and often will be, the reaction. Ac
5:17-20 Ac 13:45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy, and began contradicting the things spoken by Paul, and were blaspheming. What's happening here? Our purpose is to provoke them to jealousy so that they might be saved, but instead, they blaspheme, and are lost! But in this, our treatment is no different than Jesus' own. He, too, came to save them, but they chose to be lost instead. | ||||
What Is Jealousy? | ||||
| Three major ideas get rolled into the concept of jealousy, and we can find examples of each in Scripture. An Intense Interest for the Honor and Prosperity of Another | ||||
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This is the way McClintock & Strong put it. This is the feeling we see expressed by the prophets. In this aspect, the word may often be translated as 'zeal.' Consider the example of Elijah: 1 Ki 19:9-10 It would seem that Elijah's jealousy was good. He was concerned for the LORD's concerns. However, it is easy for this emotion to get carried to extremes. Paul speaks of this in Romans, as well. Such zeal needs to be tempered by something, it needs to be reigned in by wisdom: Ro 10:2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge. | ||||
God's Regard for the True Faith of His People | ||||
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This is the way Unger's defines jealousy, when it's God's jealousy we're discussing. It is His concern that His people remain true to their faith. He is not willing to share them with another. When His anger is shown towards His people, it is because of this jealous regard for their own good. Zec 1:14 So the angel who was speaking with me said to me, "Proclaim, saying, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts," I am exceedingly jealous for Jerusalem and Zion."'" Ex 20:3-5 | ||||
The Feeling in a Husband of Exclusive Right in His Wife | ||||
This is the ISBE definition, the most basic definition, and yet the most complex. This makes God's jealous concern for our faith more understandable, for it makes it more human. It is because of this perspective that God is described so often as the Husband of Israel. Much of the prophetic byplay between God and Israel revolves around images of marriage. And, of course, that image is carried into the New Testament. This, too, can be good or bad, depending on the degree it is allowed to hold sway. It is right for a husband to be concerned for the purity of his bride, and the bride for her husband's purity. It is wrong when that jealousy becomes a disabling emotion, leading to undeserved violence and anger. Rest assured, however, that God, our Jealous Husband, is never undeservedly angry. Indeed, what other Husband, seeing His wife so defiled, goes to such great lengths to not only reclaim her, but to purify her! | ||||
The Friend of the Bridegroom | ||||
| Before we can get at the root of holy jealousy, we need to sidetrack a bit, and develop this relationship that God has declared with His Church. We know our role as the bride of Christ. We understand His role as the bridegroom, but who or what is the friend of the bridegroom? This was a term John the Baptist used to describe himself. Jn 3:29 "He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. And so this joy of mine has been made full. In pursuing this study, I came across an intriguing article that describes the friend of the bridegroom in detail. I think it behooves us to understand that office before we continue. The friend of the bridegroom is the person called among the Jews showshabiyn; and paranymphos, among the Greeks. From Jewish writings, we learn: The Friend Defined | ||||
| 1 | There were generally two; one for the bride, another for the bridegroom. | |||
| 2 | Chosen out of the most intimate and particular friends of the parties:-a brother, perhaps. Wouldn't you like to have that description? The most intimate friend of Christ Jesus the Bridegroom! | |||
| 3 | The Jews believe that this was an ordinance appointed by God; and that He Himself was showshabiyn to Adam. | |||
| 4 | It was reckoned one of the indispensable works of charity: much depending on the proper discharge of it. | |||
| 5 | Those who were engaged in this office, were excused from some duties of religion, because they had so much to do about the new-married pair, especially during the seven days of the marriage feast. | |||
The Office Defined | ||||
Before the marriage: | ||||
| 1. | To procure a husband for the virgin, to guard her, and to bear testimony to her corporeal and mental endowments; and it was upon this testimony of this friend that the bridegroom chose his bride | |||
| 2. | He was the internuncio between her and her spouse elect; carrying all messages from her to him, and from him to her: for before marriage young women were very strictly guarded at home with their parents or friends. | |||
During the wedding: | ||||
| 1. | To vindicate the character of the bride. | |||
| 2. | To sleep in an apartment contiguous to the new-married pair, to prevent the bride from receiving injury. | |||
| 3. | It was his office to see that neither the bride nor bridegroom should be imposed on by each other; and therefore it was his business to examine and exhibit the tokens of the bride's purity, according to the law. | |||
| 4. | When they found that their friend had got a pure and chaste virgin, they exulted greatly; as their own character and the happiness of their friend, were at stake. To this the Baptist alludes, Jn 3:29, (This my joy is fulfilled). | |||
| 5. | They distributed gifts to the new-married couple, which, on their marriage, were repaid either by their friend, or by his father. | |||
| 6. | They continued with the bride and bridegroom the seven days of the marriage, and contributed variously to the festivity and hilarity of the occasion. | |||
After marriage: | ||||
| 1. | The shoshabin was considered the patron and advocate of the wife, and in some sort her guardian, to which the apostle alludes, 2 Co 11:2. He was generally called in to reconcile them when they had been at variance. | |||
| 2. | They appear to have had the keeping of the marriage contract, which in certain cases they tore, when they had reason to suspect infidelity on the part of the woman, by which the marriage was dissolved; and thus the suspected person was prevented from suffering capitally. | |||
| 3. | If the husband had either abandoned or divorced his wife, the shoshabin took her, and acted to her as a brother-in-law; Jdg 14:20: (But Samson's wife was given to his companion, whom he had used as his friend: or, to his paranymph). | |||
So Who Is This Friend? | ||||
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Adam Clarke concluded that if Christ were the Bridegroom, and the Church (the genuine Church) were the Bride, then the ministers of the Gospel performed to role of showshbeyniym, with the duty of maintaining the Bride's purity. Do you sense the pastor's burden? Do you begin to understand their concern for the flock? So much is at stake! I wonder, now, in looking at this: if the pastor is the Friend of the Bridegroom, does his responsibility end with the Wedding feast? 2 Co 11:2 For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin. "I was your wooer for your husband, and the mediator of your marriage; through me you received the bridegroom's gifts; wherefore I am now affected with jealousy." (Vincent's) This is Paul crying out over the Church. This is godly jealousy. In it, we can see all three of our definitions of that jealousy: the intense interest for the honor of another, in this case, God; the reflection of God's regard for their true faith, and the feelings of the intimate friend of the Bridegroom, for both the Bridegroom's happiness, and his own character are at stake! The concern of the Bridegroom for His Bride, Paul also described for us, and in doing so, he made clear not only Christ's concern for us, but also how we were to be concerned for our own loved ones. Eph 5:25-27 | ||||
Bringing It Together | ||||
Look at our original Scripture again. Ro 11:11-14 We are all being called to an office as ministers, as Friends of the Bridegroom. In a special way, we are called to fulfill this role towards the Jews. Why? To make them jealous. Why should it make them jealous? Because they know that God has described Himself often as the Husband of Israel, and just as God is a jealous God, they are jealous of His relationship to them. It stings to think of Him being wed to another. It hurts. The husband that is so easy to take for granted suddenly regains our interest when we see him provoking another's interest. The wife that has so long been another part of the house suddenly becomes more beautiful when we fear to lose her to another man. This is the dilemma that God is provoking in His chosen people, in hopes that their love will be rekindled, and they will seek the harder for His favors. Yet, His favors are indeed big enough to encompass both. As much as we are called to this special mission, we are also called to a more general fulfilling of that same role. We are called to provoke all non-believers to jealousy! This does not mean we are called to go out and aggravate them no end. Our actions, our attitudes, our lifestyles, should provoke them to jealousy - not because we have lots of great things, not because we have no cause for sorrows, but because like Paul, we have learned to be content in every circumstance. It needs to be in our prayers that we would so provoke jealousy in those we come in contact with. It needs to be in our prayers that we would be provoked to such a jealousy by our brothers and sisters - not a jealousy of combat, but a jealousy that causes us to try harder. We need to pray even more that our lives would stir our brothers and sisters to such a godly jealousy! | ||||
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©2002 - Jeffrey A. Wilcox |