The Fire of His Jealousy

“The great day of the LORD is near--near and coming quickly. Listen! The cry on the day of the LORD will be bitter, the shouting of the warrior there. That day will be a day of wrath, a day of distress and anguish, a day of trouble and ruin, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness, a day of trumpet and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the corner towers. I will bring distress on the people and they will walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the LORD. Their blood will be poured out like dust and their entrails like filth. Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the LORD’s wrath. In the fire of his jealousy the whole world will be consumed, for he will make a sudden end of all who live in the earth.”

- Zephaniah 1:14-18

It's difficult to use words like "bring distress" and "jealousy" to describe the LORD God Amighty. Yet, when the Old Testament Prophets speak the oracle of God to the people of ancient Israel, difficult words are often spoken.

Why is God portrayed as an angry, judging, not gonna take it anymore God? Could it be because He is God? Holy God? All-powerful, all-knowing, all-sufficient, ever-living, ever-giving, glorious, enthroned on high sort-of God.

(BTW, there is no other. There is NO ONE LIKE HIM!)

If the LORD is portrayed as jealous, it is because His people have turned to other gods (not unlike a wife whose husband has turned to another) or even worse, they have tried to have it both ways -- like this...

You Can't Have It Both Ways

I will stretch out my hand against Judah and against all who live in Jerusalem. I will cut off from this place every remnant of Baal, the names of the pagan and the idolatrous priests-- those who bow down on the roofs to worship the starry host, those who bow down and swear by the LORD and who also swear by Molech, those who turn back from following the LORD and neither seek the LORD nor enquire of him.

-- Zephaniah 1:4-6

The LORD God Almighty simple won't allow it. He can't allow it. There is only One God -- And He is not amused by our double-minded, "I'm only human" excuses.

I am moved to weep over my own inconsistencies, my own sin in the light of His holiness. I fuss about my stuff, I am impatient with people (especially family), I rant and rave about stupid stuff, thinking it's my right, my place, my kingdom.

But, even as the sun rises today and the newness of another day dawns with hope, I am struck down with gratitude to God that He has not meted out my punishment according to the Law and His standard of holiness. He has provided atonement and forgiveness and sanctification and justification and assurance of salvation through His only Son Jesus. I have escaped the fire of His jealousy. I can walk differently.

And this is not only for me -- as selfish as I want to be about this, I cannot keep this grace to myself. It's for you, too, my friend. No matter what you've done, make this moment your defining moment and align with the King.

He is Jesus!