Zealous Love

Zealous Love

A ZEALOUS LOVE

They have ears but cannot hear, and noses but cannot smell. They have hands but cannot feel, and feet but cannot walk, and throats but cannot make a sound. And those who make idols are just like them, as are all who trust in them. Psalm 115:6-8

We tend to equate jealousy to pettiness and selfishness. We see it as a vice, not a virtue. But when God was giving Moses the Ten Commandments and said He was a jealous God, this is not the type of jealousy He was speaking of. If we were to substitute the term “zealous” for “jealous,” it would help in our understanding of it.

God is zealous in His love for you, and He wants you to be zealous in your love for Him. God loves you and wants an exclusive relationship with you. For example, doesn’t a wife want her husband to be faithful to her? Doesn’t a husband want his wife to be loyal to him? Doesn’t a parent look out for his or her children and care about their welfare? Of course.

This is essentially what God was saying when He told Moses, “I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods” (Exodus 20:5). In other words, “I want your complete love. I don’t want you to bow down before other gods.”

When the Israelites worshipped the golden calf while Moses was on Mt. Sinai, they rationalized their behavior by saying it was a “festival to the Lord” (Exodus 32:5). Call it whatever you like, but it was blatant idolatry. And a person who really knows God, who has experienced a new birth, and is living in fellowship with Him cannot love anything more than God. To value anything more than God is idolatry. To love anything more than God is idolatry. God wants us to love Him with all our heart, soul and body.

Prayer: Lord, I love You with everything that is within me.

Scriptural Reading: Psalm 115:1-8

1 Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, But to Your name give glory, Because of Your mercy, Because of Your truth.

2 Why should the Gentiles say, “So where is their God?”

3 But our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases.

4 Their idols are silver and gold, The work of men’s hands.

5 They have mouths, but they do not speak; Eyes they have, but they do not see;

6 They have ears, but they do not hear; Noses they have, but they do not smell;

7 They have hands, but they do not handle; Feet they have, but they do not walk; Nor do they mutter through their throat.

8 Those who make them are like them; So is everyone who trusts in them.

NKJV

Zealous Love