Day 19
Read Psalm 79
The people of Israel clearly understood that their defeat by the Babylonians, along with the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple (586 BC), was God’s punishment of Israel for their failure to keep the covenant they made with Him. Remember a couple of days ago we saw that a covenant was a promise between two people or two nations – in this case between God and the people of Israel. One of the most common Old Testament ways to describe the breaking of this covenant promise was the metaphor of a marriage. The Old Testament Prophets say that Israel was married to God (a marriage covenant), and when they went after other gods, they were cheating on their husband. And God was a jealous God. The first 5 verses of Psalm 79 describe the destruction of Jerusalem, the Temple, and the jealousy of God.
It is strange to think of God as jealous. When we think of jealousy we think of it as a sign of insecurity, even weakness. But the word for “jealousy” in Hebrew has two meanings. Put positively it means “great passion for” someone or something. Put negatively it means “to be jealous for” someone or something. God’s jealousy for Israel, and for us, is not based upon any insecurity or weakness on His part; God’s jealousy is based upon His great passion for us. God knows that going after other gods, be they the idols of Babylon or money, power, or reputation in America, is self-destructive. We want God to be jealous for us.
When we read about God’s wrath (vs. 5) we have a similar response. The word “wrath” conjures up images of someone with short-tempered rage or irrational fury. But, we know God is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. God’s wrath is his total commitment to that which is good. We want God to be angry at evil. If God simply shrugged his shoulders in indifference at human trafficking or slavery or deception and corruption what kind of God would that be? God’s wrath is connected to God’s justice in the same way God’s jealousy is connected to his love.
Beginning in verse 6, the Psalmist calls God to restore Israel. He says in verse 8, “May your mercy come quickly to meet us, for we are in desperate need.” And again in verse 9, “Help us, O God our Savior, for the glory of your name; deliver us and atone for our sins for your name’s sake.”
It is not surprising then that when the New Testament writers talk about Jesus and the Church, one of the metaphors most often used is that Jesus is the great Bridegroom and the Church is his bride. In Ephesians chapter 5, when Paul gives instruction on how a husband and a wife should relate to one another, he says that husbands should be willing to give their lives for their wives just as Christ gave up his life for his bride, the Church. God’s great passion for us, His jealousy for us, is seen most clearly in His willingness to die to rescue his bride.
Prayer
One of the great corporate confessions has us pray, “We confess that we have hungered after that which does not satisfy.” Spend some time confessing to God how you have hungered after “gods” that do not satisfy. And remember his mercy, kindness and great passion for you.
Comments