INTRODUCTION

The Bible consistently identifies the Lord as a jealous God. As the Creator, He deserves man’s undivided allegiance; as the most High God, He is worthy of man’s unadulterated worship. It is often in this vein that the Bible speaks of God’s jealousy. He warned Israel not to make or bow down to any graven images (Exodus 20:4-5 [4] Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. [5] Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
See All...; Deuteronomy 5:8-9 [8] Thou shalt not make thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters beneath the earth: [9] Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me,
See All...; Psalm 78:58For they provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images.
See All...) because He was a jealous God and would have no choice but to judge such wickedness. The same was true of any false god (Deuteronomy 32:16They provoked him to jealousy with strange gods, with abominations provoked they him to anger.
See All...) or sin (1 Kings 14:22And Judah did evil in the sight of the LORD, and they provoked him to jealousy with their sins which they had committed, above all that their fathers had done.
See All...) which man allowed to come between him and his Creator. God is perfectly just in His jealousy as man was created for God’s pleasure (Revelation 4:11Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
See All...).

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For smaller children) There is no doubt God is the Creator (Isaiah 42:5Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:
  See All...). Paul made this clear in Athens when he saw they worshipped many gods (Acts 17:16Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.
  See All..., 22-25, 28-29) that could do nothing (Psalm 115:4-7 [4] Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. [5] They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: [6] They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not: [7] They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat.
  See All...). God alone deserves worship (Psalm 86:8-10 [8] Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto thy works. [9] All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name. [10] For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone.
  See All...; Psalm 113:3-5 [3] From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD's name is to be praised. [4] The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens. [5] Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high,
  See All...).
• Is it a sin for God to be jealous? Why? What separates the jealousy of God from the jealousy of man? Is it possible for man’s jealousy to be sinful? Why?
• How can God’s jealousy be a good thing for man? How can that jealousy be a cause for man to fear? Which is God’s jealousy for you at this moment? Why?

PRAYER NEEDS

• Thank God for His jealousy over His people.
• Ask the Lord to guard you from provoking His jealousy.

HYMN

Holy, Holy, Holy

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