Digging Deeper Days
Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!
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The Questions
1) What are ways we bow down to another god besides the Lord?
2) How can God be jealous?
3) Why would God be jealous for His reputation?
Exodus 34:14
Because the Lord is jealous for his reputation, you are never to bow down to another god. He is a jealous God.
Original Intent
1) What are ways we bow down to another God besides the Lord?
An idol is defined by author M.G. Easton as “image-worship or divine honour paid to any created object.” The first mention of an idol in the Bible is in Genesis 31:19, when Rachel hides her father’s idols in her saddlebag as she sets out on a journey with her husband. The Israelites also picked up idol worship during their sojourn in Egypt, but as M.G. Easton points out, “the idolatry learned in Egypt was probably rooted out from among the people during the forty years’ wanderings; but when the Jews entered Palestine, they came into contact with the monuments and associations of the idolatry of the old Canaanite races. . .” By New Testament times, according to Editor James Orr, idolatry meant not only image-worship but also “giving to any human desire a precedence over God’s will.” The Scriptures are very implicit in instruction regarding idolatry. They tell us not to bow down to false gods (Exodus 34:14) and not to defile ourselves with foreign idols (Ezekiel 20:7). Anything we put ahead of God in our lives can become an idol and must be avoided if we desire to honor the Lord.
2) How can God be jealous?
To our American way of thinking, the word jealous has a negative connotation associated with envy and pain, but in a Biblical context, jealousy has a positive meaning. The words jealous and zealous are the same Hebrew word, qana’, which means “to be zealous or jealous.” In English, both words come to us from the Greek root zelos. We can use this concept of zeal to better understand how God can be jealous. Author Kyle Idleman notes, “we think of zeal as being intense enthusiasm. That idea captures why God is so possessive about us: He is, as He says, a consuming fire of passion for us.” God’s jealousy is a way of Him showing us His love. Author Richard L. Strauss clarifies, “there is no selfishness in His jealousy. It is the appropriate expression of His holiness.” Author John Piper concurs, explaining that God’s jealousy “does not rise from fear or weakness but from a holy indignation at having his honor and power and mercy scorned by the faithlessness of a fickle spouse.” For Christians, a jealous God is a holy, loving God who is passionate about His bride, the church.
3) Why would God be jealous for His reputation?
When Israel journeyed toward the Promised Land during their exodus from Egypt, God gave them Ten Commandments to follow. Many of these commandments reflected God’s holiness and sovereignty. His first command was in Exodus 20:3, “Do not have other gods besides me.” His next command warned them not to make idols or to worship idols because He is a jealous God. (Exodus 20:4-5) As preacher Charles Spurgeon explains, God is jealous “when he beholds His throne occupied by false gods, His dignity insulted, and His glory usurped by others.” Author Ken Easley points out, “For God, jealousy may also be understood as His continually seeking to protect His own honor. . . It is right for God to seek His own honor, for He alone deserves it.” Because God is the one true God, He alone is worthy of praise, glory and honor, and He is jealous when false gods reign in the hearts of His people. As author Richard L. Strauss points out, “Since He is the highest and greatest being there is, infinitely holy and glorious, He must be passionately committed to preserving His honor and supremacy. He must zealously desire exclusive devotion and worship. To do less would make Him less than God.” May we remember each day to give the one true God the glory and praise He deserves.
Everyday Application
1) What are ways we bow down to another God besides the Lord?
If you asked me what I worship, I would answer “the Lord God” without hesitation. But if you looked closely at my life (my calendar, daily schedule, bank statement, social media activity,) would my real-life answer ring true to my words? Or would I have to add a few more “gods” to my list? Author John W. Ritenbaugh observes, “People make a god of money, athletics, hobbies, traveling, or whatever they devote almost their entire lives to.” John Piper notes that idolatry “starts in the heart: craving, wanting, enjoying, being satisfied by anything that you treasure more than God.” Even good and healthy pursuits and passions can become a problem if our heart is not in the right place, putting God above all else. We can help guard ourselves from idols (1 John 5:21) by purposing to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, which Jesus calls the greatest commandment. The more we pray, read the Bible, and focus on Jesus’ love for us, the better perspective we have of God’s rightful place in our hearts. John Piper suggests that “We make a god out of whatever we find most joy in. So, find your joy in God and be done with all idolatry.” Let the joy of the Lord be our strength as we purpose to make Him number one in our hearts and lives.
2) How can God be jealous?
It is hard to make time to hang out with extended family and friends, but I try to be intentional about it because I want to nurture those relationships. Nothing irks me more than sitting down with my loved ones to find myself staring at the back of their phones and tablets. I find myself jealous for their conversation and interaction. I want them to spend time with me. I want them to want to spend time with me more than they want to check the scores, scroll through Facebook, or post a goofy picture. I wonder if this is how God feels about us sometimes. He longs to spend time with us, share His plans with us, and abide with us. (John 15:5) God desires us to worship Him. The Scriptures encourage us to praise Him: “Sing to the Lord, you His faithful ones, and praise His holy name”. (Psalm 30:4) Scripture also tells us God inhabits the praises of His people. (Psalm 22:3) This means that praising Him brings His presence. God is longing to commune with us…are we inviting His presence, or are we ignoring His invitation, oblivious to His jealous love for us?
3) Why would God be jealous for His reputation?
Have you ever done great work on a project and not have it appreciated? Or worse yet, have the credit given to someone else? That is a little bit what it must be like for God when we don’t recognize His sovereignty. He is the Creator of the universe, yet at times we relegate Him to the bottom of our to-do list while we place other “gods” before Him. Even if they are truly wonderful things, like our family or our ministry, these other loves do not deserve our fidelity over God. Author Kyle Idleman teaches, “God is jealous for your heart, not because He is petty or insecure, but because He loves you. The reason why God has such a huge problem with idolatry is that His love for you is all-consuming. He loves you too much to share you…” God is jealous for our love and attention, and He wants to be number one in our hearts. It is a blessing to be so wholly and completely loved, but one we take for granted. Because He is jealous for His reputation as the God above all gods, He will not let us forget the glory and praise that are due Him.
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Digging Deeper is for Everyone!
1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read it, and the verses around it,
several times
3) Write down your questions
as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you
other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God
in your everyday!
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Why Dig Deeper?
Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.
In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!
Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.
Study Tools
We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources, providing the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) with an English translation.
Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Discover “origin”, “definition” and hear the original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!
Want more background? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))
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