Exodus 20:4-6 The Second Commandment (part 4) I am a Jealous God.

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1 1 Exodus 20:4-6 The Second Commandment (part 4) I am a Jealous God. Last week I told a couple of you that I would be moving on to the 3 rd commandment. But, that was a bit premature. There are some very important parts to these verses that I just couldn t pass over. Something that we really haven t dealt with is the motivation behind the command not to worship idols; namely, God is a jealous God, which is point number 1 of 3. So let s begin. 1. God is a jealous God. We see this clearly in v. 5. God says, I am a jealous God. We see the same thing in Exod. 34:14 when God says, For you shall worship no other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God. I remember years ago in Wake Forest, we were going door to door around town, sharing the Gospel with people. And, of that experience, I only remember one conversation. An older man came to the door and during our conversation (in which he wasn t real friendly with us), my friend told this man that God is a jealous God, to which the man said, That s ridiculous. Jealously is a sin, and the God I serve is not jealous. Why would he say such a thing when the Bible (especially the OT) is full of references to God as being jealous? I think it had to do with this man s definition and experience with the jealousy of man. He just couldn t picture God as one who gets jealous like we do. This is understandable. When I looked up the definition here is what I found from a modern internet dictionary. 1. Feeling resentment against someone because of that person's rivalry, success, or advantages. (He was jealous of his rich brother.) 2. Feeling resentment because of another's success, advantage, etc. (He was jealous of his brother's wealth.) 3. Characterized by or proceeding from suspicious fears or envious resentment: (a jealous rage; jealous intrigues). In all of these definitions, there is some form of resentment or even envy in understanding jealously. So, when we think of jealousy, we think of some sort of envy, or lack of contentment, usually displaying some kind of selfishness. An example may be a group of teen age girls. One girl is jealous of another girl s hair. Another girl is jealous of another girl s friend, probably because she thinks she should be the friend. Another girl is jealous because her girlfriend has a boyfriend that she thinks she should have. And, we tend to categorize these feelings as jealousy. I think these kinds of examples probably fall under the category of envy, first, but our meaning of jealousy in the English language follows behind this envy and is wrapped up with it; which is why we have a hard time if God is jealous in this way. But, when I studied this week, I found that the biblical definition is different than the one we give to it. Jealousy, in the Bible, is not a negative attribute. The root meaning is zeal, and jealousy is sometimes translated as zeal. For example in Joel 2:18 the ESV says, Then the LORD became jealous for his land and had pity on his people. But the NAS says, Then the Lord became zealous for his land and had pity on his people. So, what does zeal mean? Strictly speaking zeal is defined as, fervent or enthusiastic devotion to a person, cause, or object. Do you remember the Zealots (same root word) in NT times? One of Jesus disciples was called Simon the Zealot. These folks were devoted, or zealous, about a cause. They were nationalistic Jews opposed to Roman rule. They were known for their zeal, especially in their many rebellions, which is where they got their name, the Zealots. You could even say they were jealous for their nationality. They were guarding something that was important to them. Listen

2 2 to another definition I found for the word jealousy : solicitous or vigilant in maintaining or guarding something. An example for us as Americans might be that we are jealous for our freedom in a way that we do what we can to guard it and protect it, and we are even vigilant and zealous about it. I believe this meaning is closer to the meaning of God s jealousy. God is guarding or protecting something. As we will see next week in more detail, God is zealous for his name. And, He will not give his glory to another. But, there is more to it. The whole context of the relationship between God and Israel, and today, between God and his people, is a covenant relationship, many times referred to as a marriage. In this context jealousy could be defined as a passionate zeal to guard the exclusiveness of a marriage relationship. It is not a bad thing for a husband to be jealous in this sense for his wife. And, as we will see, it is not a bad thing for a husband to be angry when his wife is unfaithful. Prov. 6:34 says, For jealousy makes a man furious, and he will not spare when he takes revenge. Really, fiery jealousy is part of love. It stems from a husband s love for his wife. When we think about jealousy in this way, the reason for the prohibition of idolatry is that God is jealous. God s jealousy is always directed against idolatry. Concerning idolatry, Deut. 32:16 says, They stirred him to jealousy with strange gods; with abominations they provoked him to anger. God is jealous because He will not allow another in his place. And anytime anyone looks to something else as the object of their worship, rather than giving ultimate exclusive allegiance to God, whether riches, or fame, or intellect, or civil pursuits, or physical lusts such as food, or pleasure, they have put an idol in the place of God. And, He will not allow it. And we all know that all of us are sinners and we have fallen short of God s glory. All of us are idolaters and God s holy, righteous, jealousy remains. Let s move on for now. 2. God s jealousy leads to judgment. We see this in v. 5. Because right after God says I am a jealous God, He says that He visits, the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me. In the context of the 2 nd commandment, God requires his people to worship only Him and when they worship an idol they sin. And when they sin by worshiping idols, God, whose name is jealous, will judge. We see this language of judgment in the context of jealousy throughout the Scriptures. Listen to these words. Deut. 4:24: For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. Deut. 6:13-15: It is the Lord your God you shall fear. Him you shall serve and by his name you shall swear. You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are around you for the Lord your God in your midst is a jealous God lest the anger of the Lord your God be kindled against you, and he destroy you from off the face of the earth. Deut. 32:21: They have made me jealous with what is no god; they have provoked me to anger with their idols. Josh. 24:19: But Joshua said to the people, "You are not able to serve the LORD, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. These are only a few verses, but the language is clear. The jealousy of God, as we defined it in the first point, leads to judgment. Now, let s move back for a few minutes to this truth we see in v. 5 of God visiting the iniquity of the fathers of the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me. What does this mean? On the surface it might seem as though God here threatens to punish children for the sins of their fathers. But, I am not sure the answer is that easy. Listen to these

3 3 words in Ezekiel 18:14-17: Now suppose this man fathers a son who sees all the sins that his father has done; he sees, and does not do likewise: 15 he does not eat upon the mountains or lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, does not defile his neighbor's wife, 16 does not oppress anyone, exacts no pledge, commits no robbery, but gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with a garment, 17 withholds his hand from iniquity, takes no interest or profit, obeys my rules, and walks in my statutes; he shall not die for his father's iniquity; he shall surely live. According to these words a son whose father is unfaithful to God may turn from his father s ways, and turn to the Lord and be saved. I believe this principle squares with the rest of Scripture: namely that Repentance and life are possible, even for a son who comes from an ungodly family. Today, you may have grown up in the most sinful environment caused by your parents, but there is repentance and life to be found. Exod. 20:5 does not teach that children are punished for the sins of their parents, but here is what I believe it means. Idolatrous parents create an atmosphere in their families that encourages their children, even later generations, also to be idolatrous. The third and fourth generations are also generations of them that hate me (according to these words). They hate God as much as the first generation did, and they die for their own sin as Ezekiel 18:20 says, The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself. The application of this is that our sinful habits, which are idolatrous at their core, create an atmosphere where sins continue for generations and judgment follows. Children, and their children, and their children often suffer the consequences of their parents sins. And, as God brings punishment upon the parents, the children suffer as well. And, worse punishment may even come upon that third or forth generation as the wrath of God is unleashed. We can see how this principle works its way through our families, societies, and cultures at large. What happened when the Israelites chased after the gods of the neighboring countries? It never happened all at once. I happened slowly over a few generations until, finally judgment came in full. The Syrians came into the northern kingdom and carried them away. The Babylonians came in and tore down the Temple and carried them away. The Romans in 70 A.D. destroyed the temple again and the Jews were dispersed. The same happens in our families. The same thing happens in our churches. Sins of the fathers who neglect the gospel reap judgment and the environment for generations reaps these sins. This is why I believe we must hold onto the Gospel of Jesus Christ for ourselves and our posterity. Do you like what you see in the churches around you? Do you like what you see in the young people that hang out with your kids? If we sow to the idols of entertainment and culture and easy believism and lack of boundaries, we will reap judgment. I think the message today is for all us to turn and be saved. Turn from giving allegiance to the idols of alcohol, or drugs, or pornography, or gluttony. Turn from anger and wrath. Turn from laziness. Turn from allowing others to raise your children. We must follow the same words that Moses told the Israelites saying: Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart

4 4 and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates (Deut. 6:4-9). This principle still stands. But, we don t simply teach and preach the commandments God gave to Moses. We have the fulfillment of these laws in Jesus. Today, we preach and teach and guard the Gospel of Christ and all the godliness that follows. Now, let me bring us back before moving on. The reason God is a God of judgment is because He will not give his glory to another. He is zealous/jealous for the fame of his name. Since, He is holy and there is no one who is holy, his character requires that He judge those who value something other than Him. He is the greatest value in the universe (or outside the universe). So, when you sin, even if it is a small sin, it falls short of his glory. And God s nature not only demands and requires judgment. It flows from his holiness. This is why we are able to say that God is just in his judgments, and because of his judgment, his holiness is upheld. This is his nature. Now, let s move on to #3. 3. God s jealously leads to mercy. For us, this point is the most glorious. And, I must admit, this truth is a dilemma for me. You see, God s nature requires judgment. But, I am not sure his nature requires mercy. You may say, Jon, He is a God of love. Therefore, his love requires that He show mercy. But I don t believe this true. Yes, He is love, but he doesn t have to show mercy. In other words, when Adam and Eve sinned, He had to judge. But, he didn t have to show mercy. He did not have to let them live. He didn t have to clothe them. He didn t have to guard the tree of life from them so that they might eat of it and continue in their state of sin forever. He did not have to say to the serpent, I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel (Gen 3:15). He was still righteous and just. This is why so many men throughout history, after realizing God s nature requires judgment, but not mercy, have said, How can man be made right before God? The reason I highlight this aspect of mercy is because v. 6 says, God shows, steadfast love to thousands (generations) of those who love me and keep my commandments. This verse is still in the context of jealous God. My question is: Who has kept his commandments? We might even be more specific here by saying, Who is not an idolater? Was it Adam? Eve? No! They disobeyed God s command not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Was it Noah? No! As soon as he came out of the ark, he got drunk and gave in to his lusts. Was it Abraham? No. He was a pagan from Ur? Many times he disobeyed the commands of God. Immediately after God s covenant with him in Gen. 12, Abraham lied to the Egyptians about his sister. He does so many other things. He tried to divert God s plan to bless the nations through his coming Son through Sarah, Isaac, in favor of Ishmael, the son of his concubine. What about Moses? Are you kidding? As soon as God appears to him at the burning bush and tells him to go back to Egypt, he says, No, I can t speak. What about the Prophets? What about the Apostles? What about Us? Which one of us is not an idolater at heart? Who deserves God s mercy in light of Exod. 20:6 which say He will bless those who love me and keep my commandments?

5 5 Listen to Psalm 1: Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. These verses may speak generally about the godly man in this life. But, our problem since the fall is that we are not that man. We are not happy. We are not blessed. But, listen to the words of Psalm 2: As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill. 7 I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, You are my Son; today I have begotten you. 8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. 9 You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. 10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. 11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him. Yet, here we are today, worshipping as Christians, products of the mercy of God. God s mercy is the reason we sing! Mercy there was great and grace was free. Pardon there was multiplied to me. There my burdened soul found liberty at Calvary. Now, if God s jealous nature requires judgment, and this displays his holiness as a righteous judge, and we find both judgment and mercy in this context, is there anything in Him that requires mercy? No! When Moses asked to show him his glory, he said, I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name The Lord. And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will sow mercy. Even in the midst of his jealous anger, He still shows mercy. In this way, there is something even more glorious displayed. I think there is something to the language of 3 rd and 4 th generation to the following verse of showing mercy to thousands of generations. I think we must understand this verse to teach that God s mercy is broader than his wrath: thousands of generations rather than a mere three or four. Since there is none who does not sin (2 Chron. 6:36), this blessing speaks of God s grace. Listen to these words: After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb! (Rev. 7:9-10). Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, "Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns (Rev. 19:6). God is a jealous God. His jealousy requires judgment. But there is mercy to be found!