In my time with the Lord I have
been reading through the Old Testament prophets. I have enjoyed it immensely.
So much of God’s character is revealed through the situations and prophecies. I
am now at the end of Zechariah. Yesterday, I was very struck by this verse:
“Thus
says the Lord of hosts, ‘I am exceedingly jealous for Zion, yes, with great
wrath I am jealous for her.’” – Zechariah 8:2
“I am exceedingly jealous for
Zion…” We, the church, are Zion. He is exceedingly jealous for us. That verse
was not the first or only time in the book the Lord said that He was jealous for
them. Zechariah said repeatedly, “‘I am jealous for Zion,’ thus says the Lord
of hosts.”
I got very stuck on that. I know He
wants me. I know He loves me. But to think that He is even jealous over me.
Jealous? Yes, and “with great wrath” He is jealous. I’m a really jealous
person. I want to be liked, I want to be loved. I am jealous for the attention
of people that I love. (My mom is nodding her head. ;) ) That jealousy is not
always satisfied, because the people that I love also love others and may even
like others more than they like me. The hearts of the people of Israel had
wandered from God time and time again. But it amazes me that each time God
scattered them, he gathered them back to Himself. Our hearts, as theirs,
constantly wander from the fold of God. And yet, He gathers us back because He
is jealous for us.
Chapter eight continues with God’s
promises of how He will bless and strengthen Israel, how He would build them up
again, and bring them peace. Then the last verse of the chapter reads:
“Thus
says the Lord of Hosts, ‘In those days ten men from all the nations will grasp
the garment of a Jew saying, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is
with you.”’” (v.23)
I was thinking….uh…whoa. It should
be like that for every Christian. I remember my dad praying at the dinner table
often that people who don’t know Christ would look at our family and notice we
had something they didn’t have. People should notice. It should be very obvious
that God is with us.
My dear brothers and sisters, God
Almighty is jealous for us! With great wrath He is jealous for you! He gathers
you from the corners of the earth where you have been scattered. He strengthens
your feeble hands and your shaking knees. He has purposed to do you good. You
are the apple of His eye! Praise Him, all you people!
He
is jealous for me
Loves
like a hurricane
I am
a tree, bending beneath the weight of His wind and mercy
When
all of a sudden
I am
unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory
And
I realize just how beautiful you are
And
how great your affections are for me
Oh,
how he loves us so
Oh,
how he loves us
How
he loves us so
