Pulelulu ‘Epeleli 12, 2023
קנא The Jealous God
Ko e ‘Otua fua‘a ia
EXODUS 34:14
YOU SHALL WORSHIP NO OTHER GOD, FOR THE LORD, WHOSE NAME IS JEALOUS, IS A JEALOUS GOD.
‘EKISOTO 34:14
He ‘e ‘ikai te ke lotu ki ha ‘otua kehe; he ko e ‘Eiki, ‘a ia ko hono huafa ko Fua‘a, ko e ‘Otua fua‘a ia:
Divinities in the ancient world were fine with the theological equivalent of sleeping around. Worshipers could hook up with as many deities as they desired. Offer a goat to Baal, a pinch of incense to Asherah, a splash of wine to El. That was the religious, polytheistic norm. As long as each god was getting some of the action, there was no harm, no foul. The God of the Hebrews could not have been more different. He declared himself to be the only God, the only God to be worshiped, and a jealous one at that. All this would have struck the ancient peoples as narrow and nonsensical. But God's people were his bride. He wasn't about to share her with anyone else.
Yahweh is qanna ("jealous")-indeed, he could be nicknamed Jealous - not because he was domineering, but because he was so intensely, passionately devoted to Israel. "You shall worship no other god" was him saying to his wife, "You shall sleep with no other man."
Our one Lord. Jesus the Messiah, loved his bride, the "church and gave himself up for her (Eph. 5:25). He would brook no rival. His jealousy, his unconquerable love, compelled him to go the distance, even the cross, to make and keep her his spotless bride.
Lord Jesus, sanctify us,
cleanse us with water and Word, that we might be holy and without blemish.
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