Jealous and Avenging God

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The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord is avenging and wrathful; the Lord takes vengeance on his adversaries and keeps wrath for his enemies (Nahum 1:2 ESV).

In my last post Burning Coals believers are not to take vengeance, we are to leave this to God. Here in Nahum, three times he uses נֹקֵ֤ם to mean avenging or vengeance. These are qal, participles describing God’s character. Keeps is also a qal participle with the root word meaning watch over or guard.

God’s jealousy, vengeance and wrath cannot be separated from His love, mercy and grace. “If God did not care when our hearts are far from him (Isa 29:13) or when we adulterously give our hearts to the world (James 4:4), he would not love us…The notion of a love without jealousy and vengeance cannot survive a thorough biblical examination. It is a concept lacking passion or power. It is apathy masquerading as virtue” (G. Cook, Severe Compassion: The Gospel According to Nahum, 2016, p. 11).

The Lord has really put His jealousy, vengeance and wrath heavy on my heart lately. This world is changing rapidly and as believers we absolutely cannot love God and this world. It is impossible.

It grieves me at how easily I can be distracted and sidetracked from spending time with the Lord. I hate it! I genuinely believe that covid has and is revealing people’s hearts (my own included) in a way in which we have never seen before.

God hates idolatry and anything that competes for His people’s love, attention and affection! As this world becomes more hostile to Christians we have two choices: look like the world which brings death or look like Christ and live. While not in the same way, God will judge both the believer and nonbeliever.

I am grieved to think of my unsaved loved ones who will experience the vengeance and wrath of God. I really appreciate what Cook says, “The primary reason for missions and evangelism is not to save people from hell, as important as that is. The primary reason to abandon all to tell others about Christ is that he might receive glory” (p. 13).

May we seek ways to glorify our Triune God while there is still time.

Lord God, may we NEVER forget that You are a Jealous God, that You will take Vengeance and pour out Wrath on Your enemies. Lord God, may we not gloss over this or make light of this. Lord God, we are truly entertaining ourselves to death. May we remember our first love. May we remember You. Lord God, may we glorify You as that is the purpose that You have for us. Lord God, whenever Your people wonder what their purpose is or if they matter, remind us that it is to bring You glory! Lord God, thank You for this reader. May they carve out time to worship You today. May this reader seek You today while there is still time. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

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Blue Collar Theologian

My name is Mandy Sweigart-Quinn, I live in Lancaster, PA and I am a “Blue Collar Theologian.” I love Jesus! I am passionate about His Word (The Holy Bible)! I come alive when I can encourage others in their walk with Jesus (whether by writing or speaking). As a “Blue Collar Theologian” it is my aim to live/practice/work out my Christian hope with sincerity, authenticity and genuineness. As a “Blue Collar Theologian,” I strive to meet people right where they are (“Incarnational Theology”). I graduated in May 2019 from Capital Seminary and Graduate School with a Master's in Biblical Studies. I am a passionate, excited and enthusiastic person! I love flowers, sports and sunsets. Since January 2, 2018 I have had the privilege of being married to Nathan.

57 thoughts on “Jealous and Avenging God”

  1. This is a good reminder of how valuable grace is and i.e. being saved by GOD from His divine wrath on all who have sinned. True, “the notion of a love without jealousy and vengeance cannot survive a thorough biblical examination.” Praying for your brother and his family!

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  2. Great post and such a much needed reminder! God certainly is a jealous God because he loves us so much. So true what you said about Covid revealing peoples hearts! We can see it playing out on the global stage and in the church. I’m guilty too of being easily sidetracked. Thank you for sharing! God bless

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      2. Praise God your lockdown is over, Dean! Life here is slowly returning to “normal.” I am thankful for the warmer temperatures where I can commune with the Lord outside! Also thankful that we are part of a church body that meets in person. Love, prayers and blessings to you and Andreia!

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  3. Amen! Excellent reminder and well thought out. How well I understand what it is to get sidetracked! May we indeed remember our existence is to give Him glory! Praying for your loved ones as I pray for mine-that they may know salvation through Christ ! Blessings to you, dear friend! ❤

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  4. Great timing as this past weekend was Divine Mercy Sunday when we ask for/trust in God’s mercy and show mercy toward others. God is forgiving and compassionate so I strive to be the same, even though it’s difficult at times. During Lent I did find myself praying and speaking to God more. If we continue to pray, love and keep his Commandments or faith is victorious and graces will flow. Peace be with You!

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  5. “It grieves me at how easily I can be distracted and sidetracked from spending time with the Lord. I hate it!”
    “God hates idolatry and anything that competes for His people’s love, attention and affection!”
    I really like how well you present this Mandy, especially in these two excerpts I highlight.
    In another post on DingDash by Crissy the dangers of being distracted from the Word of God are spoken of, in which I refer to social media as the opioid of satan to this generation. So often there are many who think a short manufactured devotion is the same as reading the Word of God. It is only a deep regular experience of Him and His Word that can save souls from the wrath to come.

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  7. “Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences” 2 Cor. 5:9-11

    A gospel which disassociates the Grace of God from the Righteousness of God invalidates the fulness of all that He is. To divide His attributes is the contagion of religion.

    It is in knowing His wrath that Grace is exalted, in knowing His Grace we are humbled and are profoundly impacted by a Love which (at His Own great cost) has provided such a incomprehensible salvation to us. I am ever in debt to a grace which first loved me and continues to sustain me. Without all contradiction repentance is His greatest gift!

    Love the post!
    BT

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  8. Very well said. This is the truth: “God hates idolatry and anything that competes for His people’s love, attention and affection!”

    Praying we all will be faithful.

    Blessings from mighty King Jesus.

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  10. Thanks, Mandy. This is an important reminder.
    During covid I got into the habit of playing games on my phone.
    My husband recently saw what I was doing, and he suggested that I delete the games and read the Bible instead. I followed his advice. ⚘

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      1. RE: day

        Lots of shuttling my sister around then raked under two bushes in the back of the house. The leaves just love to collect on and under those two. Tedious job.

        How was your day?

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  12. “Lord God, we are truly entertaining ourselves to death.” Isn’t that the truth!
    What good is it to gain the whole world and lose your soul?
    I’ve been so convicted lately as well. I spend too much time on social media and for what??

    Great post!

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  14. This Covid, virtual reality world we live is causing us to run to our God in a way that perhaps Christians in the Western World have never experienced before. I like what you said, “we are truly entertaining ourselves to death”
    I too grieve for my unsaved family.
    Tomorrow I am meeting my teenage grandson and his girlfriend for lunch. I see from comments that you are involved in youth ministry. May I ask you to pray that the Lord will give me an open door to share the gospel with them? Thank you.
    Great post Mandy and AMEN to you powerful prayer .

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  15. I tend to have a short attention span with my relationship with God. Sometimes He has to put a rubber band around my head so I can snap out of it. Deep inside I know it’s part of His zeal for the relationship He wants with me. Good study, Mandy. Hugs & God’s grip – Alan

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  16. For me I truly feel like electronics is a huge distraction and I notice it as a distraction for others as well, especially the teen generation..breaks me heart. I can’t help but think how it’ll be even ten or twenty years from now, how many will be truly following Him…

    Great thought provoking post.

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    1. Thank you, Alicia! Electronics is definitely a huge distraction for me 😭🤦‍♀️ I am not on any platform other than WordPress and at times I can spend more time on here than is necessary. I also have concerns for the younger generation and what all of this will look like in the future. You are NOT alone in your assessment and thoughts, Alicia. Thank you for sharing! Love, hugs and blessings!!!

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  17. I believe I heard this from Justin Peters, but I am not sure. (I believe) he said that Jesus didn’t just come to save us from sin– He came to save us from God. (Meaning His wrath).

    Our God is a God of justice, and of course that will include wrath. I never fully understood this until I had read the entire Old Testament and saw His power. The Old Testament instilled in me great fear and awe of our Mighty God.

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    1. I did a google search and I could not find who said it! Exactly God is faithful and just to forgive our sins (1 John 1:9). God must deal with our sin and does so mercifully. I am so thankful that you have actually read the Old Testament. The more we read and study the Old Testament, the more we will love Jesus!

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      1. If I ever find it again, I will text you asap! The Christian videos/podcasts I listen to usually run an hour or more, so it’s hard to find once I lose it.

        Bible reading is so important! I’m always shocked to learn of Christians that do not (or have not) read the Word. All of it. And yes, it’s funny you mentioned that, because (and I’m sorry to say this) before I read the Old Testament, I didn’t “get” why I needed Jesus. Yikes!

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  19. An excellent post! God is indeed a Jealous God, an implication of the fact that God is Love. Thanks for this post! Even as I read that I thought about how husband and wife’s love should have a proper and godly jealousy (of course some can go beyond what is right and healthy with jealousy). Thank you for this post again sister!

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    1. Hey, Jimmy! What an awesome thought about marriage, thank you for that! Thank you SO much for this book! I am absolutely loving it and I can’t wait to see how God leads me personally and with blog posts! I am SO thankful for you, Nancy and kiddos!

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  20. I taught on colonial settlers moving inland for today’s lesson and also the social studies discussion about cause and effect, with “if…then…” statement. I guess I really enjoy teaching social sciences too, besides Bible.

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      1. Wow didn’t know that! I felt in post 2020 the social sciences is shown to be so important and some of the crazy ideas I wished Christian scholarship and apologetics in social science could have stem the tide with the radical ideology today…

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      2. Amen! I was majoring in social work and sociology. I am also fascinated by anthropology and archaeology. Christians should be present in these fields yet we are not. I also don’t think parents want to send their kids to college to be social scientists!

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      3. Thanks for sharing this. I am interested in history, American political development, sociology and economics. My parents thought I had bizzare interests lol

        Liked by 1 person

  22. Pingback: Why I Won’t Just Do It with Nike | Revbruce's Blog

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