Morning Meditation:"Do not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God." - Exodus 34:14

From the beginning God chose a people for His name. "And who is like Your people Israel - the one nation on earth that God went out to redeem as a people for Himself, and to make a name for Himself..." (1 Samuel 7:23).  And He chose a dwelling for His name among His people. "But you are to seek the place the LORD your God will choose from among all our tribes to put His Name there as a dwelling. To that place you must go..." (Deuteronomy 12:5). God claimed Israel for Himself, and He wed Himself to her at Sinai. He covenanted with her for her exclusive love and allegiance, and she pledged herself to Him. "For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God" (Deuteronomy 4:24). God in His jealousy longs for the faithfulness and love of His covenant people. Throughout their history, Israel has had a love-hate relationship with the Lord. "...they broke covenant, though I was a husband to them" (Jeremiah 31:32). Their loyalty towards the Lord was an expression of their love, and their rejection of God, in worshiping the gods of other nations, revealed their hatred toward God. "They made Him jealous with their foreign gods and angered Him with their detestable idols" (Deuteronomy 32:16). With the privilege of being called by the Name of the Lord, come all the rights, status, privileges, and blessings associated with His name; but Divine Sovereignty doesn't negate human responsibility. God requires the faithful love, devotion, commitment, and trust of His people; and He will bring judgment on all who oppose Him. "How long, O LORD? Will You be angry forever? How long will Your jealousy burn like fire? Pour out Your wrath on the nations that do not acknowledge You, on the kingdoms that do not call on Your name" (Psalm 79:5-6).

(1 Samuel 22:2)

Afternoon Devotion: "I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to Him."- 2 Corinthians 11:2

When God signed His new covenant of love in His blood on the cross at Calvary, we were presented the opportunity to wed our hearts to Him by faith. As the spiritual descendants of Abraham, all who come to Christ by faith, are now His people, and are called by His Name (John 10:16; Acts 15:14). "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy" (1 Peter 2:9-10). God expects the same exclusive devotion, loyalty and faithful love from His Bride today, as He has from His people Israel.

We live in this world, but we are not of this world. Our Husband has gone to prepare a home for us and is returning for us soon. He is coming for a pure and spotless Bride who has not defiled herself in the world (Ephesians 5:26-27). "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him" (1 John 2:15). It is considered spiritual adultery for a believer to love the world or anything in it. "You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God" (James 4:4). God has chosen us, set us apart for Himself, and separated us from the world. Let us be careful how we live lest we provoke Him to anger (1 Corinthians 10:22). "...for jealousy arouses a husband's fury, and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge" (Proverbs 6:34). When Israel rebelled against the Lord they were expelled from the land, but when they repented and recommitted to their covenant, the Lord restored them to the land. Repentance is the key that leads to restoration. "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength" (Isaiah 30:15). If we truly want healing to come to our land and for God's blessings to overflow, it is vital, before we intercede for any other, that we let God examine our hearts. With the condition of the world today this is one of the most important things we can do. There is no better way to acquaint oneself with the condition of another than taking the time judge ourselves before we think to judge another (1 Peter 4:17). God has given us this sacred time to purify our hearts and lives, and we want to be sure there is nothing standing in the way of God hearing our prayers (Isaiah 59:2; see 2 Corinthians 12:20-21). For the honor and glory of the glorious Name we have been given, let us make the most of this time of prayer and contrition. "Let the priests, who minister before the LORD, weep between the temple porch and the altar. Let them say, "Spare Your people, O LORD. Do not make Your inheritance an object of scorn, a byword among the nations" (Joel 2:17).

(Psalm 79:9-10, 13)