#07 Sabbath Musing
Our Holy God displays His jealousy for the glory of His Great Name by the advancement of His Gospel.
Principally He displays His jealousy by purifying His people. For those called by His name are to turn from worthless idols to serve the living and true God (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10). He is God, and there is no other; He is God, and there is none like Him (Isaiah 46:9). For the sake of His own name He defers His anger from us. He does not cut us off so that we may praise Him. Our refining and trying is for His own name’s sake in order that we do not profane His name. For He will not give His glory to another (Isaiah 45:9-11). As it says in Titus 2:11-14, “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works” (emphasis mine).
We are equipped with everything good that we do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom glory shall be given forever and ever (Hebrews 13:21). The Scriptures are given for this very thing: that we be complete and equipped (2 Timothy 3:16-17). We have been granted all things pertaining to life and godliness, by this divine power, through the knowledge of Him so we are called to His own glory and excellence (2 Peter 1:3).
Unrepentant sinners may have temporary success in their wickedness, but will garner for themselves wrath in the end for the purpose of displaying the Holy nature of God (Romans 9:17). We are not to fret because of them or be envious of. They will soon fade away like the grass and whither like the green herb. In just a little while, the wicked will be no more. The wicked will perish because they are like the glory of the pastures; they vanish—like smoke they vanish away. They will be altogether destroyed and their future be cut off (Psalm 37:1-2,10,20,38). So woe to him who builds a town with blood and founds a city on iniquity. For by their destruction the whole earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea (Habakkuk 2:12,14).
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