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I was once listening to a song by Jars of Clay called "Jealous Kind" which talks about God being a jealous God. One of my friends was shocked saying that it shouldn't talk about God that way, God isn't jealous, jealousy is a bad thing. The truth is God is a jealous God, it even says so in the Bible. Exodus 20:5 says, "You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me." It also says in Deuteronomy 4:24, "For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God." In Galations 5:21 God lists things that are wrong and he includes jealousy, so is God contradicting himself? Of course not.

There is a difference between the two kinds of jealousy. In Galations 5:21 when God says that jealousy is wrong he is referring to the kind of jealousy that you or I would use. This kind of jealousy is when you want something that belongs to someone else. They might have more money than you, a nicer house, they might be better at their job, they might have a family. Basically this kind of jealousy is envy.

The kind of jealousy that describes God is a different kind of jealousy. This type of jealousy is when you desire something that rightfully belongs to you. In Exodus 20:5 when it says that God is jealous it is talking about people who are making idols and bowing down and worshiping those idols instead of giving God the worship that belongs to him. God isn't jealous of them in an envious way. That would suggest he wants something that belongs to these people. God is jealous of these people because they are giving worship to these idols, worship that rightfully belongs to God.

Now some naysayers might say, "Well that's not true, you're just making up a new definition for jealousy so that your God won't be contradicting himself." But it's true. If you look up the word jealous at dictionary.com you will get six definitions. The first definition is the one used in Galations 5:21. It says, "Feeling resentment against someone because of that person's rivalry, success, or advantages." The jealousy that refers to God is the sixth definition, "intolerant of unfaithfulness or rivalry."

The song "Jealous Kind" by Jars of Clay is referring to God being a jealous God in the "intolerant of unfaithfulness" way. In the first chorus the lead singer Dan says, "I built another temple to a stranger. I gave away my heart to the rushing wind. I set my course to run into danger. I sought the company of fools instead of friends." What Dan is saying in the song is that he is acting the same way as the people in Exodus 20:5. He's not worshiping at temples or anything like that but he is worshiping idols, things of the world whether it be money, television, fame, or lust. Then in the chorus Dan sings, "You know I've been unfaithful with lovers in lines, while you're turning over tables with the rage of the jealous kind." Here he is saying that God knows he is being unfaithful, loving one worldly thing after another. The jealous God feels makes him so angry that he gets up and turns his table over. God isn't jealous because he wants those things, he can have anything he wants, it's impossible for God to be jealous in an envious way because he has everything. God is jealous because people worship worldly thing when all worship belongs to God.

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