Follow-Up to Christians, Catacombs, and Chemistry Sets

 

Am I being real with God, or just “playing at church?” How many idols do I have in my hip pocket just in case this religion doesn’t work out? The Jews, during the time of Jeremiah the Prophet, were playing the odds. They had a number of idols and places of worship that supplemented their covenant with Yahweh. Yet God had asked them to enter into exclusive rights with him; they had not lived up to their end of the agreement. God allowed their idols to entangle them with other nations until Babylonia eventually enslaved them. They became educated slaves in the homes and construction sites of the kings of Babylon. (To read about how this happened, read the book of Jeremiah; particularly Jeremiah 21 and following.) What am I hanging onto as a separate insurance plan? The Jars of Clay songwriters remind us that our Lord has a “Love of a Jealous Kind.”

Love of a Jealous Kind

(Listen while you read)

I built another temple to a stranger
I gave away my heart to the rushing wind
I set my course to run right into danger
I sought the company of fools instead of friends

You know I've been unfaithful
With lovers in lines
While you're turning over tables
With the rage of a jealous kind

I chose the gallows to the aisle
Thought that love would never find
Hanging ropes will never keep you
And your love of a jealous kind
Love of a jealous kind

Tryin' to jump away from rock that keeps on spreading
Solace in the shift of the sinking sand
I'd rather feel the pain all too familiar
Than be broken by a lover I don't understand
'Cause I don't understand

You know I've been unfaithful
With lovers in lines
While you're turning over tables
With the rage of a jealous kind

I chose the gallows to the aisle
And thought that love would never find
Hanging ropes will never keep you
And your love of a jealous kind

Love of a jealous kind

Love of a jealous kind, yeah
Love of a jealous kind
Love of a jealous kind

One hundred other lovers, more, one hundred other altars
If I should slow my pace and finally subject me to grace
And love that shames the wise, betrays the heart's deceit and lies
And breaks the back of foolish pride

You know I've been unfaithful
With lovers in lines
While you're turning over tables
With the rage of a jealous kind

I chose the gallows to the aisle

Thought that love would never find
Hanging ropes will never keep you
And your love of a jealous kind
And love of a jealous kind

Love of a jealous kind, yeah
Love of a jealous kind, oh yeah
Love of a jealous kind

Songwriters: MASON, STEPHEN DANIEL / LOWELL, CHARLIE / HASELTINE, DAN / ODMARK, MATT; Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

“For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.” Deuteronomy 4:24.

“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.