Jealous & Avenging - A Commentary on Nahum 1:2

Jealous & Avenging (2)

A jealous and avenging God is the LORD; The LORD is avenging and wrathful. The LORD takes vengeance on His adversaries, And He reserves wrath for His enemies. Nahum 1:2

Jealousy & Zeal

We examined God’s jealousy in the context of idolatry last week. This week, we’re examining God’s jealousy as His deeply passionate disposition towards his people and against injustice.

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Root words - Example: Struct

The root of the word translated “jealous” is qana’, and other words we see derived from it are translated “zeal” or “jealous(y)”

Zeal/Jealousy for Israel

Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘I am exceedingly jealous for Zion, yes, with great wrath I am jealous for her.’ Zechariah 8:2
Too long, please open your Bible Zechariah 1: 13-17
The LORD will answer and say to His people, “Behold, I am going to send you grain, new wine and oil, And you will be satisfied in full with them; And I will never again make you a reproach among the nations. Then the LORD will be zealous for His land And will have pity on His people. Joel 2: 18-19
O LORD, Your hand is lifted up yet they do not see it. They see Your zeal for the people and are put to shame; Indeed, fire will devour Your enemies. Isaiah 26:11 Note: see NLT

God’s jealousy for Israel is best understood as passionate covenantal love. It is a deep, emotional bond that moves Him to restore and rejoice over His people, and also defend them.

This divine emotion reflects a fierce loyalty born out of covenant, where God refuses to abandon His beloved even after failure.

God is not distant or detached, but a loving presence who delights in His people. His jealousy, then, is not about control but about the longing to restore intimacy and joy within the sacred bond He has formed with them.

Because this zeal/jealousy is covenantal, we in the NT can also say that God is jealous for us.

Zeal/Jealousy against the nations

Therefore wait for Me,” declares the LORD, “For the day when I rise up as a witness. Indeed, My decision is to gather nations, To assemble kingdoms, To pour out on them My indignation, All My burning anger; For all the earth will be devoured by the fire of My zeal. Zephaniah 3:8 Note: NIV uses “jealous anger”
Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, “Surely in the fire of My jealousy I have spoken against the rest of the nations, and against all Edom, who appropriated My land for themselves as a possession with wholehearted joy and with scorn of soul, to drive it out for a prey.” Ezekiel 36:5 Note: NIV uses “zeal”

God’s zeal/jealousy also burns against the nations that harm, mock, or exploit His people, revealing His passionate commitment to justice and covenant loyalty.

Vengeance

In Nahum 1:2, God’s vengeance flows from His jealousy. When nations violate His justice or oppress those He has called His own, His vengeance is the outworking of both love and justice.

It is the divine expression of a God who refuses to tolerate evil unchallenged and who acts with moral purpose to restore what has been violated. Thus, God’s vengeance is not merely retribution, but a necessary aspect of His faithful character, defending His name, His covenant, and those who trust in Him.

We must be careful

The knowledge of God’s vengeance must cause us to be fearful. We must not find ourselves perpetuating or aiding systems of injustice & unfairness.

Do not rob the poor because he is poor, Or crush the afflicted at the gate; For the LORD will plead their case And take the life of those who rob them. Proverbs 22: 22-23
Too long, please open your Bible Exodus 22: 22-2
Too long, please open your Bible James 5: 1-4

We must not be vengeful

Too long, please open your Bible Romans 12: 17-21

We must be hopeful

Too long; please open your Bible. Luke 18: 1-8

We must be thankful

Too long, please open your Bible Ephesians 2: 1-9