He is קִנֵּ֧אתִי for me

So the angel that talked with me said unto me, Cry, saying, Thus says the LORD of hosts; I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy. (Zechariah 1:14)


Have you ever starred at the stars, perhaps having the privilege of using a telescope?  These little objects decorate our nights, time after time.  The lion king describes them as our ancestors looking down at us, I don't think thats accurate, but nevertheless entertaining.  We can use these high powered microscopes to enjoy the sight of them from afar, from a safe distance.  Stare at them, examine their features, certain behaviors, you can almost get to know them without really having any communication or contact with them.  We stand in awe, down here, lightyears away.  So now lets change the object of our attention, and put God in it.  Have you ever starred at God, perhaps having the privilege of using the Holy Spirit to reveal Him?  He decorates our nights with these little objects, time after time.  The bible describes Him as the God of Abraham and Isaac  and Jacob...and ours, accurate I feel.  We can use the Holy Spirit to enjoy the sight of Him...from afar, from a "safe distance."  Stare at Him, examine His features, certain behaviors, almost getting to know Him without really having any communication or contact with Him.  We stand in awe, down here, one prayer away.  Bring a star close to us and we shall realize quickly just how immense and powerful they are.  Big balls of fire.  Bring God close today, we shall realize quickly just how immense and glorious and awesome and beautiful and loving and tender and warm...He really is.  And yet, in the midst of my hardness, while, like Jerusalem being tried in the book of Zechariah, I was being purified and pressured while my enemies were at rest such as Jerusalem's, He spoke, softly, clearly, humbly, "I am jealous for you." The I am, jealous about me?! After everything?! Yes, as a father would be of His beloved ones so is He of us.  For we were created for His pleasure, to bring a smile to His face, to bring sunshine to the one who commands the sun to rise every morning.  Sometimes, while we are being roughed up and we sit and receive correction and groan, our enemies are at rest, almost in peace, but He has not forgotten us, for His jealousy burns for what is His.  But we cannot stare at Him from a "safe distance," we must dive into the pool of His glory.  An area so dangerous the priest in Moses' time would wear bells and a rope to make sure they're still alive after being in the very presence of God.  The messages here at ZMI, during chapel this week, have one clear message, are we daring enough to press into the one who loves us so, risking it all as we may never come back from His presence, getting lost in who He is and giving more than before?