Love Ethics

Mar 27 2008

Week 4

Published by l.beech

Godly Significance

Love Ethics Cell - Week 4

God’s significance is providing “good.”

God saw that it was good - Gen 1:4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25, 31
- verse 4: The Hebrew word טוֹב (tov) in this context signifies whatever enhances, promotes, produces, or is conducive for life. It is the light that God considers “good,” not the darkness. Whatever is conducive to life in God’s creation is good, for God Himself is good, and that goodness is reflected in all of His works.
- verse 10: land is good - the land is separated from the waters
- verse 12: vegetation is good.
But this goodness is only in relation to his crown of creation: We are that crown.
- The 4^th day is when God says “it is good” for US.
He is the “God who sees,” meaning He “provides.”
- el ro’ i - Genesis 16:13 - Hagar (she is the first one to realize that He is the GOD who sees our need)
- esp. Gen 22 ( a main chapter), v 8 “God will provide.”
- Gen 22:14 “The LORD will “see to it”/provide,” This is where He met Abraham.
He is “good” (Genesis chapter 1), and Eve in 3:6 “she saw … good” without God means: “God is no longer significant!” Eve saw to her own good. She now has the mind set that “God is no longer significant to me as I see to my own needs.”

God identifies Himself by significance.

Yahweh*:
- God replied to Moses, “I Am Who I Am, Say this to the people of Israel; I Am has sent me to you.” (Exodus 3:14)
- Then, Who is God?
He is present. “God’s immediately preceding promise to Moses had been, “Certainly I will be with you” (Ex. 3:12). So his assertion in verse 14 would seem to be saying, “I am present” - that is what I am.
He is the faithful presence. “Indeed, the fundamental promise of His testament is, “I will be their God and they will be My people” (Ex. 6:7, etc.; contrast with Hos. 1:9); thus “Yahweh,” or “faithful presence,” is God’s testamentary nature, or name (Ex. 6:2,4; Deut. 7:9; Isa. 26:4).”
El-Shaddai* :
- Exodus. 3:2 -6 God spoke further to Moses and said to him, “I am the LORD (Yahweh); and I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as God Almighty (El-Shaddai), but by My name, LORD (Yahweh), I did not make Myself known to them. “I also established My covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land in which they sojourned.
- The patriarchs knew God as El-Shaddai, but now God was making known His name, Yahweh. This indicates that God was at work progressively revealing His own character through His name. He was unfolding His plan.
Jehovah - jireh (Yahweh-raah) *:
- This idea of a progressive unfolding of God’s character through His name is overwhelmingly apparent in Moses’ writings. In addition to Ex. 6:2, He uses several combined names for God in the context of specific events where a new aspect of God’s character is illustrated.
- I Am …. will provide (Genesis 22:14) “Call me Mr. Significant.”
- For example, in Genesis 22 when Abraham is told to sacrifice Isaac, God reveals Himself as Yahweh-raah (or Jehovah-jireh). In verse 8, Abraham said to Isaac, “God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” When God did provide a ram for the burnt offering, “Abraham called the name of that place The LORD Will Provide (Yahweh-raah), as it is said to this day, ‘In the mount of the LORD it will be provided.’” (vs. 14). The place was called Yahweh-raah but Yahweh revealed Himself as God who provides what he asks for in return.
Yahweh-nes*: Yahweh is My Banner
- Exodus 17: 14-16: Moses built an altar and named it The LORD is My Banner; and he said, “The LORD has sworn; the LORD will have war against Amalek from generation to generation” (vs. 14-16). The altar was named Yahweh-nes because God fought the war for Israel and prevailed.
  - Banner was symbolic of Yahweh’s faithful, powerful presence and working. He is the powerful source of miracles. We are under the standard (flag) of the LORD - we are empowered and fight under His authority.
  - Liken it to the Roman standard under which the legions fought under the Emperor’s authority.
Yahweh also entails*:
- “goodness, graciousness and compassion” - see Exodus 33 & 34
- 17 The LORD said to Moses, “I will also do this thing of which you have spoken; for you have found favor in My sight and I have known you by name.” 18 Then Moses said, “I pray You, show me Your glory!” 19 And He said, “I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the LORD before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion.” 20 But He said, “You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!” (boldface, underline, mine)
- Evident in all the titles and names of God …
  - Creator God (Elohim)/Almighty God (El-Shaddai)/ Lord of Hosts (Yahweh Tsebha’oth), etc…
  - El Elyon: Most High God - sovereign over all Genesis 14:18 - Melchizedek served the same creator God as Abram did.
  - All of these titles clearly pronounce: “I am significant to you!” It doesn’t matter what you think!

God jealously guards His significance.

Not long after this incident (Moses seeing the glory of God), Yahweh reveals more depth as to His moral character, desire for intimacy, and covenant longing by announcing Himself as “the LORD whose name is Jealous (Ex. 34:14).
The word qanna, is only used 5 times in Scripture and solely of God in the context of idolatry. As a name for God, Jealous gives power to the second commandment (Ex. 20:5) which commands Israel not to make and to worship idols, “for I am a jealous God.” This, of course, is not an unrighteous jealousy. Instead, it “is covenantal: it is the virtue of the committed lover, who wants total loyalty of the one he has bound himself to honor and serve.”

Jealously means determined zeal in God’s hands.
- Yahweh’s zeal for His own name/glory means:
  - “I must be significant to you!” I don’t care have much you “dis” me. I don’t care how crappy you treat me. I don’t care if you run away from me! I will be significant!
  - Exodus 34:14 - You must worship no others gods, for the Lord, whose very name is Jealous, is a God who is jealous about His relationship with you.
  - You can worship idols - I am still significant - I am not quitting!
  - His throne established by jealousy (see Isaiah 9:7 - Messianic prophecy).

Of the increase of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty
will accomplish this.

Zeal from qin’ ah (kin’ aw)-From qana‘; jealousy or envy — envy(-ied), jealousy, X sake, zeal.

Qana’ - A primitive root; to be (causatively, make) zealous, i.e. (in a bad sense) jealous or envious — (be) envy(-ious), be (move to, provoke to) jealous(-y), X very, (be) zeal(-ous).

Compare Jealousy of God and Man

1Cor 12:31 - But you should be eager for the greater gifts.

Eager = zhloute which is from ze’ loo (pronounced dzay-lo-o)
Jealously desire the greater gifts.
1) to burn with zeal
1a) to be heated or to boil with envy, hatred, anger
1a1) in a good sense, to be zealous in the pursuit of good
1b) to desire earnestly, pursue

See in 1Corinthians 14 that the (greater) gifts of the church were determined by the needs of the body of Christ - seek gifts that are significant to the church.

14:1 Pursue love and be eager for the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.

Again Eager = zhloute which is from ze’ loo (pronounced dzay-lo-o)

14:12 It is the same with you. Since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit,seek to abound in order to strengthen the church.
- Eager = zelotes (pronounced dzay-lo-tace)
- 1) one burning with zeal, a zealot
  2) used of God as jealous of any rival and sternly vindicating
  his control.

God’s victory: all creation proclaiming his significance (Rev 5:11ff)

5:11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels in a circle around the throne, as well as the living creatures and the elders. Their number was ten thousand times ten thousand - thousands times thousands - 5:12 all of whom were singing in a loud voice:

“Worthy is the lamb who was killed

to receive power and wealth

and wisdom and might

and honor and glory and praise!”

5:13 Then I heard every creature - in heaven, on earth, under the earth, in the sea, and all that is in them - singing:

“To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb

be praise, honor, glory, and ruling power forever and ever!“

5:14 And the four living creatures were saying “Amen,” and the elders threw themselves to the ground and worshiped.

Victorious Love Output :

You are significant to another person:

For whom you have sacrificed substantially
- Even though they have pushed you away - your platform is “I love you. I am not going away.”
- I Love you - by faith – that is building love. You will feel love because you matter to someone else. You have imputed - placed - significance upon another person.

Investment greatly increases the significance of almost anything.
We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too…Just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would his own children. - 1 Thessalonians 2:8,11

Significant Significance Points

What is Significance?