Our Cup Overflows
There are two types of good jealousy in the Bible.
The first good jealousy is between the covenanted. God is jealous over His people; He is, in fact, a jealous God, angry if His people worship and glorify another god. “You shall worship no other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God” (Exodus 34:14 bibrefexodus34 bibrefexodus34v14; Deuteronomy 4:24 bibrefdeuteronomy4 bibrefdeuteronomy4v24). Similarly, a husband is jealous over his wife (Numbers 5:14 bibrefnumbers5 bibrefnumbers5v14); he is lovingly but fiercely protective if she gives her spousal attention and affection toward another.
The second good jealousy is like a gravity to the blessed. Paul wrote that he magnified his ministry to the Gentiles in order to make the Jews jealous (Romans 11:13-14 bibrefromans11 bibrefromans11v13 bibrefromans11v14). The blessings given by God through the gospel were obvious and made the God of blessings desirable.
Jesus connected the wine in the Lord’s Supper to the covenant: the “cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood” (Luke 22:20 bibrefluke22 bibrefluke22v20). We who participate do so by faith, in exclusive relationship with the Father and He is jealous for our communion. He desires it. He purchased it. He ordained it. He is here for it.
And when we come, we are getting something that not everyone else gets. It is good to be near to God (Psalm 73:28 bibrefpsalms73 bibrefpsalms73v28), and He’s given us grace that opened the way and draws us near in joy (Romans 5:2 bibrefromans5 bibrefromans5v2).
We have been sharing communion as a church now for 11 years, and how much thanks we have for the Lord’s faithfulness to us and the fruit He’s grown among us. He has prepared a table before us in the presence of our enemies, and our cup of blessing overflows.