Sunday, September 9, 2018

God’s Chosen Nation of Israel

Temple Baptist Church - 9-9-2018
Romans 9:1-5


Introduction:

A.  I have said that Chapters 9-11 are called a Parenthetical and deal nationally with the Jew.  God is no respecter of persons but is a respecter of nations.  God, in His sovereignty, chose the Nation of Israel.  This is God’s prerogative and God’s alone.

Isaiah 46:13  I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory.

Deuteronomy 32:9-11  For the LORD’S portion is his peopleJacob is the lot of his inheritance.  He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye.  As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: (As we begin this chapter, I want to notice that “His people” (Nation of Israel) is called Jacob!)

Psalms 147:19  He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel.

B.  The context of these 3 chapters is the Nation of Israel and, if you miss this, you will end up in doctrinal error.  Many people get confused in the proper interpretation of these chapters because they make them pertain to the individual instead of the obvious, a nation.  The main incorrect teaching based upon these chapters is that of Calvinism.

C.  All three chapters begin by dealing with the nation of Israel and can only be interpreted in this light.  In chapter 10, God deals with individual salvation considering the mind set of the Jews as a nation.  That of acceptance upon the merit of their righteousness.

            1.  Chapter 9 – The Selection of the Nation.  Israel’s illustrious Past.

            2.  Chapter 10 – The Rejection of the Nation.  Israel’s blinded Present.

            3.  Chapter 11 – The Restoration of the Nation.  Israel’s glorious Future.

Vs. 1-3 - Paul’s Burden For Israel.  If a man ever had cause to turn his back on Israel, it was Paul.  The most popular man in Israel became the most hated but his love for Israel is demonstrated in verse 1.  Paul cited three truths that showed his true feelings.

1.  The Proof of Paul’s Burden.

a.  Paul was sincere about his burden.

b.  His conscience was clear of any guilt concerning Israel.

c.  The Holy Ghost bore witness of the two previous facts through inspired text.

2.  The Passion of Paul’s Burden.

a.  His Sorrow – “lie not…His – “great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart”

b.  His Sincerity – “could wish that myself were accursed”

c.  His Supplication – Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.  (Romans 10:1)

Vs 4-5 –Israel’s Blessings.

1.  Their Adoption - National, not personal - that which was external and typical, and entitled them to the land of Canaan.  If you miss this in chapters 9-11 you will miss the proper interpretation – Israel and National.

Exodus 4:22  And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:

2.  Their Glory - The ark with the mercy-seat, over which God dwelt between the cherubim—this was the glory of Israel.  The many symbols and tokens of the divine presence and guidance, the cloud, the Shechinah, the distinguishing favours conferred upon them—these were the glory.

a.  The Glory of The Lord - Exodus 16:10  And it came to pass, as Aaron spake unto the whole congregation of the children of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and, behold, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud.

b.  The Glory of The Tabernacle - Exodus 29:43  And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by my glory.

c.  The Glory of The Ark of The Covenant - 1 Samuel 4:21-22  And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father in law and her husband.  And she said, The glory is departed from Israel: for the ark of God is taken.

d.  The Glory of The Temple - 2 Chronicles 7:1-2  Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house.  And the priests could not enter into the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD’S house.

3.  Their Covenants – A pledge based upon promises.

a.  The Abrahamic Covenant – God’s People. 

1)  The Constitution of The Covenant - Genesis 12:1-3

2)  The Contents of The Covenant – Seven-Fold

a)  ”I will make thee a great nation”(A man aged and childless)   

b)  “I will bless thee”

1a)  Spiritual Blessings - Genesis 15:6  And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

1b) Temporal Blessings

1c)  Property – Genesis 13:14-17

1d)  Possessions – Genesis 24:34-35

c)  “I will make they name great” - Abraham, mentioned some 300x – second to only Christ.

d)  “Thou shalt be a blessing” - He was a blessing in his day – He was a blessing in Christ’s day – He is a blessing in our day.

e)  “I will bless them that bless thee” (America has certainly been blessed!)

f)  “I will curse them that curse thee” (Egypt-Philistines-Rome-Germany-Russia)

            g)  “In thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed”

3)  The Conclusion – When the New Covenant was made.

Genesis 21:12  And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.

Genesis 3:15  And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

b.  The Davidic Covenant – Their Throne – 2 Samuel 7:8-19

1)  David Would Have A Perpetual Throne And A Perpetual Son To Sit Upon that Throne

2)  This Son Would Have Two Natures – Psalms 2:6-7  Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.  I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.

Psalms 45:6-7  Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre.  Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

Psalms 110:1  The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

3)  David’s Son Would Both Suffer And Rule - Isaiah 53:11  He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

Revelation 19:15  And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

4)  David’s Son (Christ) Would Have Two Thrones – Earthly And Heavenly

5)  David’s Son Would Be Both Priest And King

c.  The Palestinian Covenant – The Land –Genesis 12:7  And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him. 

Genesis 13: 15  For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.

Deuteronomy 30:1-10

d.  The Mosaic Covenant – The Law.  It was to them that the ceremonial and judicial law were given, and the moral law in writing pertained to them.  This was the grandeur of Israel.

1)  The Ten Commandments – Exodus 20 – to govern their personal life

            2)  Civil Law – to govern social life

            3)  Ceremonial Law – to govern their spiritual life

Deuteronomy 4:7-8  For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for?  And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?

5.  Their Service.  They had the ordinances of God’s worship among them—the temple, the altars, the priests, the sacrifices, the feasts, and the institutions relating to them. They were in this respect greatly honoured, that, while other nations were worshipping and serving stocks, and stones, and devils, and they knew not what other idols of their own invention, the Israelites were serving the true God in the way of his own appointment.

6.  Their Promises.  Particular promises added to the general covenant, promises relating to the Messiah and the gospel state. Observe, The promises accompany the giving of the law, and the service of God; for the comfort of the promises is to be had in obedience to that law and attendance upon that service.

7.  Their Saviour.  But the greatest honour of all was that of them as concerning  the flesh (that is, as to his human nature) Christ came;  for he took on him the seed of Abraham.

Hebrews 2:16  For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.

Conclusion:  God has blessed the Nation of Israel with privileges that no other nation has enjoyed.

No comments: