In this introduction to Romans chapter 10, pastor Barry looks from the book of Isaiah at Israel’s past, present and future and note that throughout her history, Israel has repeatedly gone from a place of blessing, to disobedience and the resulting judgment, only to then cry out to God for deliverance and once again receive His mercy and grace. This is dramatically seen in the 490 year cycle that demonstrates God’s control of world history, centered around the Nation of Israel.
In Matthew 23:37-39 Jesus outlines Israel’s past, present & future.
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings…
This tells us the purpose of all history: that God might gather His children together. (Jerusalem is a synecdoche for all of Israel). The image of the mother bird gathering and covering her brood is a familiar one. Moses used it in his farewell sermon (Deut. 32:11). It is a picture of love, tender care, and a willingness to die to protect others. Jesus did die for the sins of the world, including the nation of Israel: but “His own received Him not” (John 1:11).
Israel’s past is the underlying theme of Romans chapter 9.
and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.
As Chuck Missler says: The purpose of all history was that God might gather His children together. The tragedy of all history is that through disobedience and rejecting their Messiah, Israel ‘would not’, and consequently ‘her house has been left desolate’, with the Jews scattered around the world.
This sums up Israel’s present condition and is the underlying theme of Romans chapter 10.
For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
Jesus left the nation with a promise: He would one day return, the nation would see Him and say, “Blessed be He that cometh in the name of the Lord!” This is a quotation from Psalm 118:26, that great messianic psalm that was quoted so many times in His last week of ministry. The crowds had used those very words (Matt. 21:9). This is a statement of the hope Israel has, and that Paul alludes to, that the Nation of Israel will be regathered and restored, albeit a remnant.
This future hope is the theme of Romans chapter 11.
May you be blessed and encouraged by this study.
The PowerPoint slides used in the study are available for free download.
