17 October 2015

Scriptures:

• Romans 9:1-29
• Ezekiel 39
• 1 Kings 11
• Psalm 77

Observations:

In the Romans passage, we see a couple elements. First, we have the idea that the Children of Abraham are not necessarily his genetic descendants, that not all of genetic Israel belongs to God's people Israel. This is the beginning of the suggestion that the church is the descendant of Abraham, but in promise as opposed to blood. Second, we have some scripture that, as much as I dislike the idea of election and predestination, seems to suggest that there are individuals who fall into the promise and those who fall outside it and it's wholly determined by the mercy of God, giving the example of Pharaoh to represent those whom God has hardened to serve his purpose outside of the promise (in this case, Pharaoh was the foil against whom God displayed his preeminence to the Israelites). Paul is making this argument because there are many Jews who have not come to belief in Christ whereas many Gentiles have. He is seeking to answer why God would even call Gentiles, a people not his people, and call very few Jews, who have historically been his people and carriers of his law. Paul also raises an objection to this idea, asking why God would find fault in those whom he purposes to harden and serve as his foil, answering it with indignation, asking whether a pot asks the potter why it was made for one purpose and another, another.

The main purpose of this passage is to show that Gentiles are now to be considered descendants of Abraham through the promise, part of a spiritual Israel, so to speak. A side application that may be taken from this passage is the question of predestination and whether God foreknows and condemns ahead certain individuals as displays of his righteousness, justice, and wrath, while calling other individuals as vessels of his grace, called to serve in a more positive light.

In the Ezekiel passage, we see the continuation of the rout of Gog. We also see the gathering of Israel thereafter and, it seems, a spiritual fixing of Israel upon God, with God pouring himself out in very present ways upon them. Part of me wonders whether this is a post-exilic, pre-messianic prophecy, or an end of times prophecy. That is, the wars of the Macedonians, Seleucids, and Romans before the coming of Christ, with Christ being the turning factor in the hearts of Israel, gathering the children of the promise (see above) from all corners of the globe, or some end-of-time battle of the forces of the world against God's people, resulting in a rout, restoration of the church and an indwelling of God in the new Jerusalem as described in Revelation.

In 1 Kings, we see the slow downfall of Solomon as he is pulled away from God by his wives and the prophecy of the division of Israel, with Judah left to the line of David, because God made a promise to David. Also, I kinda got sidetracked, looking up Tahpenes. (I found this article, though I am skeptical of AiG. I don't really know enough about Egyptian and Near Eastern history and methods of chronology to say much more, but there are notorious discrepancies between Biblical historical accounts and modern interpretations of Egyptian accounts, where the discrepancy is less than with other Near Eastern accounts.)

In the psalm, we see Asaph crying out to God, seeking comfort. During this outcry, he recalls the deeds of the Lord and his power and gives praise to God.

Application:

Really, the big point I see that needs stressing is in the Romans passage. Predestination has no effect on the need for evangelism. We, as the church, must remember that the church is the primary vehicle for the spread of the Gospel (Romans 10:14-15). Similarly, we cannot become lazy and settle for simple widespread scattering of the word. Yes, God will call those he has chosen, but that won't mature them. We are called to not only evangelise, but to make disciples, to grow those we bring to Christ.

As far as Ezekiel and 1 Kings go those are interesting questions to ponder, but they have little effect on our evangelism, though the nature of the church as Israel under the promise does warrant some application and examination into end times theology, but I am very much running out of time to research today. (I still have four lectures to study for Mondays exam and still need to revise over the whole material, just to be sure)

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for the insight. I ask that you would help provide further information regarding predestination, the nature of Israel and the church, and the comparisons between Biblical and Egyptian chronology.

Help me to come to a greater understanding of you and help em to really prepare for this test coming up - I have very little time left.

Amen