The Witness of the Scriptures

Many theologians, “prophets”, and pastors say your love for Israel is misplaced. Their perspective is that your priorities are confused, your theology simplistic, and your knowledge of the Bible inadequate. There are also wise, well-educated, well-meaning, devoted servants of God who sincerely believe that devotion to Israel and the Jewish people hurts world missions.

Is your burden in harmony with the Bible? Certainly it is something that the Old Testament would encourage. But is this borne out in the New Testament? Let’s see.

In the Old Testament we find inspired oracles that proclaim God’s preservation, ongoing election of, and present-day love for, Israel. What’s more, within these pages are recorded promises that are unique to the Jewish people. The prophets speak of God prioritizing Israel amongst the nations of the earth. In addition, God’s blessings upon, God’s judgment upon, Israel as well as His determination to preserve Israel’s gifts and calling are amply prophesied. In the prophets we find the pattern of God calling out a godly remnant from Israel (who are still a part of Israel) who are the means of God’s eschatological purpose for Israel and the whole earth. Ultimately, it is written that God shall join the nations to Israel in the worship of the One True God.

Now, all of these examples can be multiplied many times in the words contained in the Old Testament. But what of the New Testament? What of Paul’s writings?

To make it easy to compare…

Here are examples from the “Old Testament” together with the verses from Paul’s epistle to the Romans. Take a look at this congruency for yourself:

God’s preservation of Israel:

Torah and Prophets

Thus says the LORD, Who gives the sun for light by day And the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night, Who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar; The LORD of hosts is His name: “If this fixed order departs From before Me,” declares the LORD, “Then the offspring of Israel also will cease From being a nation before Me forever.” Thus says the LORD, “If the heavens above can be measured And the foundations of the earth searched out below, Then I will also cast off all the offspring of Israel For all that they have done,” declares the LORD. (Jeremiah 31:35-37)

Paul

I say then, God has not rejected His people, has He? … God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. (Romans 11:1a-2a)

God’s ongoing election and present-day love:

Torah and Prophets

“As for Me, this is My covenant with them,” says the LORD: “My Spirit which is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your offspring, nor from the mouth of your offspring’s offspring,” says the LORD, “from now and forever.” (Isaiah 59:21)

Paul

From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God’s choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers (Romans 11:28)

God’s promises to Israel:

Torah and Prophets

Then Moses said to Hobab the son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses’ father-in-law, “We are setting out to the place of which the LORD said, ‘I will give it to you’; come with us and we will do you good, for the LORD has promised good concerning Israel.” (Numbers 10:29)

‘May the LORD, the God of your fathers, increase you a thousand-fold more than you are and bless you, just as He has promised you! (Deuteronomy 1:11)

“For the LORD your God will bless you as He has promised you, and you will lend to many nations, but you will not borrow; and you will rule over many nations, but they will not rule over you. (Deuteronomy 15:6)

Paul

who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons, and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises, whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen. (Romans 9:4-5)

God’s priority of Israel:

Torah and Prophets

“Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Israel is My son, My firstborn. (Exodus 4:22)

Paul

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. (Romans 1:16)

God’s blessings and judgment upon Israel:

Torah and Prophets

And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing; And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” (Genesis 12:2-3)

“You only have I chosen among all the families of the earth; Therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.” (Amos 3:2)

Paul

There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek, but glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God. (Romans 2:9-11)

The preservation of Israel’s gifts and calling:

Torah and Prophets

“As for Me, this is My covenant with them,” says the LORD: “My Spirit which is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your offspring, nor from the mouth of your offspring’s offspring,” says the LORD, “from now and forever.” (Isaiah 59:21)

Paul

I say then, God has not rejected His people, has He? May it never be! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. (Romans 11:1-2)

for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. (Romans 11:29)

The godly remnant who are part of Israel:

Torah and Prophets

For thus says the LORD, “Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob, And shout among the chief of the nations; Proclaim, give praise and say, ‘O LORD, save Your people, The remnant of Israel.’ (Jeremiah 31:7)

Paul

God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel? “Lord, THEY HAVE KILLED YOUR PROPHETS, THEY HAVE TORN DOWN YOUR ALTARS, AND I ALONE AM LEFT, AND THEY ARE SEEKING MY LIFE.” But what is the divine response to him? “I HAVE KEPT for Myself SEVEN THOUSAND MEN WHO HAVE NOT BOWED THE KNEE TO BAAL.” In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God’s gracious choice. (Romans 11:2-5)

God’s eschatological purpose for Israel:

Torah and Prophets

“Behold, I am going to deal at that time With all your oppressors, I will save the lame And gather the outcast, And I will turn their shame into praise and renown In all the earth. “At that time I will bring you in, Even at the time when I gather you together; Indeed, I will give you renown and praise Among all the peoples of the earth, When I restore your fortunes before your eyes,” Says the LORD. (Zephaniah 3:19-20)

So it will happen in that day, That the LORD will punish the host of heaven on high, And the kings of the earth on earth. They will be gathered together Like prisoners in the dungeon, And will be confined in prison; And after many days they will be punished. Then the moon will be abashed and the sun ashamed, For the LORD of hosts will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, And His glory will be before His elders. (Isaiah 24:21-23)

Paul

Now if their transgression is riches for the world and their failure is riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fulfillment be! … For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? (Romans 11:12,15)

and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, “THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION, HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB.” “THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM, WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS.” (Romans 11:26-27)

God joining the nations to Israel in the worship of the One True God:

Torah and Prophets

All nations whom You have made shall come and worship before You, O Lord, And they shall glorify Your name. (Psalm 86:9)

God be gracious to us and bless us, And cause His face to shine upon us– Selah. That Your way may be known on the earth, Your salvation among all nations. Let the peoples praise You, O God; Let all the peoples praise You. Let the nations be glad and sing for joy; For You will judge the peoples with uprightness And guide the nations on the earth. Selah. (Psalm 67:1-4)

Paul

Again he says, “REJOICE, O GENTILES, WITH HIS PEOPLE.” And again, “PRAISE THE LORD ALL YOU GENTILES, AND LET ALL THE PEOPLES PRAISE HIM.” (Romans 15:10-11)

Conclusion:

The Bible bears uniform witness to God’s steadfast devotion to the patriarchs’ descendants. One need not seek to justify one’s belief in God’s love for the Jewish people from the Old Testament alone. For those willing to respect the plain intent of Paul’s writings the prophetic message of the Old Testament is consistently affirmed. In Romans, Paul confirmed the prophetic testimony.

by David Harwood 2012