And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.

Romans 9

And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh. Jude 1:22-23

This morning, I continued my study of Romans.  Using my commentary - Exalting Jesus in Romans (eBook) - I started chapter thirteen God's Word Has Not Failed, which covers Romans 9:1-29.  My focus today is Romans 9:1-5, which my commentary refers to under the heading Setting the State for the Argument: The Tragedy of Israel. Just as Paul shares the great encouragements from Romans 8 (see post yesterday and previous posts), he pivots to sadness as he explores how many of his fellow Jews failed to see Jesus as the promised Messiah.  Paul has "great sorrow and unceasing anguish" (v2) and even goes as far to say that he wishes to be "cut off from Christ for the sake of his brothers" (v3). All of the riches associated with Christ "belong" to them, including "adoption" by God, the covenants given to Abraham and David, the law, the "worship", and the "promises" (v4). From them came the great patriarchs, not only Abraham and David, but Moses, Joshua, and Christ who descended from Judah and His genealogy is carefully documented by Matthew (v5).

My commentary points to how Romans chapter 9-11 reflect a pause in Paul's letter as he moves from hope and the great news of the gospel to the "relationship between Jew and Gentile", God's sovereignty vs human responsibility, and we are encouraged to see these chapters are integral and challenging and should be read as a unit.  The commentary indicates that the big question posed in Romans 9-11 is "[h]as God's word failed?" Paul wrestles with this question as he explores how God's promises to Israel failed to be fully fulfilled in the faith of the Jews as the Gospel became known to them through Jesus. 

My study this morning reflects the start of a multi-day journey to unpack Paul's struggle as he writes Romans 9-11.  

With respect to Romans 9:1-5, the commentary wants to understand the depths of Paul's anguish as v4-5 describe incredible "privileges" available to Israel. V1-5 "set the stage" for the remainder of the chapter as well as chapters 10-11.  For today, we can share in Paul's anguish because while the entirety of humanity has not descended from Israel, we can grieve over unbelief and the resulting condemnation that results.  For ourselves we should find the encouragement we need with fellow believers and BE the encouragement for unbelievers. John Piper's post references Hebrews 3:12-14 and 10:19-25 as key scriptural bases for believers to surround themselves with other believers for encouragement.  Again we are to also "snatch" unbelievers from the fire as well (James 5:19, Jude 23). 

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God and I am grateful for the many believers You have placed in my life to spur me on in my faith - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of this blessing and for the many other blessings You pour out for me.  My sin of worry and anger, as well as other sins, continue. Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

I will rejoice over Jerusalem and take delight in my people; the sound of weeping and of crying will be heard in it no more....The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.

Chapter 5: Pages 69-82

I will rejoice over Jerusalem and take delight in my people; the sound of weeping and of crying will be heard in it no more....The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing. Isaiah 65:19, Zephaniah 3:17

This morning, I continued John Piper's book Providence (purchased from Amazon Kindle Store) and started Part 2 "The Ultimate Goal of Providence", starting with Section 2 "The Ultimate Goal of Providence in the History of Israel" - moving to chapter five "Overview". Here Piper does not focus on any specific period of Israel's history, but instead focuses broadly on all of Israel's history to determine the "ultimate goal" in Israel's history of God's providence. He writes that God's plan "to make the history of Israel serve all the nations of the world through the coming of the Messiah" is not two stories of one followed by the other - it is a single plan and story.

Piper then goes on to illustrate how God was Israel's decisive actor in Israel's history and even those rulers (i.e. Pilate, etc.) who did not know the plan and prophecies of the Messiah played a role in fulfilling them.  Piper writes how we are then warranted to ask what the ultimate purpose of Israel's history is in God's providence, but we should be quick to see how God's overarching purpose in Israel's history is that He is glorified - Piper points to Isaiah 49:3, 43:21, Jeremiah 13:11, 1 Peter 2:9 to make his point. 

Piper ends the chapter with Isaiah 65:19 and Zephaniah 3:17, using this scripture to show how God's ultimate goal is not just only "the exaltation of of [H]is glorious name in the joy of [H]is people; it is also [H]is own joy in their joy in [H]im...the joy moves in both directions: from us toward God and from God toward us."

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are amazing and Your works are amazing - I marvel at how You love me and how You take joy in my joy in You.  You bless me beyond what I deserve. My sin - of many flavors - continues.  Please forgive me and help turn from and overcome my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength. Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.