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ISRAEL: The Chosen nation of God
As of God's
deliverance of Israel from Egypt, the nation became God's CHOSEN entity to
be His evangelistic agent in the dispensation (stewardship) of the national
priesthood.
See Topic: dispensations
In the OT, the word group, choose and chosen (from bAchar) is translated in
the LXX by the eklegomai word group.
The verb is bAchar and the adjective is bAchiyr and is used:
1. Simply to make a choice.
2. To choose someone over and above someone else as the best or most
qualified.
3. To choose someone or a nation as being the recipient of special favor and
responsibility.
Ex. 19:5-6
"Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you
shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine;
and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the
words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel."
Deut. 4:6; 7:6; 14:2; 26:18-19; Ps. 60:4; Psalm 67; Jer. 13:11; Josh. 3:17;
44:8, you are my witnesses
Isaiah 41:8-9
"But you, Israel, My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen (eklegō),
Descendant of Abraham My friend, You whom I have taken from the ends of the
earth
And called from its remotest parts, And said to you, ‘You are My servant,
I have chosen (eklegō) you and have not rejected you.
Isaiah 43:10, my servant whom I have chosen, eklegō.
Paul summarized it at Romans 9:4. To the nation was given the adoption as
sons and daughters, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the Law, the
temple service, and the promises.
The verb, bAchar, is used to indicate the fact that God has chosen Israel
for a specific status and function.
The adjective is used the same way.
The word refers to someone who has been given a special place in the plan of
God.
1. Israel as a nation was chosen to be the entity through which the glory of
God would be made known throughout the world.
Isaiah 45:4, Israel my CHOSEN (elect, eklektos in the singular).
49:3; You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will show my glory.
Likewise, the citizens of the nation are viewed as "His chosen ones" at 1
Chron. 16:13 and Psalm 105:6, 43; 106:4-5, but only these 5 times. But the
focus is really on these people as the racial descendants of Jacob and not
functional believers.
The nation was given the responsibility and privilege of representing the
authority, viewpoint and policy of God to those outside the nation. That,
is, to represent the kingdom of God on the earth. It is not called the
kingdom of God in the Old Testament, but is so designated that way
throughout the New Testament and at Mat. 21:33-43. Israel as a nation was
chosen to be the steward through which the glory of God would be made known
throughout the world. But fulfillment of this function was only through
national obedience to the laws and statutes that God gave to the nation.
More specifically it was through individual believers within the nation, who
lived and proclaimed God's truth to others.
These were seen individually as the Old Testament recorded the history of
the nation.
The nation's status as the CHOSEN of God is not a salvation issue. The
nation was chosen regardless of whether the people (in part or as a whole)
were believers in the Messianic promise.
ISRAEL'S FAILURE
The nation was successful at times (Josh. 3:17; 44:8), but failed over all
to be a good witness to the character and viewpoint of God.
And there would come a time when because of the nation's failure, God would
give the service responsibility to another nation. The new nation would be
comprised of chosen (elect) PEOPLE and the focus would be on these
individual believer priests rather than on the chosen nation of Israel.
GOD'S VINEYARD
Since to the nation of Israel was given the stewardship of representing
God's authority, viewpoint and policy, it can be said that to that nation
was given "the kingdom of God." Mat. 21:43.
This is seen as the vine growers of Matthew 21:33. The vineyard is the
"place" - the responsibility of representing the kingdom of God in the
world.
But as already shown, the nation failed. That failure is summarized at
Jeremiah 7:25-26, "Since the day that your fathers came out of the land of
Egypt until this day, I have sent you all My servants the prophets, daily
rising early and sending {them.} Yet they did not listen to Me or incline
their ear, but stiffened their neck; they did evil more than their fathers."
This is what Jesus explains in the vineyard parable at Mat. 21:33-44.
First the prophets are sent. Mat. 21:34-36
Then He sent His Son: Mat. 21:37-39
Acts 2:22-23, "This One . . . you killed by crucifying through the hands of
lawless men."
On this basis Jesus indicts the nation at Mat. 23:29-39, "your house is
being left to you desolate."
Luke 19:44, "because you did not recognize the time of your visitation."
In addition the responsibility and privilege of representing the kingdom of
God was then taken away from the nation of Israel and given to a different
nation; a spiritual nation, that would produce the fruit of the vineyard.
Mat, 21:43-44, "Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken
away from you and given to a people, producing the fruit of it. And he who
falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it
will scatter him like dust."
This unique change in the stewardship over God's kingdom on the earth was
taught throughout the Old Testament.
In Romans 9, Paul writes about the failure of the nation of Israel and the
new spiritual body of believers who would temporarily replace the nation.
Romans 9:22-24, "Now since God, although willing to demonstrate the wrath
and to make His power known, (instead) ENDURED with great patience objects
of wrath prepared for destruction even in order to make known the riches of
His glory upon objects of MERCY, (which He prepared beforehand for glory,
NAMELY US, whom He also called, not only from among Jews, but also from
among Gentiles)."
The body of "vessels unto mercy" includes both Jew and Gentiles who accepted
the salvation provision by faith.
"Whom he called" is kaleō as an aorist active indicative and refers to the
salvation invitation from the standpoint of being heard AND accepted by
those in view. And the result is the new spiritual priesthood made up of all
who trust in Christ without racial, gender or social distinctions; the
church, "NAMELY US."
(1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 2:11-22).
By using the word, US, Paul recognizes that the church is a new and separate
body of believers, designed and indeed, created by God to be His servants
here on the earth while the nation of Israel is under severe divine
discipline.
This was taught by Jesus in the parable at Matthew 22:1-14
Peter teaches the same thing and quotes from three Old Testament passages to
indicate that this had been taught to the nation.
(Isaiah 28:16)
1 Peter 2:5-6, "You also, as living stones, are being built up as a
spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices that
are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For this is contained in
Scripture:
"Behold, I am laying in Zion a choice stone, a precious cornerstone, And the
one who believes in Him will not be put to shame."
(Psalm 118:22)
Verse 7-8, This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for
unbelievers, "A stone which the builders rejected, This became the chief
cornerstone,"
and,
(Isaiah 8:14)
"A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense"; for they stumble because they
are disobedient to the word,
and to this they were also appointed.
And then to describe the church, Peter uses terminology that previously
applied to the NATIONAL priesthood of Israel. Exodus 19:5-6, "Now then, if
you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own
possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall
be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that
you shall speak to the sons of Israel."
1Peter 2:9,
1. But you are a CHOSEN RACE, eklektos genos: (Isaiah 41:8-9; 43:10,
eklektos genos in the LXX).
2. a royal PRIESTHOOD, basileion hierateuma: Ex. 19:6, in the LXX, basileion
hierateuma.
3. a HOLY NATION (ethnos hagion): Ex. 19:6, ethnos hagion (LXX).
4. a people for A POSSESSION (eis peripoiāsis): Ex. 19:5, "you shall be to
me a special (chosen) people (LXX)."
Deut. 7:6
5. so that you may proclaim the excellencies (glory) of Him who has called
you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
Deut. 4:6; Psalm 67:1-2; Isaiah 49:3, "You are my servant, Israel, in whom I
will show my glory."
1Peter 2:10,
"For you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had
not received mercy, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY."
As at Romans 9:22-23, "vessels of wrath vs. vessels of mercy."
At Romans 9, Paul then quotes from three Old Testament passages to show that
this replacement of the nation of Israel was indeed going to happen and was
taught to the nation.
1. Hosea 2:23 (LXX), "I will call those who were not My people, 'My people,'
And her who was not beloved, 'beloved.'"
2. Hosea 1:10, "And it shall be that in the place where it was said to them,
'you are not My people,'
There they shall be called sons of the living God."
That place is in the land of Palestine where it all begins as per Isaiah
65:8-16.
Isaiah 9:1-2 and Mat. 4:15-16, "The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
By the way of the sea, on the other side of the Jordan, Galilee of the
Gentiles—
The people who were sitting in darkness saw a great Light,
And those who were sitting in the land and shadow of death,
Upon them a Light dawned."
3. Isaiah 10:22-23. And only a remnant of the people of the nation will
trust in Jesus as the Messiah and become part of the new evangelistic agent.
"Though the number of the sons of Israel may be like the sand of the sea,
only the remnant will be saved."
Then to further show that the nation of Israel had been adequately warned of
being replaced, Paul continues at Rom. 10:19-21. This is a prophecy of the
church as the temporary replacement of the nation of Israel as the
evangelistic agent.
"But I say, surely Israel did not know, did they?"
This is a reference back to chapter 9 when Paul wrote about Israel's failure
and replacement.
First Moses says at Deut. 32:21, "I will make you jealous with those who are
not a nation, With a foolish nation I will anger you."
And Isaiah 65:1, "I was found by those who did not seek Me,
I revealed Myself to those who did not ask for Me."
And the statement of national failure at Isaiah 65:2, "I have spread out My
hands all day long to a disobedient and obstinate people."
These quotations from Isaiah indicates that Isaiah prophesied of Israel's
failure and temporary replacement by a DIFFERENT entity to be God's
representatives on the earth. This is seen in chapter 65:8-16.
Isaiah 59-66 deals with the future promotion of Israel beginning with the
first advent of the Messiah, when as the Redeemer, He will provide salvation
(forgiveness of sins) to all who trust in Him.
The section ends with the last judgment that sees all unbelievers in the
lake of fire for all eternity.
It covers: the sinfulness of mankind; the provision of the Savior; Israel's
failure; the new nation to temporarily replace Israel; the evangelistic
outreach of the church; the second coming; the 144k Jewish bond servants;
the day of the Lord; the establishment of the Davidic kingdom; the eternal
kingdom and the last judgment.
It is a unique portion of Scripture that shows a specialized group of
believers who trust in the Messiah after His arrival at the first advent.
These "chosen ones" are shown in two categories.
First the disciples of Jesus and the believers of the new nation (the
church). Isaiah 65:9-16
Second, the believers who enter into the earthly, Davidic kingdom. Is.
65:17-25
Once again, the two advents of the Messiah and the results are presented by
the prophet as one event. But clarification is made by the Holy Spirit as
the differences are taught in the New Testament.
THE CHOSEN PEOPLE
In the mind of God, there would come a time when the "chosen" (singular of
eklektos) NATION of Israel would be overshadowed by "chosen" INDIVIDUALS
(plural of eklektos) who would choose to love and serve God on His terms.
Isaiah 65:8-16
Isaiah 65:9a
"“I will bring forth a seed (zera, seed in the singular) from Jacob, and
from Judah an heir of My mountains.
The word offspring is zera (seed) and is in the singular. It refers to the
promised seed of Abraham (Genesis 22:18; Galatians 3:16).
The word heir, is a singular qal active participle from yArash, which means
to possess or inherit. Thus, one who inherits. This refers to the fact that
the Messiah will be the heir of the promises made to Abraham and to David.
This refers to Jesus Christ as the Messiah/Savior; David's greater Son as
the heir of the Davidic covenant.
Isaiah 9:6-7, "a child will be born to us, a Son will be given to us."
(Galatians 3:16-18; Luke 1:31-33; 2 Sam. 7:12-13).
Sadly, some translations totally ignore the singular of seed and heir, and
translate both words in the plural, which of course denies the application
to the Messiah.
(Yes, the word for seed, zera, only occurs in the singular form, and can
carry either a singular or plural idea. However, the singular participle,
HEIR, determines that "seed" is also to be understood as a singular - one
person.
The "mountains" refers to the land of Palestine in general, which has
historically been known as a mountainous area.
The Messiah is heir to the entire land of Palestine; the land grant given to
Abraham. Gen. 15:18; 17:8.
Isaiah 65:9b
"And My CHOSEN ONES shall inherit it: the noun is bAchiyr in the plural, and
refers to those whom God has chosen to function in a specific capacity as
His servants. The basis for such choosing is the fact that individuals from
the ranks of the human race, accept the gospel of salvation and receive
spiritual life from God and remain here on earth as God's representatives to
the world. God calls (invites), man accepts (believes), and God chooses them
to be functional servants here on earth. The Greek word used here in the LXX
is eklektos (plural), which refers to the privilege, rank and status of
being in God's kingdom.
1. This is to be viewed from two perspectives. That is, it has a double
application.
A. Members of the new spiritual nation (the church) who become the
evangelistic representatives when Israel is temporarily removed from that
function. Mat. 21:43; 1 Peter 2:9.
Paul applies this passage to this group. It includes the disciples and then
those who believe in Christ through them (John 17:20).
B. The first converts after the rapture of the church, who are servants from
within the nation of Israel. These will once again be the representatives of
God on the earth after the church is removed. This refers to the 144k Jewish
bondservants of Rev. 7:1-8 and 14:1-9.
In the same way that the prophets often co-mingle the prophecies of the
first and second advents, they likewise, often co-mingle the prophecies
about these two groups of believers. They see only the fact that the nation
itself will fail and be rejected by God, but individuals within the nation
will continue to function as God's evangelistic agent.
2. THE LAND
The word, IT, is actually a feminine suffix to refer to an "understood"
antecedent that is represented by the plural of mountains, and indicates the
land of Palestine, which is a HER, in the mind of the people.
The specific "land" in view is of course Palestine as that is where the
first of the CHOSEN ONES will be living as the first converts of the
Messiah.
3. And My servants shall dwell there."
This has a dual focus. It looks ultimately to Israel's life in the earthly
kingdom, and to the believing Jews who enter alive after being purged of
unbelievers. Ezek. 20:37-38 and 34:17-22.
But before that and specifically in response to the first coming of the
Messiah, it refers to the believers of that Messiah generation who embrace
Jesus as the Savior of the world.
It refers to the believers described at Matthew 22:14, "many are called but
few are chosen."
The activity of "servants" refers to being functional in the evangelistic
capacity that was designed originally for Israel (and will be restored to
her later). The NEW priestly body begins in Jerusalem, basically POSSESSING
the land, and saturating the people with the gospel message. They then
spread out from there (Acts 1:8), and are seen as ones who "have upset the
populated world," (Acts 17:6).
There is also the promise of a heavenly inheritance for believers who die
prior to the establishment of the Davidic kingdom. It is in fact, the
primary focus of Old Testament believers. (Hebrews 12:22; Revelation
21:2-14). And of course, only those who have trusted in Christ will inherit
the new Jerusalem which is the heavenly abode of believers.
See Topic: The new Jerusalem
"My chosen ones" and "My servants" refers then to the disciples, and all
those who believe in Christ through their ministry. In other words, the
church body with emphasis on individuals. This is the new evangelistic agent
comprised of both Jew and Gentile.
The NEW priestly body inherits the spiritual blessings originally promised
to Israel, but since the nation rejected the Messiah, she forfeited those
blessings and conceded them to the replacement priestly body until the 2nd
coming of the Messiah.
Mat. 21:43, "the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and be given to
a nation producing the fruit of it."
All the members of the CHURCH, then, are heirs of Abraham (Gal. 3:29); heirs
of God and joint heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17). It is this group of
believers that is in view at Isaiah 53:11, where the victorious Messiah
"will divide the booty with the strong."
And it is the group of believers designated as "many sons brought into
glory," and as "My (Christ's) brethren" at Hebrews 2:10-11.
4. INHERIT THE LAND
And my CHOSEN ones will inherit it. Again, the chosen ones fall into two
categories. (1) those of the Messiah generation who comprise a SPIRITUAL
nation and inherit SPIRITUAL blessings. And (2) those of the nation of
Israel who become the chosen of God during the future Day of the Lord, and
inherit the physical kingdom over which the Messiah will reign.
In both cases it is the fulfillment of a universal spiritual principle found
at Psalm 37:11, "but the gentle (humble) ones will inherit the land." LXX.
The moral and social blessings associated with RIGHT living, are seen as an
experiential inheritance that is for all of God's people as they walk in
fellowship with Him.
Jesus actually quoted this principle at Matthew 5:5, "happy are the gentle
for they shall inherit the land."
The gentle in both places is the adjective, praus. It refers to a humility
attitude and action that recognizes the freedoms and rights of others.
Gentleness refers to the application of humility to others in all three
areas of expression: mental, verbal and overt.
We have no right to judge another with human viewpoint, subjectivity or
emotional standards; Mental attitude sins.
We have no right to speak out against another and express human viewpoint,
subjectivity or emotionalism concerning that person's status or actions.
(Rom. 14:4)
We have no right to physically abuse, torment or oppress others.
Therefore, it is personal objectivity and honesty toward all others in
creature status.
Humility revolves around the attitude and practice of beneficent love.
See Topic: Beneficent love
Gentleness relates to the promise of social stability in the land in which
you live. "shall inherit the land."
Inherit is the verb, klāronomeō, as a future active indicative. It indicates
the possibility of maximum enjoyment of one's social environment by
grace-living in relationship to others. Grace-living takes God's moral and
spiritual standards (The Divine Value System) and consistently applies them
to other people.
This universal spiritual principle is also stated at Psalm 25:12-13.
"Who is the person who fears the Lord? He will instruct him in the way he
should choose.
His soul will dwell in prosperity, And his descendants will inherit the
land."
Peter taught about inheriting this blessing at 1 Peter 3:8-13 and quotes
from Psalm 34:12-13. "To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic,
loving, compassionate, and humble; not returning evil for evil or insult for
insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very
purpose that you would inherit a blessing. for, (Psalm 34:12-13) 'The one
who desires to love life, and to see good days, keep the tongue from evil
and his lips from speaking deceit.
11 Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue
it.'"
The expression, "see good days" refers to living in peace in the land, that
is, in the social environment in which you live; inherit the land.
It is this "social" blessing that is in view for those of the Messiah
generation and all who believe in Christ through them, thus, the entire
church, extending of course, until the Lord returns.
This sees the social life of the believer in a context where there is no
specific persecution of Christians.
For Christ's brethren, the elect ones of the church, it needs to be
recognized that the moral and social blessings associated with RIGHT living,
are seen as an experiential inheritance while living here on earth. (Matthew
5:5; 1 Peter 3:8-13; 4:12-16).
FUTURE OF THE NATION in the kingdom
Isaiah 65:10, "Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, and the Valley of Achor a
place for herds to lie down, for My people who seek Me."
Verse 10 looks again to "my people" and refers specifically to the people of
the nation.
In this special section (59-66) the reference to "people" is always
referring to the people of the nation.
(60:21; 62:10, 12; 63:8, 11, 14, 18; 64:9; 65:2-3, 10, 18-19, 22).
Isaiah 65:10b: For My people who seek Me.
This refers to the people of Israel who through the conviction from the
gospel proclamation will seek the Lord and eventually trust in Him as
Savior. Hosea 5:14-15.
The witness to the nation is explained in the commentary on Malachi 3:1-6.
The future kingdom blessing is for those who will seek relationship with God
on God's terms. That means, those who trust in Jesus as the Messiah-Savior.
Those who become believers after the rapture and survive until the 1335 days
of Daniel 12:12, will go alive in mortal bodies into the earthly, Davidic
kingdom.
The presence of herds in abundance indicates great economic prosperity, and
anticipates the future kingdom blessings that will exist for the nation of
Israel.
The valley of Achor was considered a place of cursing since a memorial was
established there in 1401 BC when Achan was executed for his sin against God
and against the nation (Joshua 7:1-26).
The death of Acan appeased the wrath of God and the curse (Josh 6:18) on the
people was removed. Josh. 7.
The place thus became a symbol for substitutionary sacrifice, for through
Achan's death, the nation was removed from judgment and a curse, and came
back under the mantle of divine blessing. Thus, blessing through judgment is
the picture, and what greater fulfillment of that symbol than the sin
sacrifice of the Messiah. So at Hosea 2:14-23, the cursing-symbol of "the
valley of Achor" will be seen as a symbol of salvation; "a door of hope." At
that time it will be applied to the sacrifice of the Savior and become a new
memorial for those in the kingdom.
Just before the establishment of the earthly, Davidic kingdom, all of Israel
will be gathered into the land and the spiritual rebels will be purged from
the people (Ezek. 20:33-38). The result will be that only believers will be
left to go into the earthly kingdom (Ezek. 34:27-22).
Hosea 2:14-15.
"Therefore, behold, I am going to persuade her,
Bring her into the wilderness,
And speak to her heart.
Then I will give her her vineyards from there,
And the Valley of Achor as a door of hope.
And she will respond there as in the days of her youth,
As in the day when she went up from the land of Egypt.
As noted before, the prophets looked forward to life in the earthly kingdom
after the Messiah's tactical victory over the nation's enemies. And they
often skip back and forth to different time periods.
THE FAILURE OF THE NATION
But the ones who forsake the Lord, who reject Jesus as the Messiah, God will
reject them and appoint them to national destruction and worldwide
captivity.
The nation failed as an evangelistic agent and they did not bring forth
spiritual fruit.
Isaiah 65:11, But as for you who abandon the Lord,
Who forget My holy mountain,
Who set a table for Fortune,
And fill a jug of mixed wine for Destiny."
This is language of idolatry and rejection of God in that historical
context. The application of what follows to the Messiah generation is valid
because Paul quotes Isaiah 65:1 at Romans 9:20 with application to the
Gentiles; and because at Isaiah 65:9, the context of Messiah's arrival is
announced.
In the Messiah generation, it refers to the national leadership and the
citizenry as a whole that Jesus rebuked and condemned on many occasions.
Mat. 23:23, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe
mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the
law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should
have done without neglecting the others."
The nation failed and will be disciplined.
The result will be the rejection of the nation both spiritually and
physically.
Isaiah 65:12, "I will destine you for the sword,
And all of you will bow down to the slaughter.
Because I called, but you did not answer;
I spoke, but you did not listen.
Instead, you did evil in My sight
And chose that in which I did not delight."
Mat. 23:37, "you were not willing."
Isaiah's message looks to a time when the physical chosen NATION will come
under extreme divine discipline.
It has a NEAR application to the invasion of Chaldea.
It has a FAR application to the results of rejecting Jesus.
Mat. 21:42-42; 23:36-38; Luke 19:41-44; 21:22-24
Luke 21:24, "and they will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led
captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled under foot by
the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled."
Luke 19:43-44
"For the days will come upon you when your enemies will put up a barricade
against you, and surround you and hem you in on every side, and they will
level you to the ground, and throw down your children within you, and they
will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not recognize
the time of your visitation."
The far application will result in the chosen nation being temporarily
disinherited and replaced by CHOSEN individuals who express humility and
trust in God's plan of salvation through Jesus Christ.
Mat. 21:43, "Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away
from you, and be given to a nation producing the fruit of it."
Isaiah 65:1, 13-16.
Isaiah was given information concerning a new chosen (elect) group of PEOPLE
who would temporarily replace the chosen NATION. Paul quotes this and other
passages and makes application to the church.
"I permitted Myself to be sought by those who did not ask for Me;
I permitted Myself to be found by those who did not seek Me.
I said, 'Here am I, here am I,'
To a nation which did not call on My name." (Romans 10:19-21; Deut. 32:21).
Rom. 10:19-20, But I say, surely Israel did not know, did they? First Moses
says,
"I WILL MAKE YOU JEALOUS BY THAT WHICH IS NOT A NATION,
BY A NATION WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING WILL I ANGER YOU."
And Isaiah is very bold and says,
"I WAS FOUND BY THOSE WHO DID NOT SEEK ME,
I BECAME MANIFEST TO THOSE WHO DID NOT ASK FOR ME."
The proper response to God is stated at Isaiah 66:2, "But on this one will I
look: on him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My
word."
Mat. 5:3-4, "Happy are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven."
Salvation humility: Poor is used spiritually to indicate recognition of
creature status; ie., creature limitations and dependence on the creator;
creature humility. "What is man?" (Psalm 8:4).
Creature humility is the attitude that recognizes that one is a creature
made by God and dependent upon Him for life and sustenance. These are the
ones who enter into and possess the kingdom of God/heaven.
Mat. 18:4, "whoever then humbles himself as this child ("who believes in
Me," v. 6), he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven (God)."
"Happy are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted."
Sin humility: Those who mourn: indicates an attitude of genuine sorrow that
results from recognition of one's sinful status (total depravity).
Salvation and sin humility are necessary for entrance into light; the
kingdom of God.
If the person does not recognize that he has a need, then he will not "seek"
God.
At Isaiah 65:15, this new group of people is called, "My CHOSEN (elect)
ones." In the Hebrew it is the plural of the noun bAchiyr. The LXX uses
eklektos in the plural.
The CHOSEN (elect) ones who are the "new" servants, comprise the new nation
that is the church made up of both Jew and Gentile as both are one body in
Christ. Eph. 2:11-22; 1 Peter 2:9-10.
At the present time it is the NATION that has been rejected by God - NOT
individuals. Rom. 11:1-5.
So instead of a physical "national" choosing (election), it is now "a
choosing of Grace," which chooses individuals who accept the invitation (the
call) to believe in Christ.
This was the message of John the Baptizer and of Jesus. "Many are called
(invited, kaleō) but few are chosen (eklektos)." Matthew 22:14.
The ones who are chosen are the ones who accept the call. Just as Jesus
clarified at Mat. 23:37 concerning the nation as a unit. "Jerusalem,
Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who have been sent to
her! How often I wanted to gather YOUR CHILDREN (individuals within the
nation) together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you
were NOT WILLING."
That is, the nation as a whole and centered in its leadership rejected the
Messiah and influenced the people to follow in their rejection of truth. Mat
23:13, 15. "But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you
shut off the kingdom of heaven from people; for you do not enter in
yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel around on
sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him
twice as much a son of hell as yourselves."
Thus the constant message/invitation of "repent and believe in the gospel."
Mark 1:15; Mat. 10:7
But the word THE CHOSEN (elect one, singular) does not now refer to the
nation.
Since Israel lost its FUNCTIONAL status as God's chosen nation and the
chosen ones are now comprised of those who trust in Jesus as the Messiah, it
is THOSE chosen ones who are in view in Christ's subsequent teaching. Thus,
the chosen ones in Matthew 24 refers to those who "take over" from Israel's
failure. These will be designated as "My servants," and will be called by a
new name (Isaiah 65:15). Instead of being called Israel, they will be
specifically known as "the called out ones" - the church (ekklāsia). Mat.
16:18; 1Cor. 10:32; 1Tim. 3:15.
THE CHOSEN ones (the elect), as those who trust in Christ as Savior through
accepting the calling (salvation invitation) are viewed as distinct and
separate from the nation of Israel.
Rom. 11:5, "in the same way then, there has also come to be at the present
time, a remnant according to the CHOOSING (election) of grace."
Rom 11:7, "What then? Israel did not find what it was looking for, but the
chosen group (eklogā, election) did find it. The rest were hardened."
Paul uses the "chosen" as a shortened form of "the remnant according to an
election of grace" that he mentioned in verse 5. These are the believers of
the church; the "even us" of Romans 9:24.
This is exactly what Isaiah described at Isaiah 65:8-16.
But of course, Israel will once again be "chosen" of God.
28, "from the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but
from the standpoint of the election (choosing), they are beloved for the
sake of the fathers."
It is the same "election of grace." It is the same salvation provision that
is available to all peoples.
They, as are all peoples, the objects of divine love. (John 3:16; Rom. 5:8).
Even though they are enemies of the cross; of the gospel of Jesus Christ,
they are still loved by God and the message of "repent and believe the
gospel" will continue to be proclaimed to them until finally, "all Israel
will be saved."
Rom. 11:30-32
Because of the whole salvation process: the rejection of Israel, the
acceptance of the Gentiles; the establishment of the church, the gospel
proclamation of the church - many out from the Jews will become saved.
The whole process is to provide salvation mercy to ALL.
Even though the nation failed and were removed from participating in the
promises made to "the fathers," the fact of those promises was not removed.
The Jewish people, as part of "God so loved the world," can participate in
the election of grace through faith in Christ. And later the NATION itself
through those Jews (the 144k bond servants) who trust in Christ after the
rapture will again become participants in the "olive tree."
And then those who remain alive after Armageddon will experience fully the
promises made to Abraham and David in the earthly Davidic kingdom. (Is.
65:22).
This will start with the second coming of Jesus; the conversion of the 144
Jewish bond servants of Rev. 7:1-8; and extend into the earthly, Davidic
kingdom. This is seen in Isaiah 65:17-25 and through chapter 66.
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