02.08. Rom_11:7-15 - Life from the Dead
Romans 11:7-15
"Israel has not obtained what it seeks"
"What it seeks" is eipzēteō -- a present-tense compound word made up of epi (upon) and zēlon (zeal). They were seeking in an ongoing manner, with zeal, but not according to knowledge (Romans 10:2).What did they seek?
Paul previously told us they sought righteousness, but by works of the law rather than faith (Romans 9:31).
Romans 11:8 - As It Is Written
"a spirit of stupor"
"Stupor" is katanUxeōs: "a senseless mental condition of deep sleep." The equivalent Hebrew term, Tareddemah, describes the deep sleep which fell on Adam prior to the removal of his rib (Genesis 2:21).What is the source of the stupor?
The stupor is the result of judicial hardening initiated by God in response to the rejection of truth by those under its influence : Isaiah 29:9, Isaiah 29:13 (NKJV).
Romans 11:9 - Table Become a Snare
"And David says"
Paul is quoting Psalms 69:1, a Messianic psalm which speaks of how Jesus was treated by Israel (Psalms 69:21 Matthew 27:46-48)."Let their table become a snare and a trap... a stumbling block"
"Table" is used as a figure of speech, a metonymy, where table represents that which is normally placed upon it: food to sustain its eaters. Jesus was to have been their "living water" and "bread of life," but instead became their stumbling block (skandalon, 1 Corinthians 1:22-24; Galatians 5:11).
Romans 11:10 - Bow Down Their Back
"and bow down their back always"
This phrase departs from the Massoretic Text of Psalms 69:23 which states, "and make their loins shake continually." The Greek reflects the Septuagint (where the verse is found at Psalms 68:24). The difference can be understood in the variety of meanings conveyed by the Hebrew term matnayim: "hips," "waist," "back," "body," "side," "loins," "heart," and others. This phrase may speak of ongoing servitude or possibly the result of blindness--continually stooping and groping to see a path.
Romans 11:11 - Have They Fallen?
"Certainly not!"
Paul uses his standard phrase which emphatically denies the possibility which has naturally risen in the listener’s mind. NOTE: if Israel has fallen, never to recover her national status before God, as many Christians today claim, then Paul’s use of this same term elsewhere can also be negated! But this would imply that there is unrighteousness with God (Romans 3:6), that the law is made void through faith (Romans 3:31), that we should continue in sin that grace may abound (Romans 6:1-2), and that Christ is a minister of sin (Galatians 2:17) ! The possibility that the nation of Israel has fallen and lost her chosen status is equally implausible!"through their fall"
"Fall" is paraptŌmati which can mean false step or departure from the right way of living. Here it is singular, probably denoting the specific sin of the rejection and crucifixion of Messiah Jesus."to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles"
Paul returns to his earlier theme (Romans 10:19). The "foolish nation" (Gentiles, devoid of the knowledge of the Torah) now has a saving relationship with Israel’s Messiah which most Jews within Israel have never experienced.
Romans 11:12 - Riches for the World
"their fall... their fullness"
These two phrases, their fall and their fulness, correspond to the two comings of Christ. Paul writes in the interval when the cross is past history and the redemption of Israel is, as in our day, future."fullness"
"Fullness" is plErōma : the same word which is used to describe the "fullness" of the Gentiles (Romans 11:25). It describes that which is brought to a desired end and can be used of a period of time, when all intended within it has been accomplished (Romans 11:24; Galatians 4:4; Ephesians 1:10).The Fullness is More Glorious!
At the second coming of Christ, "The conversion of the Jews will be accompanied by the most glorious consequences for the whole world." (Charles Hodge).
Romans 11:13 - I Speak to You Gentiles
"for I speak to you Gentiles"
Although Romans is written to both Jews (Romans 2:17; Romans 4:1, Romans 4:12; Romans 7:1; Romans 16:7, Romans 16:11) and Gentiles (Romans 1:5, Romans 1:13; Romans 5:14; Romans 11:17), Paul wants the Gentiles to pay special attention because they are more likely to misunderstand the status of Israel after the cross. Indeed, history has amply shown Paul’s concern to be accurate!
Romans 11:14 - Provoke to Jealousy
"by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh"
Although Paul is the apostle to the Gentiles (Acts 9:15), he always strove to present the gospel to the Jew first (Acts 13:5, Acts 13:14, Acts 13:46; Acts 17:2, Acts 17:17; Acts 18:4, Acts 18:19). The behavior of believing Gentiles is very important to Paul and will have a direct bearing upon whether Paul’s countrymen will be provoked to jealousy.
Romans 11:15 - Life from the Dead
"if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world"
"Reconciling" is katallagE : "change from enmity to friendship." There was enmity between the Gentiles and Israel (Ephesians 2:14-17) and between all unbelievers (the majority of which were Gentiles) and God. When the gospel went forth to the Gentiles, they were reconciled to God."what will their acceptance be"
Literally, For if the casting away of them [is] the reconciliation of the world, what [is] the acceptance (or reception) if not life from the dead? The acceptance could be: (1) the acceptance of the Jews by God or (2) the acceptance of Messiah Jesus by the Jews. Based on the purpose of the tribulation--to turn Israel to their Messiah (Deuteronomy 4:30; Jeremiah 30:7; Ezekiel 20:37; Daniel 12:1; Zechariah 13:8-9; Matthew 23:39; Luke 21:24; Romans 11:25), it seems best to understand this as acceptance on the part of Israel of her Messiah (Matthew 23:39)."life from the dead"
Paul was intimately familiar with the Old Testament and could scarcely have used this phrase in a context concerning the restoration of Israel without intending a direct allusion to chapter 37 of Ezekiel. Ezekiel 37:1 touches on many of the same themes as Romans 11:1-36. Ezekiel’s passage indicates: (1) Israel’s hope seems gone; (2) Israel’s "bones" are reassembled prior to her spiritual rebirth; (3) Israel is brought back into her land; (4) to be cleansed of sin according to an everlasting covenant (cf. Romans 11:27).
Application
1. Divine Hardening in Judgment- Those who turn away from the light which God has given risk being divinely hardened in their rejection of God.
2. Provoking Nonbelieving Jews to Jealousy- Does our assurance of salvation and our intimacy with the Jewish Messiah exhibit characteristics which would draw an unsaved Jew?
3. The Blessed Hope and Israel- The blessed hope of Christ’s return can and should include our excitement concerning the blessings the entire world will enjoy when Israel accepts her Messiah and the Millennial Kingdom is ushered in.
4. Don’t Judge Spiritual Reality By What Is Seen- We must not judge by what we see with our eyes concerning Israel. We must never doubt God’s ability to bring Israel to a point of spiritual awakening concerning Messiah Jesus at the precise time of His choosing.
5. Jews and Gentiles on Equal Footing- When history draws to an end, both Jews and Gentiles will be shown as falling short of God and equally in need of His unmerited grace. Gentiles may be more numerous among the "people of God" at present, but this has not always been the case nor may it be in the future. We Gentile believers must not become haughty!