Psalm 8:1

My Shepherd met me pondering His love for Israel despite her refusal of Him as her promised Messiah. And He laid me down in Romans 10-11. The Mind of the Spirit directed the spirit of my mind to Romans 10:19:

Romans 10:19 But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.

Moses wrote this under the moving of the Holy Ghost in Deuteronomy 32:21:

Deuteronomy 32:21 They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.

Along the still waters, the Spirit drew my attention to Romans 11:25-29, specifically, “As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes” (Romans 11:28). The election of Abraham over all the nations, of Isaac over Ishmael, and the election of Jacob over Esau, of Judah over the brothers, to the election of David from among all Judah, tracing the elect seed, which is CHRIST (Galatians 3:16), and all who are “chosen in him before the foundation of the world” (Ephesians 1:4), making us “accepted in the beloved,” receiving “redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace,” of the “Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8) that He might “gather together in one all things in Christ,” “that we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ” (Ephesians 1:4-12, see 13-14 which shows when, “in time” we enter into Christ (see Romans 16:7). He chose Abraham’s “seed,” which was CHRIST. And joined His “incorruptible seed” (1 Peter 1:23), the “word of God” (Luke 8:11; see John 1:1) to the seed of the woman (Genesis 3:15), bringing forth into the world the Son of God, Son of man (John 1:14; 1 Timothy 3:16).

Israel will ever be beloved of God, for although “concerning the gospel, they are enemies for [our] sakes … as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes.”

The Spirit impressed me with the thought: Jerry, have you not noticed that my favor extended to the Gentiles was in part intended to provoke Israel’s jealousy? Listen: “How shall I give thee up, Ephraim?” (Hosea 11:8-9). My promises to Israel will no sooner fail than would my ordinances of the moon, the stars, and the seas, “if those ordinances depart from me, saith the Lord, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever” (Jeremiah 31:35-37). Now, listen closely: “Remember these, O Jacob and Israel … thou shalt not be forgotten of me. I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins,” so I did die as the sacrificial Lamb for all mankind (1 John 2:1-2), and upon that I call to my son, Ephraim (Israel), “return unto me; for I have redeemed thee” (Isaiah 44:21-22).

Consider those prophecies that promise to restore Israel to her land even during her time of partial blindness (Deuteronomy 30:3-5; Isaiah 11:11-12; Jeremiah 23:3, 31:8-10; Ezekiel 37:21-22; Amos 9:14-15; and a favorite: Zechariah 10:8-10).

In the valley, kneeling in the shadow of His Cross, my Shepherd made me understand the significance of the truth that rejoiced the Gentiles (Romans 15:8-9; Acts 15:31). He has graffed us in (Romans 11:17-23). His invitation to discipleship is extended to me: “If any man,” see that? “Any man,” will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23).

At the table, He anointed my head with His oil and filled my cup with His grace. We went together into the harvest, goodness and mercy following close behind.

Praying for the peace of Israel! 🙏