Jerusalem, Jerusalem...

A friend was recently in the Holy land and took this beautiful picture of Jerusalem (presumably from the Mount of Olives). 

 

 The first thing that flashed to my mind (aside from the beauty of the scene) was Jesus words in Matthew 23:

 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’” (Matthew 23:37-39)

This past year I have spent a significant amount of time studying eschatology and inevitably when that subject is broached the question is raised: What future is there for ethnic Israel, for the Jews, the descendents of Jacob? 

Though that time in study and through time spent in consideration of the future for national Israel there is one verse that has stuck in my mind throughout my readings.

Isaiah 8:17 - “I will wait for the Lord who is hiding his face from the descendants of Jacob.  I will put my trust in him”.

The verse from Isaiah was written in the context of judgement due to the behaviour of King Ahaz who rejected faith in God for his own plans (2 Kings 16).  Instead of relying on the word of the prophet that God would deliver Israel Ahaz made an alliance with Assyria to overcome his foes.  Instead of winning the battle by faith in God Ahaz attempted to win the battle through his own works, even allying himself to a pagan king.  In response God promised that he would use Assyria as an instrument to punish the nation of Israel (Isaiah 8:6-10).

In the midst of this judgement a prophesy about Christ is announced ‘The Lord… will be a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall and for the people of Jerusalem a trap and a snare’ (v.14).  We know that the stone is the Lord Jesus Christ, both Peter and Paul preached this in 2 Peter:7-9 and Romans 9:33 respectively.

Faith versus works, this is the story of the ages.  Paul goes into great detail over the story’s typification as illustrated in the Jews in Romans 9: “…the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness, have not attained their goal. Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone.” (v. 30, 31)

Jesus prophesy has come true; Your house is left to you desolate’.  Though the image of Jerusalem is beautiful you cannot help but notice the prominence of the Dome of the Rock.  If you read 2 Kings 16 it is interesting that Ahaz actually copied the altar of the pagan god of Assyria, set it up in the temple and gave offerings on it.  Today the temple of another pagan god sits in the same spot; it is hard to see this as anything but God’s judgement on a people who rejected their Messiah.  

But, as in Isaiah, even in the midst of judgement there is hope, and a future of blessing.

“I will wait for the Lord who is hiding his face from the descendants of Jacob.  I will put my trust in him” (Isaiah 8:17)

The hardening of national Israel has resulted in blessing to the nations as we the gentiles are ingrafted with believing Jews into true Israel of God (Galatians 6:16).  And a greater blessing is still to come “If their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their full inclusion bring!”(Romans 11:12).

God is gathering the nations and blessing the world as the gospel is preached to the farthest reaches of the planet.  But one day ‘when the full number of the Gentiles has come’ (v.25) Israel will turn back to the Lord and what a blessing that will bring!  “If their (national Israel’s) transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their full inclusion bring!” (v.12)

When the Jews turn to Christ their Messiah by God’s grace there will be even greater riches for the Gentiles!  Sounds to me like a great revival.  Consider how the Gospel was spreading rapidly through the Roman world as Paul wrote his letter.  Consider that when Israel turns to the Lord the blessing will be even greater!

We ought to pray for the Jews, we ought to pray for Jerusalem.  When revival comes to Israel what a blessing will come to the world.  The Bible teaches that “All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him” (Psalm 22:27) this includes the Jews, the nation of Israel.  It will come to pass only by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ so let us pray earnestly to that end and with the prophet Isaiah say together with hope:

“I will wait for the Lord who is hiding his face from the descendants of Jacob.  I will put my trust in him” (Isaiah 8:17)