October 17
Jer 30:1-31:26 | PS 87:1-7 | Prov 25:18-19 | 1 Tim 2:1-15
When interpreting Scripture a number of things must be considered. God's character is immutable, or unchanging. God is all loving, all merciful, full of grace, and also just. Next, when approaching Scripture, we are to let Scripture interpret Scripture. The Bible is the best authority of the Bible. There are portions of Scripture which are allegorical, such as in some of the poetic books (Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon), but there is danger when rendering allegory to the rest of Scripture when that was not the author's intent. This doesn't mean that there can't be layers of interpretation as in many of the prophetical writings in terms of near and far fulfillment. And we must remember the Golden Rule of Bible interpretation, which is, "When the plain sense of Scripture makes common sense, seek no other sense, lest it result in nonsense." It is with this in mind that we must view Replacement Theology. This essentially teaches that the church has replaced Israel in God's plan, that the Jewish people are no longer God's chosen people, and that God does not have specific future plans for the nation of Israel. It is my belief that this theology is anti-Semitic and stands completely opposite of not only the plain sense of Scripture, but also, God's character. Adherents to Replacement Theology state that the blessings of Israel and the Promised Land are spiritualized or allegorized into God's promises of God's blessings for the church.
When we read the prophets, we must never forget that these were real people speaking to real audiences at that particular time. Jeremiah spoke forth God's message at a time of tremendous chaos and uncertainty, as the Jewish people were experiencing hardship, death, destruction, and captivity. They were demoralized, most due to their own sin of idol worship and sinfulness. Yet, God, through the prophet, in love, speaks to His chosen people, and lets them know that though they will not go unpunished, that He has not stopped loving them and will not abandon them, as we read in Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." Throughout Jeremiah's prophesy, though the prophet does not always know how what he is saying will be fulfilled (1 Peter 1:10-12), some related to their returning from Babylonian captivity, and other portions such as chapters 30-31, deal with their return during and after the Great Tribulation, which is yet to occur ("the time of Jacob's trouble in Jeremiah 30:7). Look at the beautiful promise to the Jewish people in 30:10-11, "‘Therefore do not fear, O My servant Jacob,’ says the Lord, ‘Nor be dismayed, O Israel; For behold, I will save you from afar, And your seed from the land of their captivity. Jacob shall return, have rest and be quiet, And no one shall make him afraid. For I am with you,’ says the Lord, ‘to save you; Though I make a full end of all nations where I have scattered you, Yet I will not make a complete end of you. But I will correct you in justice, And will not let you go altogether unpunished.’" We read in this portion of Scripture that there will be singing, dancing, abundance, peace, etc. for the people of Israel.
Realize at that time there were really only two categories of people: Jew and Gentile. Consider just how demoralizing it would be for the Jewish people, and out of character for our all-loving God, to infer that all those sweet promises to the Jewish people were not really intended for them, but instead were intended for the Gentiles who were the ones oppressing them. We read in Jeremiah 31:23, "Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: “They shall again use this speech in the land of Judah and in its cities, when I bring back their captivity: ‘The Lord bless you, O home of justice, and mountain of holiness!’" When the Jewish people returned from Babylon, they did not speak Hebrew, they adopted the language of the various empires that ruled over them. It was only the Jewish scholars that knew and used Hebrew. But, much to the surprise of many skeptics, after 1900 years, the Jewish people, retaining their distinct genetic roots, coming back using their distinct Hebrew language once again became a nation in 1948. Not only have they come back, but they have thrived. Though they have largely not yet accepted Jesus Christ as their Messiah, we read in Ezekiel 37 of their returning to the land, and one day being filled by the Holy Spirit in verse 14, "I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken it and performed it,” says the Lord.’ ”". Contrary to replacement theology, dispensationalism teaches that after the rapture of the church, God will indeed restore Israel, just as the prophets told and reassured the people at that time. Though many could not forsee Israel ever becoming a nation again, and thus replacement theology trying to explain it away, now in the face of the miraculous rebirth of Israel, it is hard to understand those who continue to exclude Israel. But we must never forget, they need Jesus, just as the Gentiles do, and may we never forget this.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: