I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery
WEEK 7
REFLECTING ON GOD'S
FAITHFULNESS
ROMANS 11:25-36
I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery —so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, "The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from Jacob. This is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins."
From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God's choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers; for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. For just as you once were disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy because of their disobedience, so these also now have been disobedient, that because of the mercy shown to you they also may now be shown mercy. For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all.
Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor? Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to him again? For from Him and
through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.
OUR FATHER, we thank You that You are a covenant-keeping God. Your Word gives us the wonderful example of ethnic Israel,
whom You will one day save according to Your promise. We thank You that even now there is only a partial spiritual hardening,
for there are many true Israelites1 who have come to faith
in Jesus as Messiah. And when "the fullness of the Gentiles" is complete—
before the final in-gathering of people into the church from every nation, tongue, and tribe—
then You will fulfill Your promise to Israel. This is Your covenant: When they see their nail-pierced
Messiah return in His glory, a fountain will be opened for the house of David and for
the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to wash away sin and impurity.2
Your Word and Your covenants are always true and trustworthy,
for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.3
All nations of the earth are beneficiaries of Your grace even in the wake
of Israel's disobedience, for when that nation rejected the Lord Jesus
as their promised Messiah, You turned to the Gentiles.4
And when You have accomplished Your sovereign work among the nations,
You will turn again to Israel and show mercy to them
just as You have to the Gentiles. That prompts us to marvel with the apostle Paul,
O, the depth of the riches both of Your wisdom and knowledge!
For from You and through You and to You are all things
and the glory forever!
Thank You for the grace of salvation to both Jew and Gentile. How grateful we are from the depths of our being to You,
Lord Jesus, for bearing our sin in Your own body on the cross.5
Your self-sacrifice is the guarantee of our redemption,
the reason for our hope, the ground of our assurance, and the song of our faith. Your death purchased our salvation,
Your resurrection guarantees our justification, and Your intercession at the throne of grace secures our perseverance.
Teach us, Lord, to walk obediently by faith. Empower us through Your Spirit to live in Your strength. May we gladly bear the yoke that is easy and the burden that is light.6
And may we wear that yoke faithfully until we see You face-to-face. In the meantime, enable us to be truly useful in the advancement of Your kingdom. What a privilege this is for us—
that You overcome our fallenness, wretchedness, sinfulness, weakness, and ignorance to transform us into instruments of Your grace in this world!
Be honored, Lord, as we offer You our worship in reflecting on
Your faithfulness to Your people. We pray for the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ,
and in His mighty name. Amen.
1. John 1:47 2. Zechariah 12:8–13:1 3. Romans 11:29 4. Cf. Acts 13:46; Isaiah 55:3-7; Hosea 1:10 5. 1 Peter 2:24
6. Matthew 11:28-30