Romans 10:5-10

There were two ways the Jews failed to submit to God’s righteousness.  The first was that they stumbled over Christ, the end of the law for righteousness for all who believe.  The second is that they failed to see that faith was called for in the law.  We see this in Rom. 10:5-8 and its strong call to faith that quotes Deuteronomy 30:11-14.  

Paul, as we have noted, taught that the law was a tutor to lead us to Christ.  It was given to point out sin but was not a cure for sin.  Some may think this is a new truth from Paul but that is not the case.  You may be surprised to know that both Moses and Joshua, the key figures in leading Israel out of Egypt into the Promised Land, both believed that Israel would not be able to keep the law of Moses (Joshua in Josh. 24:19 and Moses in Deut. 31:16-19).  God even gave Moses a song to teach to the people revealing how they would stray from Him.  

In other words, if you studied Moses as Paul had, you would conclude that the law would produce repeated failure and would continually lead to faith-based righteousness.  If you wonder about this, just note the words quoted in Romans 10 from Deut. 30.  It begins with a reminder from Lev. 18:5 that the requirement of the law was that you must keep the law entirely (cf. Gal. 3:12).  That was the standard for “the righteousness that is of the law.”  

But “the righteousness of faith” spoke differently.  It warned against thinking that you could be justified by the heroic keeping of the law.  Paul sees this in the reference to ascending into heaven and descending into the abyss.  The one who seeks righteousness by keeping the law is attempting the impossible.  Rather, Moses said, “the word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart.”  It was a call to righteousness by faith, receiving salvation with the empty hand.  Paul relates each of these phrases to Christ, even telling us the fulfillment of Moses’ words is found in “confess(ing) with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe(ing) in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead.”  

Now you may still wonder if Paul only knew this because of his “hindsight” position on this side of the cross.  But in fact Romans 10 will go on to reference other Old Testament passages to this call to faith.  For now let us be reminded that Paul referred in Romans 4 to Abraham (before the law was given) and David (after the law) as men of faith.  In other words they did not seek righteousness by law-keeping but by faith.  We saw in the previous devotional how there would always be a remnant who would be saved.  These would be people who submitted to the righteousness of God.

The hardest thing is to come to Christ empty-handed.  There is always the thought that we must bring something to God that shows we deserve a right standing with Him.  To do this is to stumble over Christ, the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.  Come to Christ by faith alone today.

Psalm 67

For God so loved the world!  Do not doubt this.  God’s intentions towards mankind, created in His image, have always been designed to encourage a joyful relationship with their Creator.

As we have been considering the “Hymn Book of Israel” we have seen several songs that show God’s special relationship with one nation among many.  Israel is His treasured possession.  But lest you think His love for the world is somehow diminished because of this you must consider Psalm 67.

The song begins with a reference to a special priestly blessing given to Israel in Numbers 6:24-27.  I have often prayed this for people, but in its original context it was a gift to Israel.  The High Priest was to pray this and thus put My name on the children of Israel (Num. 6:28).  God did in fact promise blessing on Israel if and as they walked obediently with Him.

But why did God give this special blessing to Israel?  That Your way may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations (67:2).  God’s choice of Israel, His provision for her security and blessing on her land, were not an end in itself.  She was to be a living invitation to the nations of the world that there was one God and He was the God of Israel.  

To see how this was intended to be, consider the following stories from the Old Testament:

·         Exodus 5-12 where the each plague upon Egypt was a display of the power of Yahweh, Israel’s God, over one of the gods of Egypt (Ex. 12:12; Num. 33:4).

·         Isaiah 36-37 when the Assyrians came to attack Jerusalem (esp. 37:8-20).

·         Jonah 1-4 when Jonah was sent to call Ninevah to repentance.

·         Daniel’s conversations with Nebuchadnezzar (esp. Dan. 5:26-27,34-37).

In each case the point is expressed in the line seen so frequently in the Scriptures: then they shall know that I am the Lord or then they shall know that there is a God in Israel.  God’s word through Isaiah expressed clearly the roll Israel had among the nations:

“You are My witnesses,” says the Lord, “And My servant who I have chosen, that you may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He.  Before Me there was no God formed, nor shall there be after Me.  I, even I, am the Lord.  And besides Me there is no savior.  I have declared and I have proclaimed, and there was no foreign god among you.  Therefore you are my witnesses,” says the Lord, “that I am God.” (Isaiah 43:10-12)

The Body of Christ, the Church, should sing this song with understanding.  God HAS already been merciful to us and blessed us in Christ.  His face HAS shown upon us.  But this is not just for our joy.  It is so that we might be His light to the world.  God is still seeking to bless the world through His chosen people.  The gift of the Holy Spirit is to empower believers to witness to God’s mercy and grace to all the world (Acts 1:8).  His light is to shine to the world through the lives of His people (Matt. 5:16; 1 Peter 2:12).  Having been reconciled to God we have been given the ministry of reconciliation whereby we implore others to be reconciled to God (2 Cor. 5:18-21).

Let us examine ourselves.  Is there time, energy, priority, interest, commitment and relationships that fit our heavenly calling to be Christ to the world?!  So often the testimony of God’s people shames Him before the world.  (If you want to consider this more deeply I commend to you 1 Peter 4:12-19.)