PROMISES ABOUT ISRAEL

“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!” (Jer. 30:11 NKJV).

Israel continues to make the headlines and will remain in the headlines until the Lord Jesus Christ returns to be her king. Our verse summarizes the main promises regarding Israel. It speaks of the preservation of Israel, the persecutors of Israel, and the punishment of Israel.

Preservation of Israel - “I am with you, says the Lord, to save you . . . not make a complete end of you.” While those in the news media speculate about the uncertainty of Israel’s future, those who believe the Bible know that such speculations are futile. Israel’s future is secured; she will not be destroyed. Israel has the greatest future of any nation on the earth. And while nations may line up against Israel, they will be no match for the Lord Jesus. He will save Israel when He comes back to earth to become Israel’s king.

Persecutors of Israel - “Though I make a full end of all nations where I have scattered you.” The future of those nations that have mistreated Israel does not look too promising. Today, the nations who oppress Israel may seem to have the upper hand, but they will not succeed in their opposition. God’s promise in Gen. 12:3 to “curse him who curses you” still holds true.

Punishment of Israel - “I will correct you in justice, and will not let you go altogether unpunished.” The root cause of Israel’s troubles is their rejection of the Lord Jesus Christ. And today they are being chastened because of this rejection of their Messiah. Yet, this chastening will not last forever. Things will change once Israel accepts the Lord Jesus Christ as their Messiah. Israel is being chastened now by God because of their sin. However, the chastening will not destroy them; it will purify them

(Adapted from Butler's Daily Bible Reading)

Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be The Glory)

Quotation of the Week

“God makes a promise; faith believes it; hope anticipates it; and patience quietly awaits it!”

Dwight Lyman (D.L.) Moody (1837 – 1899)

English Bible Teacher and Author

Word Study

Divided

In Luke 11:17 we read, "But He, knowing their thoughts, said to them: Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls.” (NKJV).

Divided is the Greek word diamerizō (διαμερίζω = dee-am-er-id'-zo). It is made up of two words: “dia” which means through and intensifies meaning, and “merizō” which mean to divide. Thus diamerizō means to divide thoroughly. Literally, the word means to divide as the soldiers did with the Lord’s garments (Matt. 27:35). Figuratively, it speaks of a kingdom divided as in Luke 11:17. In Luke 12:53 it speaks of families divided by being forced to choose for or against the Lord Jesus.

In classical Greek diamerizō was used of a butcher who cuts animals into pieces. In the Septuagint, diamerizō was used to describe the dividing of the earth (Gen. 10:25), and of David distributing (dividing) food throughout Israel (2 Sam. 6:19). In the New Testament, diamerizō also carries the idea of dividing as can be seen in Acts 2:45 where the believers made it a regular practice of selling their material possessions and dividing the proceeds among themselves according to individual needs.

Prophecies Fulfilled by Jesus

Old Testament Prophecy – Messiah would be a leader and commander (Isa. 55:4)

New Testament Fulfillment – Heb. 2:10

Did You Know…

In the Bible it states that the Lord Jesus is the Apostle and High Priest of our confession (Heb. 3:1).

Bible Quiz

What was the name of the prostitute that harbored the two Israelite spies?

**Answer to last week’s Bible Quiz: What were the results of the 10 day dietary trial of Daniel and his friends? “Their features appeared better and fatter” than all the young men who had ate the “king’s delicacies” (Dan. 1:15).

Names of the Lord Jesus Found in the Bible

“Master/Teacher”

"Then a certain scribe came and said to Him, Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go!” (Matt. 8:19 NKJV).

1. Meaning – The Lord Jesus is or Teacher.

2. Insights – The word Master means Teacher or Rabi. The Lord Jesus is the final source of truth concerning God. He is the only Teacher who can show us the way that we should go

3. Related Titles – Rabbi/Rabboni (John 20:16); Truth (John 14:6-7).

Did You Know – Christian History

Joseph Scriven was born September 10, 1819 in Banbridge, County Down, Ireland He was an Irish poet, best known as the writer of the poem which became the hymn “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.”

Scriven was educated at Trinity College, Dublin. In 1843 he was engaged to be married but then tragedy struck - his fiancé accidentally drowned the night before their wedding. In 1845 Scriven left Ireland and migrated to Canada. This move was partly due to strained relations with his family because of the influence of the Plymouth Brethren upon his life.

In Canada he taught and tutored to make his living. In 1855 he received news from Ireland that his mother was terribly ill. To comfort her, he wrote her a poem called “Pray Without Ceasing.” It was later set to music and renamed by Charles Crozat Converse, becoming the hymn “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.” Scriven had no intentions or dream that his poem would be published, and later becoming a favorite hymn among the millions of Christians around the world. His authorship was only discovered by accident shortly before his death. Ira Sankey added a tune to the words.

About 1857 Scriven moved near to Port Hope, Ontario where he again fell in love and got engaged. Once again tragedy struck. In August 1860 his fiancée suddenly fell ill of pneumonia and died. One can hardly estimate Joseph’s shock and depression.

He joined the local Plymouth Brethren and assisted their elderly members. His own sorrows seemed to make him more aware of the suffering of the poor and weak and he attempted to live out the Sermon on the Mount, giving or lending to anyone who asked and sympathizing with all who were more unfortunate than himself. He sawed wood for the stoves of the physically handicapped and comforted the poor and mentally distressed.

Scriven’s last years were plagued by ill health, skimpy finances and depression. He drowned in 1886 at age 66. It isn’t known if his death was an accident or a suicide, as he was seriously depressed at the time. A friend reported, “We left him about midnight. I withdrew to an adjoining room, not to sleep, but to watch and wait. You may imagine my surprise and dismay when on visiting the room I found it empty. All search failed to find a trace of the missing man, until a little after noon the body was discovered in the water nearby, lifeless and cold in death.” He was buried next to his second fiancée in Bewdley, Ontario, Canada.

A Little Humor

Little Johnny comes home from his first day at school. His mother asks, "What did you learn today?" "Not enough," replied little Johnny. "I have to go back tomorrow."

Thought Provoking Church Sign

“A man ought to be afraid to run his own life the minute he knows there is a God!”