2002-01-01
Good Morning Dear Ones,
Yesterday, I began taking you along on the path of a Scripture search the Lord led me to learn about Israel and the metaphor of the olive tree. The purpose of taking this path is to see a most remarkable example of God’s grace that began with Israel and now extends to us. Along the way, some valuable lessons were revealed about sin leading to death, our need to trust in God, and our need to reject idolatry. In the citations we look at today, God’s incredible compassion and love for His children can be seen.
Isaiah 17 is where the prophet foretells the punishment that God will mete out on Israel in response to their practice of idolatry and general disobedience. In (4) we learn, “The Lord said, ‘A day is coming when Israel’s greatness will come to an end, and its wealth will be replaced by poverty. ‘ ” From the perspective of looking back in history and our understanding of the love that God has for the Jewish people, we know that this refers not to their total destruction, but to a punishment that God administers to the child He loves but needs to correct. This love is further seen in the concept of the Jewish “remnant,” which we see over and over again in the Scriptures. This is the weeding out of the permanently disobedient ones, leaving a remainder made up of those who stay faithful. A great example of that is found in IS 11: 1, “The royal line of David is like a tree that has been cut down; but just as new branches sprout from a stump, so a new king will arise from among David’s descendants.” Another wonderful example of this can be seen in ZECH 13: 8-9, “And throughout the land two-thirds of the people will die. And I will test the third that survives and will purify them as silver is purified by fire….” That tells us that during the Tribulation, the one-third remnant of Jews who remain in faith will come to Christ and be saved. Placed on the context of the extent of Jewish disobedience over man’s history, this is a remarkable act of compassion on God’s part. Now, look back in IS 17, returning to the prophecy of Israel’s punishment mentioned above. IS 17: 6, “Only a few people will survive, and Israel will be like an olive tree from which all the olives have been picked except two or three at the very top, or a few that are left on the lower branches. I the Lord God of Israel, have spoken.”
The story of the vision of the lampstand in ZECH 4: 1-14 uses the olive tree metaphor symbols to give us another demonstration of God’s grace toward His chosen people. Zechariah wrote this prophetic book of the OT between 520-518 BC. He was born in Babylonian captivity, and his arrival in Jerusalem is mentioned in Nehemiah 12: 4, 16. Ezra mentions his ministry in Ezra 5: 1 and 6: 14. He took over the short public ministry of the older Haggai to encourage the remnant. Zechariah had a long ministry complete with a number of significant prophesies. One of them is the vision of the lampstand made of gold. An angel roused Zechariah and asked him what he saw. His reply in (2-4) was, “A lampstand made of gold. At the top is a bowl for the oil. On the lampstand are seven lamps, each one with places for seven wicks. There are two olive trees beside the lampstand, one on each side of it.” We learn in (12) that the angel asks Zechariah to explain the meanings of what he observes, including the two olive branches beside the two gold pipes from which the olive oil pours. When Zechariah confesses that he doesn’t know, the angel goes on to explain these symbols to the prophet. (Remember that seven is God’s number of perfection and completion). The seven lamps are God’s eye’s which see all over the earth. The two olive trees represent two men, Joshua (the priest who succeeded Moses ) and Zerubbabel (the Governor of Judah). When you remember that olive oil is often used as a symbol for the Holy Spirit, the vision becomes clearer. The grace of God in this whole vision can really be seen in (6), “The angel told me to give Zerubbabel this message from the Lord: ‘You will succeed not by military might or by your own strength, but by My Spirit.”
Earlier I made the point that God’s grace was first showered on the Jews, but that now it extends to Gentiles as well. I may be prejudice about this, but I believe one of the greatest manifestations of God’s grace is the gift He has given us of the Gospel. With the onset of Paul’s ministry, the barrier of the Gospel being directed at Jews only (with a few exceptions) came down, opening access to it to everyone willing to believe. RO 1: 16, “I [Paul] have complete confidence in the Gospel; it is God’s power to save all who believe, first the Jews and also the Gentiles.”
RO 11: 16-24 once again uses the metaphor of the olive tree to depict the salvation of the Gentiles. Paul suggests that the roots of the olive tree are natural descendants of the Jewish patriarchs. The branches that grow from this root stock naturally represent the remnant of Jews who remain faithful and obedient to God. The branches that are broken off the tree are apostate Jews. The places made by this breaking off process are now available for the ingrafting of wild olive branches, representing Gentiles who have come to faith in Christ. Beginning with (17), Paul reveals God’s sovereign will. “Some of the branches of the cultivated olive tree have been broken off, and a branch of a wild olive tree has been joined to it. You Gentiles are like that wild olive tree, and now you share the strong spiritual life of the Jews. So then, you must not despise those who were broken off like branches. How can you be proud? You are just a branch. You do not support the roots-the roots support you.” (20-24) They were broken off because they did not believe, while you remain in place because you do believe. But do not be proud of it; instead, be afraid. God did not spare the Jews, who are like natural branches; do you think He will spare you? Here we see how kind and how severe God is. He is severe toward those who have fallen, but kind to you-if you continue in His kindness. But if you do not, you too will be broken off. And if the Jews abandon their unbelief, they will be put back in the place where they were; for God is able to do that. You Gentiles are like the branch of a wild olive tree that is broken off and then, contrary to nature, is joined to a cultivated tree; and it will be much easier for God to join these broken-off branches to their own tree again.”
PRAYER: O Lord, we stand in awe of the extent of Your love for us and grace extended to us. Your grace amazes us and opens the door enabling us to escape the misery of being spiritually lost. You have asked us for nothing more than our faith and obedience and have gifted us with your Gospel and the blood of Your Son shed for us on the cross when we least deserved it. We dedicate our lives to You in humble appreciation. Help us never to forget what an awesome, loving, compassionate, and almighty Father You are. In Christ’s name, amen.
Dear Friends, when you seek out the Lord, He delights in that and offers you His unparalleled love. May you experience His righteousness and the peace that goes beyond human understanding that only comes from living a life of dependence on Him. No matter what problems you face today, know that you are not alone. The Lord of your life is right there to guide you through them. Peter and I send you our heartfelt love and prayers.
In the hope you are basking in His glorious grace,
Lynn