Forever And Ever

"Or is His dying for them the point?"

HOW LONG is forever? We like to talk about eternity, eternal life, everlasting life. We rejoice in God’s promises to us, His church. We turn in His Word to what’s been said of Him. His mercy endures forever. He is King and High Priest forever. Many verses which are part of the Jews’ covenant. Psalm 110:4. Hebrews 7:21.

How long is forever to Israel? When Hashem promised them salvation forever, did He mean it? When Zion would be His throne and His resting place forever (Psalm 132:14), was that truly forever? A son of David would be crowned forever, an ANOINTED ONE (Psalm 132:12,18). Is that forever? We believe this. We say it’s Jesus. And it is. Yet, all the other forevers are now canceled and the Jews’ covenant canceled?

The Lord is my shepherd. Psalm 23:1. That is no longer theirs. He is Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6. That is also no longer theirs, we say. He will write His name on their hearts; they are engraved on His palms. Jeremiah 31:33. Isaiah 49:16. Hebrews 10:16. These are not forever.

“Remember his promise forever, the word that he commanded for a thousand generations, the promise that he made to Abraham, and his sworn promise to Isaac.” (1 Chronicles 16:15-16)

These are not my statements, you understand, but words from the church.

How about the prophet Ezekiel’s promises to a rebellious Israel. First, I will point out he was a Jew. Is one, since he is saved. That is promised in the Jews’ covenant. Exodus 15:2. Psalm 3:8. In Ezekiel, chapter 20, God speaks to the nation, saying He will show Himself to the Gentile nations as being mercy. Though Israel asks Him to let go, just let them act like Egypt, for His name’s sake, for what He would look like as uncaring, as angry and wrathful, as coldhearted, He will, instead, show Himself as FOREVER. They are forever His. He is forever theirs. And His promises to bless them last forever.

“For in mine holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, serve me: there will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the firstfruits of your oblations, with all your holy things.” (Ezekiel 20:40)

“Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.” (Psalms 3:8)

Forever, that is, according to us, until Jesus comes, decides not to be Jew, changes into Gentiliness, and “pshht” to His people who He is King of forever. Or is His dying for them the point? That He removed the curse of the Law forever, all those “here’s what we’ll do to you if you sin and don’t repent” judgments. And became to them blessing forever. Redemption.

“He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.” (Psalms 111:9)

If we’re going to reach back into their covenant for forever promises, then we must see them as their promises first. And love them, the Jews, with the love of the Father, who they call Father, and our King, who they call Hashem, King of all Kings. We are wrong in our doctrines in most every church, yet our loving God never removes eternity from us. He is the same to His nation, to His people Israel, who in everything they do put Him in the center.

We should love them as much as He does and do the same.


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Suzanne D. Williams, Author
www.suzannedwilliams.com
www.feelgoodromance.com