Blessed Hope Bible-Presbyterian Church
500 Upper Bukit Timah Rd, Singapore 678106
2 Kings 6:24-33 And it came to pass after this, that Benhadad king of Syria gathered all his host, and went up, and besieged Samaria. 25 And there was a great famine in Samaria: and, behold, they besieged it, until an ass’s head was sold for fourscore pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a cab of dove’s dung for five pieces of silver.
The Apostle Paul uses a gardening metaphor commonly known as marcotting to describe how Gentiles are given the privileges to enjoy the promises of God to Israel through the gospel. The wild olive branch receives life when it is attached back to the main branch by an “artificial bandage” to partake of the root and fatness of the olive tree, symbolic of Israel.
The Apostle Paul is reminding his readers that God’s promise of blessing to Israel has not been nullified because she has, nationally, rejected her God. Israel is still that nation that God has consecrated to be a witness for Him. Israel will feature most prominently in the days when our Lord returns. We are seeing the build up to that reality as we read the news concerning Israel. May God open our spiritual eyes to see the fulfilment of His unfailing promise to Israel unfolding according to Scriptures. May our faith be strengthened. God does not forsake His own! Amen.
The temporal casting away of Israel accorded to the world the privilege of receiving the gospel. The witness for God belongs to Israel and still belongs to them. The promises of God to Israel has never been nullified because of Israel’s rebellion. Like a loving father, He awaits their return to Him. Israel’s role is to be a witness of the living and true God to the nations of the world. The nations have not known what glory God will manifest in the fullness of time when Israel shall be the leading nation of the world under Christ.
Acts 1:1-8 (KJV) 1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: 3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: 4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. 5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. 6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. 8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
The Fruit of the Spirit is Longsuffering
Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Longsuffering (makrothuméo) describes the believer as exhibiting patience, forbearance, longsuffering, slowness in avenging wrongs inflicted by others. It is the quality of a person who can avenge himself yet refrains from doing so. It is patience in respect to persons whereas another word often translated patience (hupomonḗ) describes one’s enduring attitude towards things or circumstances (Luke 8:15, 21:19; Romans 2:4, 5:3, 4).
The Apostle Paul has been speaking of his burden for the salvation of his beloved countrymen. His heart goes out to them. Although his mission is to the Gentiles, he understands that God has not cast away Israel. He longs in earnest that his own people may be saved. He hopes that his work among the Gentiles may be a witness of God’s grace to his own people that they, too, may be influenced to receive Jesus Christ.
The Apostle Paul fulfilled his calling with distinction. God’s grace abide with him. He is reminding his readers that he fulfilled his role as the apostle to the Gentiles. They have benefitted from the blessings of the gospel through Paul’s ministry. He was leading them to understand that he was a part of God’s redemption and carried the gospel torch in his lifetime. As we survey the Book of Acts, we observe the record of God’s hand leading the Apostle Paul to fulfil His mission.
Israel’s witness for God has been set aside because they rejected the gospel. The Gentiles have benefitted from God’s rejection of Israel. Salvation came upon the Gentiles and with it, the riches of the glory in Christ Jesus was accorded to them. It is our high privilege that God’s grace comes to the Gentiles. The Apostle Paul witnessed to the European continent, and the gospel was extended there and to America and to Asia. We are the beneficiaries of God’s grace due to Israel’s fall. Thank God for His grace!
In fact, when God begins the church, it was with the purpose of extending His grace to both Jews and Gentiles. Whosoever will, can be saved. Dear friends, can you articulate if someone ask you what is the church? May I submit to you, the Church is God’s people! The word “church” is from the Greek words “ecclesia” which means “called out one”. The term is derived from the root verb “kaleo” which means “to call”. The church is, therefore, a people called out by God.