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AUGUST 11
20 You prevail forever against him, and he Why should he take away your bed
passes on; from under you?
You change his countenance and send Romans 11:1–18
him away.
21
His sons come to honor, and he does I say then, has God cast away His people?
not know it; 11 Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of
They are brought low, and he does not the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
perceive it. 2 God has not cast away His people whom He
22 But his flesh will be in pain over it, foreknew. Or do you not know what the
And his soul will mourn over it.” Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with
God against Israel, saying, “LORD, they have
3
Psalm 94:12–19
killed Your prophets and torn down Your
12 Blessed is the man whom You instruct, altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my
O LORD, life”? But what does the divine response say
4
And teach out of Your law, to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thou-
13 That You may give him rest from the sand men who have not bowed the knee to
days of adversity, Baal.” Even so then, at this present time there is
5
Until the pit is dug for the wicked. a remnant according to the election of grace.
14 For the LORD will not cast off His 6 And if by grace, then it is no longer of works;
people, otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of
Nor will He forsake His inheritance. works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is
no longer work.
7 What then? Israel has not obtained what it
seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the
rest were blinded. Just as it is written:
8
94:14 will not cast off His people. God has a
permanent commitment to His people, Israel,
established through a covenant based on His
abiding love (Gen.15; Jer.12:15; Mic.7:18).This
important truth serves as a doctrinal basis for
Pss. 93–100 and was intended to encourage 11:1 cast away. To thrust away from oneself.
the nation during difficult times. Paul refers to The form of the question in the Greek text
this in Romans 11:1 as he assures the future expects a negative answer.Despite Israel’s dis-
salvation of Israel. obedience (9:1–13; 10:14–21), God has not
rejected His people (1 Sam. 12:22; 1 Kin. 6:13;
Pss. 89:31–37; 94:14; Is. 49:15; 54:1–10; Jer.
33:19–26). Certainly not! The strongest form
15 But judgment will return to of negation in Greek.
righteousness,
And all the upright in heart will follow 11:17 branches were broken off. Some, but
it. not all,of the branches of Israel were removed.
16 Who will rise up for me against the God always preserved a believing remnant
evildoers? (vv. 3,4). a wild olive tree,…grafted in. Olives
Who will stand up for me against the were an important crop in the ancient world.
workers of iniquity? Although trees often lived for hundreds of
17 Unless the LORD had been my help, years, individual branches eventually stopped
My soul would soon have settled in producing olives. When that happened,
branches from younger trees were grafted in
silence.
18 If I say, “My foot slips,” to restore productivity. Paul’s point is that the
old, unproductive branches (Israel) were bro-
Your mercy, O LORD, will hold me up. ken off and branches from a wild olive tree
19 In the multitude of my anxieties within (Gentiles) were grafted in. the root and fat-
me, ness. Once grafted in, Gentiles partake of the
Your comforts delight my soul. richness of God’s covenant blessings as the
Proverbs 22:26–27 spiritual heirs of Abraham (4:11; Gal. 3:29). the
olive tree. The place of divine blessing—
26 Do not be one of those who shakes God’s covenant of salvation made with
hands in a pledge, Abraham (Gen. 12:1–3; 15:1–21; 17:1–27).
One of those who is surety for debts;
27 If you have nothing with which to pay,

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