v.1-5
1. R.W.
the truth, not lying, assures me v.1 What he said below is not easy to be believed, or most people doubt about that
great sorrow, unceasing anguish v.2 The deep feeling of Paul towards Israel
my people (lit-brothers), my fellow countrymen (lit-kinsman according the flesh) v.3 Paul's relationship with them are like family or extended family
Summary: Although Paul wrote a lot about their mistakes and their results are death. But he actually really care about them and he was sincere. He acknowledged and prized their relationship.
2. To them sons, glory... patriarchs belonged to them, Christ came from them (Who is God), that means God came from them in flesh. Their privilege position before God was undeniable.
(NET) to see a note of praise to God at the end of this section seems strangely out of place. But for Paul to bring his lament to a crescendo (that is to say, his kinsmen had rejected God come in the flesh), thereby deepening his anguish, is wholly appropriate.
Summary: If one did not take the opportunities or privilege their result are pitiful.
Reflection: In the past Israelites might have not take their opportunities and their foreseeable future was death. (Because of their pride and their unbelief). But now, Paul did not want them to make the same mistake. He was sincere when he wrote them the book of Romans. His intention was not to condemn, but to help. How about me? Do I have the heart of Paul when I face stubborn, unbelief, prideful people? They might have misunderstanding to me or did not trust me. Will I still want them to take the opportunities?
v.6-13
1. The question or the debate in v.6, "Had the WOG regarding the Israel failed?" What word? (BKC) The failure of the Jews to respond to the gospel of Christ did not mean God’s Word had failed
(PNTC) God’s word here means all God’s promises to Israel
2. The answer is, "it depends on whom you mean are the Israel, are the descendants of Abraham. v.6b-9."
R.W. Not all..are Israel, nor are all the children...true descendants, through Isaac...be counted (same word as calling in v.11, BDAG-the bearers of the name actually are what the name says about them. The pass. be named thus approaches closely the mng. to be), not the children of the flesh...are the children of God, the children of promise are counted.
Summary: Not all are covered, but whom God promise
R.W. God's purpose in election (BDAG-special choice), not by works but by calling (BDAG-From the mngs. ‘summon’ and ‘invite’ there develops the extended sense choose for receipt of a special benefit or experience), "I love..."
Summary: God's decision to give a favor, not by natural descending order, or by human effort/by our won work
The true descendants are the one with God's promise AND with God's election. Both emphasized that the decision is on God's hand.
Reflection: When the Israel tried to claim the promise of God they need to see the result as controlled by God. He is the giver and He has a purpose or will. When I live in a world that is created by God, I also need to acknowledge His sovereignty. When my life is saved by Him, I need to see the same point. The world is not operated by natural power, nor human power. It is His world, operating with His power.
God is not like the world leader who try to show the world his manipulating power and is backlashed by his foolishness. 1. God has never changed His Word. It was the same from the beginning. 2. Isaac was not born by Ab and Sarah in natural means nor by human's work. There is no doubt for the divine intervention for his existence. 3. God's election related to His gift. He did not take away anything that human has any right to claim.
Do I respond to the authority God gives me (husband, church leader, government leader) the same way I respond to the authority of God? (Their words are not the unchanging, they did not grant me my existence, nor they give me any gift). If I obey, it was not because of who they are or what they have done, it was an extension of my obedience to God. But to what extend?
v.14-24
2 questions,
1. v.14, "Is there injustice with God?"
A. No, because God did not judge man's efforts and put a injustice verdict on them. There is no human involvement, not even our desire nor exertion are involved. It is solely on God. His mercy and compassion will be put upon those His emotion leads Him.
Totally identical sentence pattern for those He show mercy and not.
v.15 For he says to Moses: “I will have mercy on whom...
v.16 So then, it does not depend on human...but on God
v.17 says to Pharaoh: “For this very purpose I have raised you up...
v.18 So then, God has mercy on whom he chooses...
B. The result: the objects of mercy that he has prepared beforehand for glory—24 even us, whom he has called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles
2. "who has ever resisted his will?" v.19
Paul did not explain the answer of this question like the previous one. Instead, he rejected the legitimacy of this question.
v.20 But who indeed are you—a mere human being—to talk back to God?
Man did not deserved to talk back to God.
v.21 Has the potter no right to make...
3. Even we have no right to answer God, but here the purpose why He did that was repeated
v.17 For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may demonstrate my power in you, and that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.”
v.22 he is willing to demonstrate his wrath and to make known his power
v.23 he is willing to make known the wealth of his glory
Even though He has the authority and did not need to explain. He did not just do things with no purpose. When Pharoah was raised up, His wrath was demonstrated, and His power was made knows, Israelites and all the people in the earth knew about God. This in turn would save some people.
Questions
1. a. "Is there injustice with God?" b. "who has ever resisted his will?"
2. a. No, because God did not judge man's efforts and put a injustice verdict on them. There is no human involvement, not even our desire nor exertion are involved. It is solely on God. The result: the objects of mercy that he has prepared beforehand for glory—24 even us, whom he has called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles
b. he rejected the legitimacy of this question.
3. Man exist for God's purpose. Therefore, God has the ultimate authority and His will should be over our will.
4. He has the authority to show mercy on whom He has mercy.
5. He also has the right to show His wrath.
Purpose: When Pharoah was raised up, His wrath was demonstrated, and His power was made knows, Israelites and all the people in the earth knew about God. This in turn would save some people, and they can show His glory
6. the potter and the soil
7. I am totally thankful that He did because He did not need to do that.
8. a. To His mercy I know I do not deserve. I should not do things to people only when they deserve that. b. I need to realize that something I do not have the right to question, but to accept.
v.25-33
1. Overview: Both Jews and Gentiles are prepared beforehand for glory v.23-25. In the quotations in v.25-26, the ideas of "my people is repeated. In v.25, those who were not my people will be call my people, but in v.26 "in the same place" those who were not my people will be called the sons of the living God." That means, not only the gentiles who were not His people will be His people, but also the Jews will be the people of God.
(BKC) God directed Hosea to give his children symbolic names—one son Lo-Ammi (not my people) and the daughter Lo-Ruhamah (not … loved). These represented God’s abandonment of the Northern Kingdom of Israel to the Assyrian Captivity and Exile (Hosea 1:2–9).
It fits the context, because in the following verse v.27, "And Isaiah cries out on behalf of Israel..."
2. For the part about the Jews,
A. the number of people who will be saved will be surprisingly low v.27 and it was only because of the mercy of God v.28-29.
Prophet Isaiah is named but not Hosea. Perhaps it was because of the background of the book of Isaiah. Judah rebelled against God and their judgment is imminent. Not long after him, his prophecy about the final days of Judah became true v..28. For Paul's Jewish reader, this is a stern warning.
B. The sadness of the wrong target of their pursue. Not by faith, but by works. Plus, the stone of stumbling is laid there by God (for their rebellion). To get out of this dire results, you can only do it by believing in Jesus v.33.
Reflection:
If I'm a Jew who read Paul's letter, I would not challenge the legitimate position of the Gentiles believers, and would not be overconfident about my position before God. The things I hold on to all my life need to be re-examine. Is that alone the line with what the Bible said? Do I pursue God by work? Am I a righteous person before God?
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