Notes on Israel’s enduring purpose for our sake.

I mentioned in an earlier post that some of things I write here are as much to provide an online archive of things I’ve noticed as they are for others’ information, amazement, or amusement. This post will be along those lines; a sort of “note to self” that I can refer to without having to find my paper notes which by now may well be lost in a stack of Bibles. But if you also gain something from reading these things, then all the better.

A friend recently lent me a copy of Dan Juster’s The Irrevocable Calling – Israel’s Role as a Light to the Nations. This book details some of the ways in which the ancient nation of Israel has been a living priesthood that not only brought forth the Savior of the world roughly 2000 years ago, but also provided a sacrificial covering for the sins of the world for a millennium or two before that time, and continues to be a living witness of the reality of God to the world, even in a current “state of unbelief” (meaning not having yet seen by faith and acknowledged the first coming of Yeshua HaNatzri as Mashiach and Goel).

My notes on Chapters 4 and 5 of the book cite Juster (hopefully accurately – I returned the book to my friend) as writing:

In summary, Israel was called to establish a nation in the midst of the earth that has preserved and lived out the truth of God. Their life under the Lord shows the significance of God’s Word, his standards, and his redemption…

Even in unbelief, the Jewish people can’t help but testify to the truth of the Scriptures. In their dispersion, but also by their preservation… Scripture continues to be fulfilled…

Israel’s continued faithfulness to the Sabbath and the Holy Days maintains a picture of redemption and spiritual truth for the world’s benefit…

Though Jewish people do not engage in literal sacrifices, the liturgy… is still done with direct reference to the practices of the ancient temple… The irrevocable call – to act in an intercessory-representative role for humanity – continues, though in a weakened form… there are also some Orthodox Jews who fully comprehend their life and practice (their call) as a means of intercession for the redemption of the world…

Even in partial unbelief, Israel speaks the Word of God [in daily prayers] and this Word will not return void. There is still power released that moves history toward the goal of the fullness of the kingdom of God on earth…

And then some notes regarding the relationships between Jewish and Gentile believers, both from the inception of the church, and now (chapters 6 and 7):

In reference to Acts 15:21, Juster sees James’ intent as pointing out the continued value of the weekly synagogue Torah readings in teaching Godly precepts to the Gentiles without their needing to follow the regulations [of kashrut]…

The Jewish believers, by maintaining their Jewish identity and traditions, keep alive the authentic context for understanding the Scriptures…

Jewish life proclaims that God exists and He will rule the world. Every time a Jewish person keeps the Sabbath and the feasts… they proclaim the reality of God and look forward to the fullness of redemption…

All the nations seek a world order that excludes the God of the Bible, who is the God of Israel… Israel, even in unbelief, challenges this view…

Dr. Peter Hocken notes that the first church division came from a rejection of the legitimacy of the early Messianic Jewish community… [and also] suggests that doctrinal differences within the church can likely be bridged by a return to the Jewish roots and context of our faith…

Tragically, both the church and the synagogue have rejected the organic link between them, [which is] the Messianic Jews…

And then some notes on Malachi 4:5-6 (Behold, I am sending you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of Jehovah.
Mal 4:6  And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the sons, and the heart of the sons to their fathers, that I not come and strike the earth with utter destruction):

Some contemporary leaders have discerned… some larger implications… Just as scholars have seen in the fifth commandment to ‘honor your father and mother’ an implied concern to honor all authorities, these verses in Malachi can also be applied in a wider sense…

The church needs to honor her Jewish spiritual parents. Though the church may consider the Jewish people as ‘missing it’ with regard to Yeshua, it is still appropriate to act as a respectful child to parents who do not yet believe. Honoring its spiritual parentage is crucial for the church to come into right order, understanding, and unity.

It is equally important for the Jewish people to see the church as their own offspring, even if it appears to be a wayward child… Messianic Jews know that unless the church fulfills its call and destiny, Israel will not be saved and world redemption will not come…

As I said, these are just my notes jotted down when I first read Juster’s book. Placing them in this blog post doesn’t mean I’m completely on board with everything he says – but he does give us some things to consider.