December 31, 2024: Isaiah 49:14-16 - The Lord Will Not Forget His People

“But Zion said, The LORD hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven [inscribed] thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.” - Isaiah 49:14-16

In these passages of Scripture from the Old Testament book of Isaiah, we read how Zion, meaning the people of Israel, the children of God, and the holy city of Jerusalem in the land of Israel, proclaimed to Isaiah the prophet that God had forgotten them, even after Isaiah had told them that God would send His servant, whom we know now is Jesus the Christ, to “raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel.” God also told them that He was sending His servant to be “a light to the Gentiles” so that He would be “my salvation unto the end of the earth.” (Isaiah 49:6) Let us remember where Israel was at this time and what had happened to them.

Though a once unified nation, the nation of Israel increasingly began to worship false gods and did not obey God’s commands to them. Thus, God caused the nation of Israel to split into two nations after the death of King David’s son Solomon. The nation was divided into the northern nation of Israel and the southern nation of Judah. Israel, the northern kingdom, had ten of the twelve tribes of Israel, and Judah had two tribes, Judah and Benjamin. God had previously warned Israel not to commit sexual fornication with pagan women because they would turn their hearts against Him and cause them to worship false gods and commit abominations. However, King Solomon did not heed God’s words:

“But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites; of the nations concerning which the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave [clung] unto these in love. And he had seven hundred wives, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with [at peace with] the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father. For Solomon went after Ashtorreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom [or Molech] the abomination of the Ammonites. And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father. Then did Solomon build an high place [a place for pagan worship] for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon. And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods.” (1 Kings 11:1-8)

Let us read what Solomon used to be like before he corrupted himself and disobeyed God’s commandments to him. Sometime after Solomon became king, God appeared to him in a dream at night:

“In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee. And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in. And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?” (1 Kings 3:5-9)

When the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream and asked him what should God give him, Solomon humbled himself, referring to himself as a little child, and out of all the things he could have asked God to give him, he asked that God would give him an understanding heart so that he could judge the people with discernment. Next, let us read God’s response to his request:

“And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment [justice]; behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days. And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.” (1 Kings 3:10-14)

God not only told Solomon that He would give him what he asked for, but He would also give to him what he did not ask for, and that is exactly what God did. God blessed Solomon tremendously, as we are told in 1 Kings 10:23-24:

“So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom. And all the earth sought to [sought the presence of] Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart.” (1 Kings 10:23-24)

It was not King David but King Solomon whom God instructed to build the magnificent first Jewish temple in honor of God and which would house the Ark of the Covenant. When the building of it was complete:

“Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, unto king Solomon in Jerusalem, that they might bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which is Zion. And all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto king Solomon at the feast in the month Ethanim [September or October], which is the seventh month.” (1 Kings 8:1-2)

King Solomon then prayed to God. Let us read part of his prayer to God:

“And he said, LORD God of Israel, there is no God like thee, in heaven above, or on earth beneath, who keepest covenant [keeps your covenant] and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all their heart: who hast kept with thy servant David my father that thou promisedst him: thou sparest also with thy mouth, and hast fulfilled it with thine hand, as it is this day. Therefore now, LORD God of Israel, keep with thy servant David my father that thou promisedst him, saying, There shall not fail thee a man in my sight to sit on the throne of Israel; so that thy children take heed to their way, that they walk before me as thou hast walked before me. And now, O God of Israel, let thy word, I pray thee, be verified, which thou sparest unto thy servant David my father.” (1 Kings 8:23-26)

Solomon was referring to the words that God had given to Nathan the prophet to speak to Solomon’s father, King David. God had told David that the throne of his kingdom would last forever:

“And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build an house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men: but my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee. And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever. According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.” (2 Samuel 7:2-17)

This is a two-part prophecy that speaks both of David’s son Solomon, whom God would chasten because of Solomon’s sins against Him, but God would have mercy upon him. More importantly, it is a prophecy of the coming Son of God, also called the Son of David, who is Jesus the Christ, whose kingdom will last forever.

Let us read more from Solomon’s prayer to the house of Israel:

“Hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and do according to all that the stranger calleth to thee for: that all people of the earth may know thy name, to fear thee, as do thy people Israel; and that they may know that this house, which I have builded, is called by thy name. If thy people go out to battle against their enemy, whithersoever thou shalt send them, and shall pray unto the LORD toward the city which thou hast chosen, and toward the house that I have built for thy name: then hear thou in heaven their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their justice. If they sin against thee, (for there is no man that sinneth not,) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them to the enemy, so that they carry them away captives unto the land of the enemy, far or near; yet if they shall bethink themselves [come to themselves] in the land whither they were carried captives, and repent, and make supplication unto thee in the land of them that carried them captives, saying, We have sinned, and have done perversely, we have committed wickedness; and so return unto thee with all their heart, and with all their soul, in the land of their enemies, which led them away captive, and pray unto thee toward their land, which thou gavest unto their fathers, the city which thou hast chosen, and the house which I have built for thy name: then hear thou their prayer and their supplication in heaven thy dwelling place, and maintain their cause [justice], and forgive thy people that have sinned against thee, and all their transgressions wherein they have transgressed against thee, and give them compassion before them who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them: for they be thy people, and thine inheritance, which thou broughtest forth out of Egypt, from the midst of the furnace of iron: that thine eyes may be open unto the supplication of thy servant, and unto the supplication of thy people Israel, to hearken unto them in all that they call for unto thee. For thou didst separate them from among all the people of the earth, to be thine inheritance, as thou sparest by the hand of Moses thy servant, when thou broughtest our fathers out of Egypt, O Lord GOD.” (1 Kings 8:43-53)

That is an amazing prayer from King Solomon! He rightfully acknowledged that when God’s people sin against Him and have done perverse and wicked acts, God would chasten them by allowing them to be taken captive by their enemies to foreign lands. However, God would have mercy upon His people if they come to their senses while in the foreigner’s land and acknowledge their sin to God and return to Him “with all their heart, and with all their soul.” (1 Kings 8:48) Solomon also rightfully acknowledged that God did not call His people to be like the rest of the world; rather, He called them to be separate, apart from it, to be His inheritance. Solomon’s words to Israel also ring true to all of God’s children who are saved by putting our faith and trust in Jesus Christ to save us from all our sins. We are not to be like the rest of the world but are to separate from it.

Sometime later, the Lord appeared to Solomon a second time to give him another warning. Let us read what God said to him this time:

“And it came to pass, when Solomon had finished the building of the house [Temple], and the king’s house, and all Solomon’s desire which he was pleased to do, that the LORD appeared to Solomon the second time, as he had appeared unto him at Gibeon. And the LORD said unto him, I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication, that thou hast made before me: I have hallowed [sanctified] this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there for ever; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually. And if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded thee, and wilt keep my statutes and my judgments: then I will establish the throne of thy kingdom upon Israel for ever, as I promised to David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man upon the throne of Israel. But if ye shall at all turn from following me, ye or your children, and will not keep my commandments and my statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods, and worship them: then will I cut off [destroy] Israel out of the land which I have given them; and this house, which I have hallowed for my name, will I cast out of my sight; and Israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all people: and at this house, which is high, every one that passeth by it shall be astonished, and shall hiss; and they shall say, Why hath the LORD done thus unto this land, and to this house? And they shall answer, Because they forsook the LORD their God, who brought forth their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and have taken hold upon other gods, and have worshipped them, and served them: therefore hath the LORD brought upon all them this evil.” (1 Kings 9:1-9)

God reiterated to Solomon the promise He had made to Solomon’s father, King David, that God would establish the throne of David’s kingdom forever. King David wasn’t perfect, and we know that after God had made the promise to him, David would later commit a great sin against God when he slept with a married man’s (Uriah) wife (Bathsheba), got her pregnant, and had Uriah put on the front lines of battle knowing that he would be killed, and he was. After David had done that, God sent Nathan the prophet to call David’s sin out to him:

“…Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul; and I gave thee thy master’s [Saul, the former king of Israel] house, and thy master’s wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such [much more] things. Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon. Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah, the Hittite to be thy wife.” (2 Samuel 12:8-10)

Through Nathan’s words, David realized that God had given him everything he wanted and yet, it wasn’t enough. David realized that he had destroyed Uriah, not only by taking his life but also by taking the only one he had, which was his wife, whom Uriah had deeply loved. David realized he had sinned against God, and he confessed his sin to God. Because God is loving and merciful and He knew that David was truly sorry for his sin - not just because he was caught in his sin - God forgave David. However, Nathan also told David because of the sin David had committed against God, which David’s enemies could use to blaspheme God, that the child Bathsheba was pregnant with, would not survive, and that is what happened. (2 Samuel 12) In his despair, David wrote Psalm 51, a beautiful song to God, in which he asks God to “create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right [steadfast] spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10) Let us read this psalm in its entirety:

“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified [be found just] when thou speakest, and be clear [blameless] when thou judgest. Behold, I was shapen [brought forth] in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free [generous] spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise. For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem. Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.” (Psalm 51)

The account of David and the sin that he committed shows us that we all sin, even those we perceive as “the best of us,” and that we are all in need of the Savior to save us from our sins, that we cannot save ourselves. It also shows that we must not remain in our sin, and that we must turn away from our sin and turn to God. David did acknowledge his sin against God. He asked God to have mercy on him by washing him clean of his sins, to give him a new heart, and to help him remain steadfast in Him. David serves as a model for all we who call ourselves believers in Jesus Christ. As God so many times in His word tells His people to do, so HIs words ring true to all of us today:

“Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn [return] ye unto me, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will turn [return] unto you, saith the LORD of hosts.” (Zechariah 1:3)

Returning to the Scriptures above from 1 Kings 9:1-9, God clearly warned Solomon that if he or his children started disobeying Him and started worshipping other gods, false gods, then God would take them out of His land, God’s land, and God would destroy the temple that Solomon had built. However, this did not negate the promise that God had made to David, that through David, his kingdom would last forever, for it is a prophecy of a kingdom that truly will reign forever, and that is of Jesus Christ’s kingdom, King Jesus, who would come to earth from heaven and be born as a human from the lineage of King David.

While Solomon had once prayed his beautiful and true prayer after the building of the temple, he did not heed his own words he had prayed to God, nor did he heed the warning God had given him. Unlike when his father David had fallen into sin, when Solomon fell into sin, he did not repent of it and turn back to God. Like God had done with his father David, God had blessed Solomon tremendously. Solomon had all that any man could want, and yet it wasn’t enough. However, unlike his father David, Solomon did not admit his sin to God and repent of it, but he kept on sinning in disobedience to God. Solomon is an example of all the very wealthy people in our world today who are never satisfied with what they have and who have turned to false gods and have committed abominations. Because of Solomon’s sins against God and his worship of false gods, God became angry with Solomon and told him what was going to happen to him as a result of his flagrant disobedience to Him:

“And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice, and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the LORD commanded. Wherefore the LORD said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee [you have done this], and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend [tear away] the kingdom from thee and will give it to thy servant. Notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it for David thy father’s sake: but I will rend it out of the hand of thy son. Howbeit I will not rend away all the kingdom; but will give one tribe to thy son for David my servant’s sake, and for Jerusalem’s sake which I have chosen.” (1 Kings 11:9-13)

Let us read from 1 Kings of this dividing of Israel, which, as God said would happen in the Scriptures above (1 Kings 11:11), began with a servant of King Solomon’s named Jeroboam:

“And the man Jeroboam was a mighty man of valor: and Solomon seeing the young man that he was industrious, he made him ruler over all the charge [labour force] of the house of Joseph. And it came to pass at that time when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him in the way; and he had clad himself with a new garment; and they two were alone in the field: and Ahijah caught the new garment that was on him, and rent [tore] it in twelve pieces: and he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces: for thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend [tear] the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee: (but he shall have one tribe for my servant David’s sake, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel:) because that they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in mine eyes, and to keep my statutes and my judgments, as did David his father. Howbeit I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand: but I will make him prince all the days of his life for David my servant’s sake, whom I chose, because he kept my commandments and my statutes: but I will take the kingdom out of his son’s hand, and will give it unto thee, even ten tribes. And unto his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a light [lamp] alway before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there. And I will take thee, and thou shalt reign according to all that thy soul desireth, and shalt be king over Israel. And it shall be, if thou wilt hearken unto all that I command thee, and wilt walk in my ways, and do that is right in my sight, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did; that I will be with thee, and build thee a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel unto thee. And I will for this afflict the seed of David, but not for ever.” (1 Kings 11:28-39)

After King Solomon died and his son, Rehoboam, became king of Israel, Jeroboam and all of Israel came to Rehoboam to protest that his father Solomon had ruled them with a mighty and burdensome hand and asked Rehoboam to rule them with a lighter hand and then they would serve him. Rehoboam asked them to wait for three days before he would answer them, during which time he sought counsel from the elders, who advised him to listen to the people. However, he disregarded their advice and sought counsel from the younger men, who advised him to rule the people with an even harsher hand than his father Solomon. Rehoboam decided to heed the advice of the younger men, and three days later he addressed Jeroboam and the people of Israel:

“…My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions [scourges with points].” (1 Kings 12:14)

The Bible tells us why Rehoboam made this decision:

“Wherefore the king hearkened not unto [did not listen to] the people; for the cause was from the LORD, that he might perform his saying, which the LORD spake by Ahijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat.” (1 Kings 12:15)

The people of Israel did not like Rehoboam’s response to them, and they said to Rehoboam:

“What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David. So Israel departed unto their tents.” (1 Kings 12:16)

The majority of Israel rebelled and rejected Rehoboam as their king and chose Jeroboam as their king instead. Only the people in Judah decided to follow Rehoboam. The Bible tells us, “But as for the children of Israel which dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.” (1 Kings 12:17) When King Rehoboam came to Jerusalem, he gathered 180,000 fighting men from the tribe of Judah and also from the tribe of Benjamin, with the intent of going to fight against the ten tribes of Israel that had rebelled against him and to bring them back into his kingdom. However, God intervened:

“But the word of God came unto Shemaiah the man of God, saying, Speak unto Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and unto all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the remnant of the people, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel: return every man to his house; for this thing is from me. They hearkened therefore to the word of the LORD, and returned [turned] to depart, according to the word of the LORD.” (1 Kings 12:22-23)

Thus, we see now how and why the once unified kingdom of Israel became two kingdoms, the northern kingdom with ten tribes, and the southern kingdom with two tribes. It is from the remnant of the people of the southern tribe of Judah that Messiah, Jesus Christ, would later come.

Jeroboam, the first king of the northern kingdom of Israel, was the first of many wicked kings. His evil leadership began when he worried that if the people under his rule went to worship and sacrifice at Solomon’s temple in Jerusalem, they would turn against him and would instead follow Rehoboam, king of Judah. Ignoring the words that God had previously spoken to him through the prophet Ahijah, and in clear disobedience to Almighty God, he made two golden calves for the people to worship instead of worshipping God:

“Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. And he set the one in Beth-el, and the other put he in Dan. And this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan. And he made an house of [shrines on the] high places, and made priests of the lowest of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi. And Jeroboam ordained [instituted] a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like unto the feast that is in Judah, and he offered upon the altar. So did he in Beth-el, sacrificing unto the calves that he had made: and he placed in Beth-el the priests of the high places which he had made. So he offered upon the altar which he had made in Beth-el the fifteenth day of the eight month, even in the month which he had devised of his own heart; and ordained a feast unto the children of Israel: and he offered upon the altar, and burnt incense.” (1 Kings 12:28-33)

Jeroboam had told the people that it was too much trouble for them to continue going to Jerusalem to sacrifice at the Temple, even though they had been doing that ever since it was built, and the people went along with it. Instead of worshipping the one true God, the mighty one of Israel, they worshipped two golden calves made from human hands. Jeroboam even went so far as telling them that it was the golden calves which were the gods that had brought them out of Egypt! And yet, the people went along with his lies and did not rebel against him. That is what disobedience to God does to people: it makes them stupid!

Beginning with Jeroboam, the northern kingdom of Israel would have only evil kings, and it would be taken by the Assyrians into captivity in 722 BC. While the southern kingdom of Judah did have several kings who started and ended good - Asa, Jehoshaphat, Jotham, Hezekiah, and Josiah - the rest were evil. Biblegateway.com has a very informative chart that shows the kings and prophets of Israel and Judah. (See: https://www.biblegateway.com/learn/bible-101/kings-prophets-israel-judah/)

Consequently, God sent the Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar, to conquer Judah, burn Solomon’s temple and destroy Jerusalem, and take many of the people of Judah captive to Babylon for a period of seventy years. God did exactly as He had told Solomon He would do. Remember, God had appeared to Solomon a second time when God told Solomon He had heard his prayer to Him after Solomon had built the temple. God had warned Solomon of the consequences if he or his children turned from Him to worship other Gods. Let us read God’s words to him again:

“But if ye shall at all turn from following me, ye or your children, and will not keep my commandments and my statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods, and worship them: then will I cut off [destroy] Israel out of the land which I have given them; and this house, which I have hallowed for my name, will I cast out of my sight; and Israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all people: and at this house, which is high, every one that passeth by it shall be astonished, and shall hiss; and they shall say, Why hath the LORD done thus unto this land, and to this house? And they shall answer, Because they forsook the LORD their God, who brought forth their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and have taken hold upon other gods, and have worshipped them, and served them: therefore hath the LORD brought upon them all this evil.” (1 Kings 9:6-9)

After Solomon ignored God’s words and committed sexual fornication with pagan women and he began to worship and sacrifice to their false gods, God had told Solomon that He would tear the kingdom of Israel from him when Solomon’s son would reign. All of God’s words to Solomon came to pass. The once unified kingdom of Israel was divided, and the northern kingdom of Israel was taken captive to Assyria, and the southern kingdom of Judah was taken into captivity by Babylon. The glorious temple built by Solomon in Jerusalem was burned to the ground, and Jerusalem was destroyed, just as God had told Solomon said would happen. May this serve as an example to all of us: God means what He says; what He says He will do, He will do. God did promise judgment to Solomon, and judgment came. Because of His promise to Solomon’s father, David, God told Solomon He would not to tear away the kingdom while Solomon was king but during the reign of his son. However, God would keep part of the kingdom under control of Solomon’s son. Let us read God’s words to Solomon again:

“Notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it for David thy father’s sake: but I will rend [tear] it out of the hand of thy son. Howbeit I will not rend away all the kingdom; but will give one tribe to thy son for David my servant’s sake, and for Jerusalem’s sake which I have chosen.” (1 Kings 11:12-13)

These words of God to Solomon were confirmation of the words God had spoken to his father David when he was king of Israel. Let us read those words again because they should remind us that God has no forgotten His people Israel:

“And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build an house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes [strokes] of the children of men…” (2 Samuel 7:12-14)

That is exactly what happened. David’s son Solomon became king, and he built the first Jewish temple for God. Even though God warned him not to, Solomon did commit iniquity when he had sexual intercourse with foreign women and worshipped and sacrificed to their false gods. Consequently, God did chasten Solomon by allowing Israel to be divided under the reign of his son, Rehoboam. Not only was Israel divided, but both kingdoms, the northern and southern kingdoms, were conquered and taken captive into the foreign lands of “children of men” in Assyria and Babylon. However, God did save a remnant of the kingdom, from whom the throne of David’s kingdom would be established forever, and that remnant is the tribe of Judah, from whom Messiah would come. Let us read again the rest of what God had promised to David:

“But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee. And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever. According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.” (2 Samuel 7:15-17)

Let us also read King David’s response to God’s words that were spoken to him through Nathan the prophet:

“Then went king David in, and sat before the LORD, and he said, Who am I, O Lord GOD? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto? And this was yet a small thing in thy sight, O Lord GOD; but thou hast spoken also of thy servant’s house for a great while to come. And is this the manner of man, O Lord GOD? And what can David say more unto thee? for thou, Lord GOD, knowest thy servant. For thy word’s sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all these great things, to make thy servant know them. Wherefore thou art great, O LORD God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears. And what one nation in the earth is like thy people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to himself, and to make him a name, and to do for you great things and terrible i[awesome], for thy land, before thy people, which thou redeemedst to thee from Egypt, from the nations and their gods? For thou hast confirmed to thyself thy people Israel to be a people unto thee for ever: and thou, LORD, art become their God. And now, O LORD God, the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, establish it for ever, and do as thou hast said. And let thy name be magnified for ever, saying, The LORD of hosts is the God over Israel: and let the house of thy servant David be established before thee. For thou, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee an house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee. And now, O Lord GOD, thou art that God, and thy words be true, and thou hast promised this goodness unto thy servant: therefore now let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee: for thou, O Lord GOD, hast spoken it: and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever.” (2 Samuel 7:18-29)

David humbled himself before God, acknowledging who God is, that there is none like Him, and that God knows his thoughts before he even spoke them to God. Unlike so many rulers of Israel we read about in the Bible, as well as so many rulers and government leaders in our world today, David was not puffed up in pride when God had spoken these words to him through the prophet Nathan but had asked God, “Who am I, O Lord GOD? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?” (2 Samuel 7:18) David acknowledged that it was God Himself who had redeemed the people of Israel out of the hands of Pharaoh in Egypt. David acknowledged that God had chosen Israel to be His people forever and to magnify His name. David ended his prayer by asking God to do what He said He was going to do, which was to establish the house of David, His servant, and that it would continue forever.

In the words that God gave the prophet Nathan to tell to David, God also reconfirmed the unconditional land covenant that He had made with Abraham (Genesis 17:8):

“Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as be foretime…” (2 Samuel 7:10)

The establishment of the house and kingdom of David which will last forever began with David, continued with his son Solomon, will have its final fulfillment when Jesus returns to earth at the conclusion of the 7-year time of Jacob’s trouble and takes His rightful and righteous reign on earth for a period of 1,000 years, followed by the creation of a new heaven and a new earth, from which He will reign forever.

The Old Testament prophesies of this link between David and Jesus Christ, through the tribe of Judah:

“In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely [appealing] for them that are escaped of [have survived] Israel.” (Isaiah 4:2)

“And there shall come forth a rod [shoot] out of the stem [stock or trunk] of Jesse [David’s father], and a Branch shall grow [bear fruit] out of his roots. And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; and shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: but with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle [belt] of his loins, and faithfulness in the girdle of his reins [belt of his waist].” (Isaiah 11:1-5)

“And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign [banner] of the people; to it [him] shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest [resting place] shall be glorious. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands [coastlands] of the sea. And he shall set up an ensign [banner] for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.” (Isaiah 11:10-12)

“Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper [act wisely], and shall execute judgment and justice [justice and righteousness] in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that they shall no more say, The LORD liveth, which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; but, The LORD liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land.” (Jeremiah 23:5-8)

“Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will perform that good thing which I have promised unto the house of Israel and to the house of Judah. In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment [justice] and righteousness in the land [earth]. In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The LORD our righteousness. For thus saith the LORD; David shall never want [lack] a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel…"“ (Jeremiah 33:14-17)

“Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows [companions] that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at [men of a sign]; for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH. For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving [inscription] thereof, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day. In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbour under the vine and under the fig tree.” (Zechariah 3:8-10)

“Then take silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them upon the head of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest; and speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out [branch out] of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD: even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.” (Zechariah 6:11-13)

“The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham…So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.” (Matthew 1:1, 17)

“And I [John the apostle] saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book [scroll] written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book [scroll], neither to look thereon. And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda [Judah], the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.” (Revelation 5:1-6)

It is ONLY Jesus Christ, the Messiah and the High Priest, who will judge every person who has ever lived with righteousness and justice. It is ONLY when Jesus returns to earth the second time that the surviving remnant of Israel will finally turn to Him and be saved and will be gathered by Him in their land. It is ONLY at that time will they dwell safely in all the land that God has given unto them.

As today’s Scripture verses confirm to us, the Lord God has not forgotten Zion, the people of Israel and Judah. In the time that Isaiah prophesied these words, the people of Judah had not been taken into captivity by Babylon, Jerusalem had not been destroyed, and the Temple had not yet been burned. However, Isaiah’s prophecies did come to pass, exactly as God said they would, and when they did, they would have felt like their world was ending, like God had forgotten them. But this prophecy is not only a prophecy of the Jews’ 70-year captivity in Babylon and their subsequent return to Israel, but it is a prophecy that looks far into the future, when God’s only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, would come to earth the first time, be born of a virgin, serve as God’s suffering servant and offer salvation to all who would believe in Him as their Messiah, their long looked-for Savior, only to be despised and be rejected by those who He came to save first, the Jews. They would have Him crucified because He spoke the truth to them but did not want to hear and heed. Jesus Christ gave up His life, died, was put in a tomb for three days, after which He rose from the dead, remained on earth forty days, and then ascended to heaven to sit at the right hand of God the Father, where He is today.

At Jesus’ first coming, the nation of Israel rejected the Son of her womb. Consequently, Jesus turned His message of salvation to the Gentiles to offer them salvation. The gospel message would be preached throughout the world, beginning with His small number of disciples who had believed in Him as the Messiah. Before Jesus ascended to heaven, He was with His apostles and He:

“…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. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 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 [authority]. But ye shall receive power, after that [when] 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. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day’s journey.” (Acts 1:8-12)

Jesus’ apostles wanted to know when He would restore the kingdom of Israel. At the time of Jesus’ first coming, Israel was living under the rule of the Roman Empire, and Israel was not the sovereign, independent kingdom it once had been. But Jesus told His apostles that it wasn’t for them to know when the kingdom of Israel would be restored, for it is only of the power of God the Father to know the timing of when that would happen. And, there was a lot to be done before that would happen, and that is the spreading of the gospel, the good news of salvation from sins through faith in Jesus Christ, all around the world. Before that could start happening, His apostles would first need to be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. After Jesus ascended to heaven, as He said would happen, He sent His Holy Spirit upon them:

“And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord [purpose or mind] in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven [divided] tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad [sound occurred], the multitude came together, and were confounded [confused], because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue [language or dialect], wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of [visitors from] Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Abrabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. And they were all amazed, and were in doubt [perplexed], saying one to another, What meaneth this? Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.” (Acts 2:1-13)

Did you notice the people’s responses to what Jesus’ apostles were telling the people in the peoples’ own languages? Some were amazed by the power of God in what they had just seen and heard, where the same people they knew were from Galilee, and they knew the language that they spoke and it wasn’t the languages that they were now speaking. While some people were amazed at what they heard, others mocked them and accused them of being drunk on new wine. Nothing has changed since the gospel message first began being taught. The truth of God truly does reveal the character of one’s heart.

Let us read from John chapter 21 and consider Peter, the apostle who three times had denied knowing Jesus when Jesus was arrested prior to being crucified, but whose faith in Him was restored after God raised Jesus from the dead. After Jesus was resurrected and while His disciples were fishing in a boat in the sea of Tiberias, Jesus came to the shore and watched them fish. Without them knowing it was Jesus, He asked them, “Children, have ye any meat [food]?” “They answered him, No.” Then Jesus replied to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find.” They did as He said, and they caught so many fish in the net, they couldn’t lift it into the boat and had to drag it behind the boat because it was so heavy. The apostle John then realized that this man speaking to them from the shore was Jesus, and he said to Peter, “it is the Lord.”. Peter then jumped into the sea to swim to the shore where Jesus was. Peter couldn’t wait to see Him! Jesus told them to bring the fish they had caught. Peter went and got the net and counted 153 fish in the net. Jesus then fed them from the food He had cooked for them. The Bible tells us this was the third time that Jesus had revealed Himself to His disciples after He was resurrected from the dead. Jesus then asked Peter three times if Peter loved Him. Peter responded three times that he loved Jesus. After the first time Peter responded, Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” The second time Jesus said, “Feed [tend] my sheep,” and the third time Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.” Jesus had not only restored Peter’s faith in Him, but He also told Peter that it would be Peter who would feed His sheep, meaning it would be Peter who would tell the good news of salvation through faith in Him as a good shepherd takes care of his sheep. Three times Peter had denied Jesus, but now, three times Peter confirmed His love for Jesus.

Now, let us read the words of Peter, who having been filled with the Holy Spirit, as he stood before the multitude of Jewish men in Jerusalem, some of whom had accused Peter and the other apostles of being drunk on new wine when they had spoken to the Jews in the languages of the countries from which the Jews had come. This same Peter who had been filled with fear when the authorities were hunting down Jesus and fearing that he too may be arrested, was no longer afraid of men and was now filled with boldness to proclaim the gospel message of Christ. Let us read the words he spoke to this crowd:

“But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: for these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; and it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: and on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy…” (Acts 2:14-18)

This was the reason why the apostles from Galilee were able to speak the good news of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ to the Jews who had come to Jerusalem and who were from all over the world and spoke many languages. Peter also began to prophesy of things that were still to come far into the future. Not only would Peter prophesy to them at that time he was speaking, but before he died, he would also write two epistles, 1 Peter and 2 Peter, in which he would speak about prophecy:

“We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star [Jesus] arise in your hearts: knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation [origin]. For the prophecy came not in old [any] time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” (2 Peter 1:19-21)

Further, Peter told them that though they had crucified Jesus and had Him put to death, Jesus didn’t stay dead but was resurrected by God, fulfilling the prophecy that God had made to King David that his kingdom would be established forever (2 Samuel 7):

“And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: the sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: and it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of [attested by] God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: whom God hath raised up, having loosed [destroyed] the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of [held by] it. For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved [shaken]: therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell [hades], neither thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; he seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, until I make thy foes thy footstool. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.” (Acts 2:19-36)

Peter unashamedly told his accusers that they had crucified Jesus but they had not thwarted God’s plan, for God Himself raised Jesus from the dead. Peter also told them the good news of Christ, that all who call on the name of the Lord will be saved. Let us read what happened next:

“Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart [cut to the heart], and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission [forgiveness] of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward [crooked] generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by [through] the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; and sold their possessions and goods, and parted [distributed] them to all men, as every man [anyone] had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord [mind] in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat [food] with gladness and singleness [simplicity] of heart, praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be [were being] saved.” (Acts 2:37-47)

So began the ministry of Peter and the apostles when they were filled with the Holy Spirit of God and began to do as Jesus had previously commanded them to do after He had risen from the dead:

“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power [authority] is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go therefore, and teach [make disciples of] all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

That is exactly what has been happening ever since that day of Pentecost when Peter first preached the gospel message of Jesus Christ and 3,000 souls were saved. Jesus would later go on to call another apostle, whose name was Saul. Saul was also called Paul, and he once persecuted the early Christians and did so with much zeal and threatened to murder them, both men and women. One day when Saul and his companions were on a road to Damascus to find Christians, bind them, and bring them back to Jerusalem, Jesus literally blinded Saul with a light from heaven:

“And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: and he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he [Saul] said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.” (Acts 9:3-9)

Did you notice in the Scriptures above that Jesus didn’t ask Saul why he was persecuting Christians? No, Jesus asked Saul why he was persecuting Him? When anyone persecutes Christians, they are not persecuting them, but are persecuting Jesus. Instead of denying to Jesus that he was persecuting Him, Saul asked Jesus what He wanted him to do. Saul could have told Jesus that he would not do as He said, but Saul did do what Jesus had told him to do. Because the light of heaven had shone so brightly around him, Saul could not see for three days, neither did he eat nor drink, and had to rely on the help of his companions to lead him into Damascus. Next, Jesus told His disciple Ananias who lived in Damascus that He had chosen Saul to be His apostle to preach the word of God to the Gentiles, the non-Jews, and also to the Jews. Ananias reacted with fear, for he knew all about Saul and how he vigorously persecuted Christians:

“And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, and hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil [harm] he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: and here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: for I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.” (Acts 9:10-16)

Let us continue reading about Saul:

“And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands upon him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been [something like] scales: and he received sight forthwith [at once], and arose, and was baptized. And when he had received meat [food], he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests? But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ [this Jesus is the Christ]. And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him…” (Acts 9:17-23)

Isn’t it amazing that Jesus chose Saul, who was one of the top religious leaders, a Pharisee, who not only had previously rejected Jesus as the Messiah but had also persecuted with zeal those who believed in Him as the Messiah, and now this same Saul began to preach salvation of sins through faith in Jesus Christ? Years later, Paul would write In the book of Philippians about his past as a Pharisee, and he told us that Christians are not required to be circumcised, that we are not to trust in the flesh to save us, as he once did, but we are to trust in Jesus Christ:

“For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.” (Philippians 3:3-7)

Paul would later speak the words below about himself when he appeared before King Herod Agrippa II to defend himself after the Jews had accused him of desecrating the temple and had him arrested. Paul gave his testimony to the king of how he came to faith in Jesus Christ and was obedient to Him when Jesus called him to be a witness to both the Gentiles and the Jews:

“Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself: I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching [concerning] all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews: especially because I know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently. My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first [spent from the beginning] among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews; which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest [strictest] sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers: unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly [earnestly] serving God day and night, hope to come [attain]. For which hope’s sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of [by] the Jews. Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead? I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice [cast my vote] against them. And I punished them oft [often] in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad [enraged] against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities. Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, at midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me. And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear [reveal] unto thee; delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified [set apart] by faith that is in me. Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: but shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts [region] of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet [befitting] for repentance. For these causes the Jews caught [seized] me in the temple, and went about to kill me. Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come: That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should [would] shew [proclaim] light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.” (Acts 26:1-23)

Paul spoke the truth to the king and to all who were present. Next, a Roman procurator named Festus accused Paul of having gone mad due to all of his learning. Let us read what transpired next:

“But he [Paul] said, I am not mad [out of my mind], most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness [reason]. For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner. King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest. Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds. And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they sat with them: and when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doth nothing worthy of death or of bonds. Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar.” (Acts 26:25-32)

Paul had previously revealed that he was a Roman citizen by birth and had appealed to let him make his case before the Roman Caesar. Gotquestions.org writes that after Paul gave his testimony and appeal to King Agrippa, Paul did go to Rome: (See: https://www.gotquestions.org/Porcius-Festus.html)

“Once in Rome, Paul spends two years under house arrest, chained to a guard, but he is finally in the city where he had longed to be for years (Romans 15:23). And while there he has the opportunity to write the epistles Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.”

Let us read of one of those times when Paul spoke to people when he was under house arrest in Rome:

“And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered [permitted] to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept [guarded] him. And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief [leaders] of the Jews together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. Who, when they had examined me, would have [wanted to] let me go, because there was no cause of death in me. But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained [compelled] to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had ought [anything] to accuse my nation of. For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain. And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judaea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came shewed or spake any harm [evil] of thee. But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that everywhere it is spoken against. And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded [explained] and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening. And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not. And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias [Isaiah] the prophet unto our fathers, saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: for the heart of this people is waxed gross [has grown dull], and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it. And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning [dispute] among themselves. And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired [rented] house, and received all that came in unto him, preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.” (Acts 28:16-31)

In the Scriptures above, it states that Paul explained to them about Jesus from the law of Moses and from the prophets. Paul used the Old Testament Scriptures to teach them about Jesus. It was only recently that my own eyes were opened to the fact that the prophecies of Jesus are throughout much of the Old Testament. Paul didn’t cite any text other than that which was familiar to and read often by the Jews to tell them about Jesus. Let us read the prophecy of Jesus spoken by Moses in the Law:

“The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken; according to all that thou desiredst of the LORD thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not. And the LORD said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken. I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.” (Deuteronomy 18:15-19)

The Jews were very familiar with these words that Moses had spoken to the priests, the Levites, and all the tribe of Levi. John the Baptist, Jesus’ cousin, began preparing the way of the Lord Jesus and telling people about Him. Let us read what John wrote in the first chapter of his book:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended [apprehended] it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power [the right] to become the sons [children] of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh [became flesh], and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John bear witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me [ranks higher than I]: for he was before me. And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.” (John 1:1-18)

The Jews wanted to question John about what he was saying and why, and they sent priests and the Levites to him:

“And this is the record [testimony] of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias [Elijah]? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered , No. Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias [Isaiah]. And they which were sent were of the Pharisees.” (John 1:19-24)

When they had asked John, “Art thou that prophet,” they were referring to the Prophet whom long ago Moses had said God would raise up from among them and would put His words in His mouth. Yes, they were looking for the Prophet, as prophesied by Moses that He would come, but when He came, the majority of His own people rejected Him.

After Jesus healed a man who had been sick for 38 years, likely paralyzed, healing him on the sabbath day, the Jews sought to persecute and kill Jesus because He had healed the man on the sabbath day. They came to Jesus and questioned Him. Jesus replied to them, “My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.” (John 5:17) This infuriated the Jews because Jesus “not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.” (John 5:18) John 5:19-47 tells us of the things that Jesus said to the Jews, telling them that that He could do nothing of Himself but only did that of the Father. At the end of His discussion with the Jews, He told them this:

“And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape [form]. And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not. Search [you search] the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And [but] ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. I receive not honour from men. But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only? Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?” (John 5:37-47)

Though the majority of the Jews rejected Jesus as the Prophet which Moses said God would raise up from among them, Jesus’ disciples did recognize Him as the Prophet after they saw Him perform yet another miracle. The miracle which they saw was when He fed not only 5,000 men but also women and children with only five barley loaves and two small fishes and even had twelve baskets of leftovers (John 6):

“Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.” (John 6:14)

In Matthew chapter 23, Jesus pronounced several woes specifically addressed to the scribes and Pharisees, whom Jesus called “hypocrites!” These were the most educated men of the Old Testament Scriptures, who read and studied God’s word daily, and yet, they did not recognize Him as their Messiah. He told them just as their fathers before them had rejected and killed the prophets that God had sent them, so too would they reject the prophets, wise men, and scribes that Jesus would send them:

“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish [adorn] the sepulchres of the righteous, and say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. Wherefore ye be witnesses unto [against] yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets. Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers [measure of guilt]. Ye serpents, ye generation [brood or offspring] of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. Verily I say unto you, all these things shall come upon this generation.” (Jesus Christ; Matthew 23:29-36)

Returning to the questioning of Paul by the Jews when he was under house arrest in Rome, Paul was pointing out to them that throughout God’s word which they read and studied, both Moses and the prophets had prophesied of their coming Messiah. Yet, they did not accept Him when He did come the first time but rejected Him and had Him crucified. Just as Jesus said would happen, the Jews did persecute those whom Jesus would send, and the apostle Paul was one of them. However, Paul never wavered from his faith in Jesus Christ:

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, the just shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:16-17)

“…According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:20-21)

The conversion of Paul demonstrates beautifully several key points to us. The first is that we all have a choice whether or not to follow Jesus Christ. When we choose to follow Him, He can do some pretty amazing things in us through His Holy Spirit. Second, no sin we have ever committed in our past is too much for Jesus to forgive and to wash us clean from our sins. Third, the opinion of people who knew us before we are saved doesn’t matter to Jesus. People may think that we are beyond saving, but only Jesus knows our heart. Fourth, it shows us that we too will suffer, as Jesus did, and so too did His apostles, when we decide to follow Him. Believing in Jesus Christ isn’t always easy, and our faith will be tested by fire. But through this testing, if we remain in Him, it will be so worth it in the end. Fifth, sometimes Jesus has to literally bring us to our knees, blinding us, so that we can hear Him when He speaks to us. If we listen to His voice, He will lift the blinders off our eyes so that we can see and know that we need Him in our lives. Sixth, it shows us that Jesus can use anyone He wants to use to preach His word and to make new disciples of Him. Seventh, it confirms to us that while we may seem great in the eyes of a religious system that depends on what it perceives as good works, nothing can save us from our sins except believing with our hearts in the resurrected Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

It is no wonder that in our world today, there are many professing Christians, including in my own family, and those in the Hebrew Roots Movement, who have come against the apostle Paul, saying he is a false apostle. If they deny that Jesus Himself called on Paul to preach salvation to the Gentiles, then they deny the word of God. They deny the 13 of 27 books of the New Testament, and possibly 14 if we include Hebrews, that were written by Paul through the power of the Holy Spirit within him. Paul was very clear with his repetitive message to all to whom he spoke the gospel message, that it is by God’s grace we are saved and not by works:

“For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which he shed [poured out] on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that being justified [declared righteous] by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:3-7)

“For by grace are ye [you have been] saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.”(Ephesians 2:8-9)

“…Knowing that a man is not justified [declared righteous] by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” (Galatians 2:16)

We are currently living in a time period that will not go on forever and will come to an end, after which Jesus will turn His attention back to the Jews, as Paul told us in Romans 11 will happen. In our world that we live in today and which is once more growing increasingly hostile to the Jews, we best heed the words of God’s apostle Paul, who himself was a Jew and a Pharisee, a religious leader, who clearly tells us that God has not forgotten His people:

“I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid [certainly not]. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot [know] ye not what the scripture saith of Elias [Elijah] how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying, Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged [torn] down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election [elect] hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded [hardened] (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber [stupor], eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day. And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompense unto them: Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway. I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid [certainly not]: but rather through their fall [trespass] salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.” (Romans 11:1-11)

“For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness [hardening] in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: for this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching [concerning] the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance [irrevocable]. For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.” (Romans 11:25-36)

Though Israel has rejected the Son of her womb, Jesus their Messiah, and has not had compassion on Him, He has not forgotten her. After Jesus had pronounced the woes upon the scribes and the Pharisees, He said to them:

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.” (Jesus Christ; Matthew 23:37-39)

The Jews had a long history of rejecting the words of the prophets that God had sent them long ago, for they did not like the words that God had given them to speak to them. Instead of heeding the words of the prophets, they turned to false prophets and worshipped false gods. They listened to those who told them things they wanted to hear instead of things that they needed to hear. When Jesus came to them, it was no different. They didn’t want to hear the things He told them, and they rejected Him. Jesus wanted to gather His children to Him and protect them, as a mother hen protects her chicks, but they did not want to have anything to do with Him. As Jesus told them in the Scriptures above from Matthew 23:29-36, they also did not want to have anything to do with anyone who would speak of Jesus to them, and that included a Jewish man named Stephen.

Stephen was one of seven men chosen by the twelve apostles after the apostles had been filled with the Holy Spirit after Jesus had ascended to heaven. These seven men were believers in Jesus Christ and were also filled with the Holy Spirit who were selected to distribute food to the widows. The Bible tells us, “And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.” (Acts 6:8) There were men in the synagogue who argued with Stephen, and they bribed other men to accuse him of blaspheming God and Moses. They took Stephen and brought him to the council, where false witnesses came against him. The high priest asked Stephen if the things they said about him were true. Stephen then spoke of many things from the Bible, reminding them of their long history. Stephen began by telling them how God had appeared to Abraham and took him out of the place where he was living and made a promise to him that He would give the Promised Land to his descendants. Stephen discussed many things before the council, including when God took Abraham’s descendants to Egypt to be in bondage for four hundred years before God appointed Moses to bring them out of Egypt. Let us learn a little about Moses.

Moses was a Hebrew, whose father was from the tribe of Levi. When Moses was born, though he was born a Hebrew, he was raised as an Egyptian. He had escaped death as an infant when Pharaoh had ordered all male Hebrew infants to be cast into the river because the number of Hebrews in Egypt had increased significantly and Pharaoh felt that they were a threat to his rule. No longer able to hide him from birth, Moses’ mother put him in an ark and cast him into the river when he was three months old. Moses’ sister watched as Moses went down the river in the ark. She saw as Pharaoh’s daughter found him and had compassion for him, knowing he was one of the Hebrews’ children. Moses’ sister came up to Pharaoh’s daughter and asked her if she would like for her to take him to a Hebrew woman to nurse him. Pharaoh’s daughter said yes, and Moses’ sister went and called her mother to Pharaoh’s daughter, who told her to take the child and nurse him and that she would pay Moses’ mother. Moses grew, and his mother took him to Pharaoh’s daughter, who then raised him as her own son, and called his name “Moses,” “because I drew him out of the water.” (Exodus 2:10)

Stephen went on to tell the council members that when Moses was forty years old, after living all that time in Pharaoh’s house, he went to see his people, the Hebrews. He saw with his own eyes how they were burdened in their slavery, and witnessed an Egyptian striking one of them, mistreating one of his own brethren. Moses then slew the Egyptian. Moses went out a second day and saw two Hebrews fighting and asked the one who did wrong why he had hit the other man. The man who had done the hitting said to Moses, “Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian? (Exodus 2:14) Pharaoh heard what had happened and sought to kill Moses, but Moses had feared for his life, knowing that what had happened would be told to Pharaoh, and Moses had fled to the land of Midian for safety. Moses married Zipporah, one of the priest’s seven daughters, and they had a son of their own. Moses lived there and tended the sheep of his father-in-law, Jethro. Let us read what the word of God says next in Exodus 2:

“And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason [groaned because] of the bondage and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage. And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them [acknowledged them].” (Exodus 2:23-25)

God had not forgotten His people. He then sent an angel to appear before Moses on the mountain of God in a burning bush when Moses was shepherding his father-in-law’s flock. Moses was perplexed as to why the bush burned yet it was not consumed:

“And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. And He said, Draw not nigh hither [do not draw near this place]: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God. And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows; and I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites. Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them. Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.” (Exodus 3:3-10)

God called Moses to take His people out of bondage, and that is exactly what Moses did. God had to send ten plagues upon Pharaoh and Egypt before Pharaoh finally agreed to let God’s people go. Moses led God’s people out of Egypt. When Moses and all Israel came to the Red Sea, through the power of Almighty God, Moses commanded the sea to be divided in order for Israel to walk on dry land and escape to the other side. After they had safely crossed, the sea then swallowed up Pharaoh, his army, and their horses and chariots after Pharaoh had changed his mind and went to hunt down Israel.

Of Moses, Stephen told the council members that this was the same Moses whom their fathers would not obey and turned their hearts against him. After God had used Moses to bring His people out of Egypt and they were journeying in the wilderness, God had called Moses up to Mount Sinai for forty days to give him the Ten Commandments from God. God also gave Moses instructions for building the ark of the covenant and the tabernacle. It was during this time that the people of Israel grew restless and thought something had happened to Moses. Stephen reminded the council what had happened next:

“This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear. This is he, that was in the church [assembly] in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles [living sayings] to give unto us: to whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt, saying unto Aaron, Make us gods to go before us: for as for this Moses, which brought us out of the land of Egypt, we wot [know] not what is become of him. And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands.” (Acts 7:37-41)

Stephen then said to them:

“Ye stiffnecked [stubborn] and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed [foretold] before of the coming of the Just One [Jesus Christ]; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: who have received the law by the disposition [direction] of angels, and have not kept it.” (Acts 7:51-53)

Oh, what must have been the look on their faces when Stephen spoke these words of truth to them! Here were the members of the Jewish council, which was the Sanhedrin, the Supreme Court of Israel, and whose members were the religious leaders - the chief priests, elders, and scribes - who had just been told the truth by this Stephen, whom they perceived as a lowly blasphemer of God. Stephen had spoken the truth to them, that though they were circumcised physically, in the flesh, they were uncircumcised in their heart and ears because they had resisted the Holy Ghost, also called the Holy Spirit. Like their fathers before them, who had persecuted God’s prophets who had told them long ago of God’s coming Son, the Just One, they themselves had ignored the words of God’s prophets and betrayed and murdered the Son of God. Let us read what happened next:

“When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on [at] him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, and said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, and cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, calling [as he was calling] upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he feel asleep [died]. And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling [dragging off] men and women committed them to prison.” (Acts 7:54-58)

Instead of heeding the words of Stephen, the Jews killed him, just as they had killed Jesus. As Jesus did when He gave up His life, Stephen asked God to forgive those who killed him. Did you notice who was present at Stephen’s death and who consented to it? It was Saul, also known as Paul. Again, this shows us that no matter our past, if we put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ to save us from all our sins, He can do mighty things in our lives to spread the good news of salvation to others. Before Paul’s conversion, he searched for the early Christians so that he could bind them and have them put into prison. But after his conversion, he traveled all over to tell unbelievers of how Jesus Christ can save them so that their shackles of sin could be broken and that they too could have the light of Jesus within them.

Returning to today’s Scriptures verses, though Israel, who is the woman referred to in Isaiah 49:15, rejected her sucking [nursing] child, who is Jesus, and did not have compassion on Him, the Son of her womb, He has not forgotten her. Remember that Jesus told Israel:

“Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.” (Jesus Christ; Matthew 23:38-39)

As Jesus told them would happen, their house, and notice He did not say His house, which was the Jewish Temple, was left desolate, and it was destroyed by the Roman Empire in 70 AD. In the second part of the Scriptures above, notice also that Jesus did not say that they would never see Him again. No, He told them that they would not see Him again until they say, “Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.” In other words, they will acknowledge that it truly was God who sent Him, something they denied then and most still deny to this day. Not long before Jesus spoke the words He said in the scriptures above, many in Jerusalem did proclaim those words about Him before He was crucified:

“And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, saying unto them, Go into the village over against [opposite] you, and straightway ye shall find an ass [donkey] tied, and a colt with her: loose [untie] them, and bring them unto me. And if any man say ought [anything] unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them. All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek [lowly], and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, and brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon. And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed [spread] them in the way [road]. And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest. And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.” (Matthew 21:1-11)

When Jesus rode to Jerusalem on the donkey, He had fulfilled the words of a prophecy given by Zechariah long ago. The Jews, particularly the religious leaders - the chief priests, the scribes, the Pharisees, and the elders - should have recognized that as they looked upon Jesus, He was fulfilling that prophecy before their very eyes:

“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just [righteous], and having salvation; lowly [humble], and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.” (Zechariah 9:9)

However, they did not want a lowly and humble King; instead, they wanted a King who would conquer Rome and remove Israel out from under its thumb. Though many people of Israel had proclaimed “Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest” about Jesus on that day, it wasn’t long afterwards when they would turn against Him, after He was wrongfully arrested. Instead of bowing to and praising their King, they would shout the words below to the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, when he had given them the choice either to release Jesus or a criminal named Barabbas:

“And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest [it is as you say]. And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marveled greatly. Now at that feast the governor was wont [wished] to release unto the people [multitude] a prisoner, whom they would [wished]. And they had then a notable [notorious] prisoner, called Barabbas. Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called the Christ? For he knew that for envy they had delivered him. When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him. But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas. Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified. And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified. When Pilate saw that he could prevail [accomplish] nothing, but that rather a tumult was made [rising], he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged [flogged with a scourge] Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.” (Matthew 27:11-26)

Yes, as today’s Scripture states, Israel has forgotten the Son of her womb and has not had compassion on Him, both in the days that Jesus came to earth the first time, and in the days we are living in now. However, as the Scripture also states, God has not forgotten them, and He never will. Jeremiah the prophet wrote about this. Let us read again the words that God gave Jeremiah:

“Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will perform that good thing which I have promised unto the house of Israel and to the house of Judah. In those days, and at that time, I will cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment [justice] and righteousness in the land [earth]. In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The LORD our righteousness. For thus saith the LORD; David shall never want [lack] a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel; neither shall the priests the Levites want [lack] a man before me to offer burnt offerings, and to kindle meat offerings, and to do sacrifice continually.” (Jeremiah 33:14-18)

Jesus IS the Branch of righteousness, and He Is the High Priest:

“Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer [allow] it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered [allowed] him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: and lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:13-17)

“But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. For it became him [was fitting for him], for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory. to make the captain [author] of their salvation perfect [complete] through sufferings.” (Hebrews 2:9-10)

“For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour [aid] them that are tempted.” (Hebrews 2:16-18)

Jeremiah the prophet prophesied of the coming of Jesus Christ through the lineage of David, and that prophesy was fulfilled. The other prophesies Jeremiah prophesied have not yet come to pass, but they will. The prophecies that Jesus will execute judgment, meaning justice, and righteousness in the earth, and that Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will dwell safely, and her name shall be called “The LORD our righteousness” (Jeremiah 33:16) will come to pass. All these things will be fulfilled when the Jews, Israel, will finally recognize that Jesus IS their Messiah. For anyone who thinks that Jesus will not return to earth to judge the world in all righteousness and that He has forgotten Israel, they are sorely mistaken, as Jeremiah wrote about:

“And the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD; If ye can break my covenant of the day, and my covenant of the night, and that there should not be day and night in their season; then may also my covenant be broken with David my servant, that he should not have a son to reign upon his throne; and with the Levites the priests, my ministers. As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured: so will I multiply the seed of David my servant, and the Levites that minister unto me. Moreover the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying, Considerest thou not what this people have spoken, saying, The two families which the LORD hath chosen, he hath even cast them off? thus they have despised my people, that they should be no more a nation before them. Thus saith the LORD; If my covenant be not with day and night, and if I have not appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth; then I will cast away the seed of Jacob, and David my servant, so that I will not take any of his seed to be rulers over the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: for I will cause their captivity [captives] to return, and have mercy on them.” (Jeremiah 33:19-26)

God was saying there is nothing that could ever happen that would cause Him to forget His covenant with HIs people, no matter how disobedient they have been to Him. God does not break His unconditional covenants with Israel. Just as in the times in which God gave these words to Jeremiah, the nations despised the Jews and wanted to prevent them from ever again being a nation, so too from that time through our world today have nations tried to eliminate the Jews from the world. Isn’t it odd that such a small group of people, representing approximately less than 0.2 percent of the world’s population in 2022, has been so hated and despised for millennia and many times has been sought to be eradicated from the face of the earth? (See: https://www.answers.com/governmental-structures/What_percentage_of_the_world%27s_population_is_Jewish). Prior to World War II, the largest percentage of Jews in the world lived in Europe, specifically Eastern Europe, which had 8.15 million of the 9.5 million Jews in Europe. (See: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1357607/historical-jewish-population/) Adolph Hitler and Nazi Germany murdered approximately 63% of the Jews living in Europe during World War II, with the surviving Jews in Europe numbered at just 3.7 million. (See: https://247wallst.com/special-report/2023/08/25/countries-with-the-highest-percentage-of-jewish-deaths-from-the-holocaust/?tpid=1306411&tv=link&tc=in_content It is no coincidence; they are hated and despised because they were chosen by God to be THE people from whom His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, would come and who would bring salvation to all who believe on Him. The source of this hatred is Satan. Jesus WILL return to earth and execute His righteous judgment on all who choose to remain in their sin, having rejected His gift of redemption of sins. It is this same Jesus who will eventually cast Satan into the lake of fire and brimstone, where he will remain forever. Thus, in Satan’s warped and evil mind, if he could stop the Jews, he could stop Jesus from destroying him and casting him into the eternal lake of fire and brimstone, where he will never ever again deceive people and lead them to eternal destruction.

In Isaiah 49:16, I have struggled to understand this passage of Scripture that reads, “Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me,” but I do know that there are many Scriptures that refer to the power of the hand of God. In Isaiah 49:16, it tells us that Jesus has graven, or inscribed, Israel on the palms of His hands. Before I discuss this, let us read about the first high priest of Israel, who was Aaron, Moses’ brother, whom God had chosen to minister unto Him:

“And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that they may minister unto me in the priest’s office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s sons. And thou shalt make holy [sacred] garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty. And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron’s garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office.” (Exodus 28:1-3)

God had given Moses specific instructions on how the high priest’s garments should be made, including an ornamented vest called an ephod. The ephod was to have two shoulder pieces that would be joined together. God told Moses:

“And thou shalt take two onyx stones, and grave [engrave] on them the names of the children of Israel: six of their names on one stone, and the other six names of the rest on the other stone, according to their birth. With the work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of a signet, shalt thou engrave the two stones with the names of the children of Israel: thou shalt make them to be set in ouches [settings] of gold. And thou shalt put the two stones upon the shoulders of the ephod for stones of memorial unto the children of Israel: and Aaron shall bear their names before the LORD upon his two shoulders for a memorial.” (Exodus 28:9-12)

As gotquestions.org writes: (See: https://www.gotquestions.org/high-priest.html)

“The most important duty of the high priest was to conduct the service on the Day of Atonement, the tenth day of the seventh month of every year. Only he was allowed to enter the Most Holy Place behind the veil to stand before God. Having made a sacrifice for himself and for the people, he then brought the blood into the Holy of Holies and sprinkled it on the mercy seat, God’s “throne” (Leviticus 16:14-15). He did this to make atonement for himself and the people for all their sins committed during the year just ended (Exodus 30:10).”

In the books of Psalms and Zechariah, there is a prophecy of how God would bring forth His servant, called the BRANCH, who is Jesus the Christ. Jesus is the stone, the chief cornerstone, on whom will be the engraving and will take away the sins of the land of Israel:

“The stone which the builders refused [rejected] is become the head stone of the corner [chief corner stone]: this is the LORD”s doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity. Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.” (Psalm 118:22-26)

“Hear now; O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows [companions] that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at [a wondrous sign, or men of a sign]: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH. For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving [inscription] thereof, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day. In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbour under the vine and under the fig tree.” (Zechariah 3:8-10)

Though the high priest had the names of the twelve tribes of Israel engraved on two stones placed upon his shoulders, Jesus would engrave Israel upon the palms of His hands when His own people cried out to Pontius Pilate “Let him be crucified,” (Matthew 27:22-23) and He was crucified through His hands and feet. Not long before He was crucified, Jesus was teaching in the temple and the chief priests and elders questioned His authority and asked Him who gave Him this authority. Jesus then quoted to them Psalm 118, which told them that Jesus had come to earth under God’s authority, that it was the Lord’s doing:

“Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner [chief corner stone]: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them. But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.” (Matthew 21:42-46)

After Jesus gave up His life, died, was buried, rose again on the third day, and later appeared to His disciples, it was the apostle Thomas, who was not there with the other disciples, who said he would not believe until something in particular happened:

“But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.” (John 20:24-25)

Thomas wanted to see the prints of Jesus’ crucifixion nails in Jesus’ hands and not only see the prints from the nails that had pierced Him, but Thomas also wanted to put his finger into the prints and thrust his hand into Jesus’ side that was pierced. Let us read what happened eight days after Thomas said that:

“And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless [unbelieving] but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: but these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” (John 20:26-31)

As the apostle John told us, Jesus came first for His own, meaning the Jews, but they rejected Him. Jesus knew this would happen before He came down from heaven and yet, He still came to earth because His gift of salvation would be for all who believe on Him as their Savior, their Redeemer, both Jew and Gentile:

“He came unto his own, and his own [his own people] received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power [the right] to become the sons [children] of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:11-13)

Again, though Israel has forgotten her Son, Jesus Christ, He has not forgotten them and never will. As Zechariah the prophet prophesied, there is coming a day when they will realize that the One whom they rejected and despised - Jesus the Christ - IS God’s only begotten Son, who loved them so much that He came down from heaven to earth, to live as a man and suffer a horrible death, but be raised again so that He could offer them complete redemption of sins. It is only after the nation of Israel will go through the coming 7-year time of Jacob’s trouble, and two-thirds of them will die. However, one third will be tested and tried by God and they will survive because they will finally feel their deep sin of rejecting Him all these years. They will mourn for the One whom they pierced, and they will call upon the name of Jesus, no longer rejecting Him as Messiah. God will cleanse all sin from them and from their land:

“And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness [grieve] for him, as one that is in bitterness [grieves] for his firstborn. In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadad-rimmon in the valley of Megiddon. And the land shall mourn, every family apart [by itself]; the family of the house of David apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart; the family of Shimei apart, and their wives apart; all the families that remain, every family apart, and their wives apart.” (Zechariah 12:10-14)

“In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness. And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered: and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of [depart from] the land.” (Zechariah 13:1-2)

“And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try [test] them as gold is tried [tested]: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: they shall say, The LORD is my God.” (Zechariah 13:8-9)

When Jesus came to earth the first time and after He ascended to heaven from the Mount of Olives, it is prophesied that Jesus will return to the Mount of Olives at His second coming:

“And when he [Jesus] had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they [Jesus’ apostles] looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day’s journey.” (Acts 1:9-12)

At His second coming, Jesus will defend His people and His holy city, Jerusalem, from those who seek to destroy them. Jesus will cause those who come against Jerusalem to turn upon themselves and kill one another, and God’s people will take the wealth of all who came against them. Finally, Jesus will reign as King of kings and Lord of lords from Jerusalem for 1,000 years:

“Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil [plunder] shall be divided in the midst of thee. For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled [plundered], and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. And his [Jesus’] feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave [split in two] in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azai: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah the king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee [him]. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear [there will be no light], nor dark [the lights will diminish]: but it shall be one day which shall be known to the LORD, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light. And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea [eastern, the Dead Sea], and half of them toward the hinder sea [the Mediterranean Sea]: in summer and in winter shall it be. And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one. All the land shall be turned as [turned into] a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem: and it [Jerusalem] shall be lifted up, and inhabited in her place, from Benjamin’s gate unto the place of the first gate, unto the corner gate, and from the tower of Hananeel unto the king’s winepresses. And men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited. And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away [decay] while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes [sockets], and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth. And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult [panic] from the LORD shall be among them; and they shall lay hold [seize] every one on the hand of his neighbour, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbour. And Judah also shall fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the heathen round about shall be gathered together, gold, and silver, and apparel, in great abundance. And so shall be the plague of the horse, of the mule, of the camel, and of the ass, and of all the beasts that shall be in these tents [camps], as this plague [so shall this plague be]. And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.” (Zechariah 14:1-16)

After Jesus’ 1,000-year reign on earth, He will destroy with fire the earth and the heavens and will create a new heaven, a new earth, and a new Jerusalem. His people, the twelve tribes of Israel, and the walls of Jerusalem, will always be before Him, just as Isaiah the prophet prophesied in Isaiah 49:14-16. Jesus will also be with ALL who believe in Him as their Messiah, both Jew and Gentile, and we will be with Him forever and ever. Let us read Revelation 21 in its entirety, for it is an absolutely beautiful picture of the love and mercy of the Lord God Almighty, not only for His people Israel but also for all who believe in Him. Before we read it though, let us read what God had told Israel long ago, when He had told Moses to tell these words to the people of Israel, a peculiar people, whom God had chosen and had delivered them with His mighty hand out of their bondage in Egypt and set them in the land He gave them:

“For thou art an holy [set apart] people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people [treasure] unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: but because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen slavery], from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.” (Deuteronomy 7:6-8)

“And the LORD hath avouched [proclaimed] thee this day to be his peculiar [special] people, as he hath promised thee, and that thou shouldest keep all his commandments; and to make thee high above all nations which he hath made, in praise, and in name, and in honour; and that thou mayest be an holy people unto the LORD thy God, as he hath spoken.” (Deuteronomy 26:18-19)

Before God gave these words to Moses to speak to Israel, God knew that Israel would not keep His commandments. That is why God would later send Jesus to earth the first time to offer salvation from all sins to all who believe on Him, whether they are Jew or Gentile/non-Jew. Before Jesus came to earth, God needed to choose a people from whom Messiah would come, and God chose Israel. He didn’t choose them because they were a great and large nation; no, He chose them because they were a small nation, as they still are today. It is through Israel that all nations are blessed, for without Israel, there is no Messiah, and without Messiah, there is no forgiveness of sins. Though many people and nations have tried to destroy Israel, they will never succeed. God always has, and will in the future, save a remnant of His people. It is that one-third remnant of Jews who will be saved through the 7-year time of Jacob’s trouble, and they will finally believe on Jesus as their Messiah. After Jesus comes to earth a second time, this time they will abide with Him, no longer in unbelief, in His land, the land of Israel, during His millennial reign, and will live with Him for eternity. No more will Satan use men of nations to come against them and try to destroy them, for Satan will be cast into the lake of eternal fire and brimstone, along with all who choose to follow him instead of God. No more will Israel turn from God and turn to idols, and no more will they break His commandments. They will live with Him forever, and He will be their God, and they shall be His son. Just as Isaiah prophesied in Isaiah 49:14-16, Jesus has not forgotten His people, and He will be with them always. The wall of the holy city, New Jerusalem, with its twelve gates which have the names of the twelve tribes of Israel inscribed upon them, will be before Him continually. Now, let us read in Revelation 21 of how Jesus blesses Israel when He creates a new heaven, a new earth, and a New Jerusalem:

“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things have passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things news. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst [who thirsts] of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials [bowls] full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife. And he carried me in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; and had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: on the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in [on] them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. And the city lieth foursquare [is laid out as a square], and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel. And the building [construction] of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished [adorned] with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several [individual] gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten [illuminate] it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. And there shall be in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh [causes an] abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” (Revelation 21:1-27)