In case you have missed our postings over the years;
IT IS NEVER ABOUT YOU!
IT IS ALWAYS ABOUT HIM!
CONTEXT: Matthew Henry Comments: The apostle, having reconciled that great truth of the rejection of the Jews with the promise made unto the fathers, is, in this chapter, further labouring to mollify the harshness of it, and to reconcile it to the divine goodness in general. It might be said, “Hath God then cast away his people?” The apostles therefore sets himself, in this chapter, to make a reply to this objection, and that two ways:— I. He shows at large what the mercy is that is mixed with this wrath (v. 1-32). II. He infers thence the infinite wisdom and sovereignty of God, with the adoration of which he concludes this chapter and subject (v. 33-36).
Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary Romans 11 (end note)
Reader! I pray you to pause over the wonderful account, of what is related in this Chapter. And, if in the contemplation of the vast subject, the Apostle Paul, who had been caught up to the third heaven, and drank so deep into the mysteries of the Gospel, was constrained to cry out, as he hath here done: Oh! the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! Think, with what veneration and awe, men of less knowledge in the divine science, ought to receive the sublime truths of God; referring all of the works and counsel of God into God’s own wise, and unerring will, and pleasure. everything in God, and from God, must necessarily be imperfectly understood by creatures, of the limited, and scanty apprehension of man. God in Christ, the Son of God tabernacling in our nature, his Church one in him, falling into apostacy by sin, recovered by sovereign grace, the Church branching out into the double family of Jew and Gentile, the Lord’s ways in the call of the Gentile and the rejection of the Jew, together with all the wonderful events accomplished in bringing home the Church, through all the departments of nature, providence, grace, and glory: all these, and numberless other points connected with the vast subject, direct the mind into such a depth of mystery, that we are unavoidably led to the same view as the Apostle; convinced, that the ways and works of God, toward his Church and people, never could have been conceived, much less understood, had they not been graciously revealed by Him. Oh! wonderful Counsellor! Oh! gracious design of love and favor to the Church! What will be the wonders of eternity, when the whole shall come to be unfolded to the wondering world, of angels, and of men; and all will be found directed, to give glory, and honor, and power, to Him that sitteth upon the throne, and to the Lamb that was slain, forever, and ever, Amen.
Verse 36 REFLECTIONS
Pause, Reader! and, beholding the rejection of Israel as a nation, after all their high privileges; consider what may be, what will be, the rejection of any, and of every mere nominal Church, which hath the form, but is destitute of the power, of godliness! To this our guilty sinful land, and to every Christ-despising generation like the present, how awful that Scripture sounds, in trembling accents: If God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee!
Almighty Sovereign, Lord of Heaven and earth! give thy redeemed grace to receive all thy wise, and unerring appointments, with humble joy, and reverence. All must be right; because thou, Lord, hast done it. Let everyone taught of God, enter into a full apprehension of that most precious truth : Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty, Just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints!
And, amidst all the discouragements of the present day, though like the Prophet we find cause to mourn in secret, at the depressed state of Zion; yet let this always comfort: even now at the present time, there is a remnant according to the election of grace. Reader! forget not that it is grace, yea, all grace. May you and I have grape, to give our God all the glory!
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