One of the reasons I believe this psalm is prophetic is because of verse 4. One of the greatest blessings as I travel Jerusalem, hosting groups of people from all over the globe, is to see people from every tribe, tongue and nation coming to praise the Lord in His city. It is a beautiful sight to see their tears of joy and to hear them worship Him… it is the sound of angels!
However, my heart is often saddened over the fact that so many of these people are missing the mark of one of their main callings as Gentiles, who were grafted into the tree of Israel, and now have the privilege to worship the Creator of the World, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob:
“I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they? May it never be! But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make them jealous.” Rom 11:11
According to Romans 11, the Jewish people’s rejection of Yeshua as the Messiah came about in order to bring salvation to the Gentiles too. God’s plan of redemption always began with the nation of Israel, the Jewish people. But it didn’t end there. God also had – and has – a plan of redemption for the Nations! Contrary to many popular doctrines, this does not come in place of Israel’s redemption, but rather in order that the Gentiles will also be able worship the God of Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob in truth and sincerity. All of this is meant to provoke the Jewish people to jealousy, as they too will desire to have the same kind of intimacy with the LORD, turning back to Him through accepting the atonement that He has provided, resulting in the return of Yeshua!
“For if their rejection be the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?” Rom 11:15
Sadly, many people don’t understand this; they have been filled with pride that they know the truth, all the while ignoring a very specific warning of the Lord through Rav Shaul (Apostle Paul) who said:
“…do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you.” Rom 11:18
Their arrogance has blinded the eyes of their hearts, and they think that they are now the chosen people, and that God has forsaken his first born, Israel.
Others may have a heart for the Jewish people, but their goal is to convert the Jewish people to a different religion. Here too, the motive is wrong, as all of us ought to be simply seeking the return of the Jewish people to God through faith in their Messiah, Yeshua.
Take some time to reflect upon this!
May those who truly follow Yeshua as their Messiah come to Jerusalem, and worship Him in truth and with sincere hearts. May this be a strong testimony to Israel, and may they remember their God and return to Him.
Shabbat Shalom.
Moran
3 Comments on ““It is to there that the tribes go up, the tribes of God; a testimony of Israel to give thanks to the Name of the Lord.” Psalm 122:4, Part 4”
Moran…you taught us this so well when we were in Israel. Our eyes were openned to these truths. Thank you so much. Jerry and I love you and your family and are so saddened by what rhe people are having and have had to endure. Praying for safety and for the people to turn to their real Peace during this time.
Praying..
Carol and Jerry
Moran –
Good words! Words to be excited by! I want so much to be able to bring my precious wife to Israel this year to be with you and meet the people of the Holy Land. I have been reflecting for some years now on Antisemitism. The Lord has worked on me for a number of years regarding my attitude, and we have basically worked out together this idea that I am Jewish now, grafted into the line of Abraham through the blood of Jesus (Yeshua). It may creep my Jewish friends a little bit when I say that, but I mean it!
That said, when I started studying history, I mean more than just WWII which I’ve studied my entire life, I started to realize that there is this thread woven through, you could call it redemption, and I guess in a way, I do too. The hand of the Lord is evident only when you look with His eyes. I started asking the question, “What is Antisemitism?” Was it really just something that happened with the NAZI’s in Germany, or does it go back further? Well, as you know, it goes back pretty much all the way to the choice of Abraham as the “Father of nations.” His firstborn son was rejected as the “Son of promise” and yet, that is the precise lie that Muhammed chose to put into his version of history. The jealousy of that man has, more than any other sin, defined the last 1400 years.
The spread of Antisemitism through Europe, the expulsion of the Jews from England, the Pogroms, the Dreyfuss Affair, all of those events were actually brought about by the Lord Himself I believe in order to bring about the return to the promised land. It was finally in response to the Dreyfuss Affair that the Jews realized they must unite. The first Zionist Congress that convened in the Hague in 1897 was a direct result of the Dreyfuss affair, and indirectly as a result of the mounting Antisemitism in the world. Fifty years later of course, we saw the founding of the modern State of Israel. Hallelujah!
It is wonderfully clear to me that the Lord was involved in this activity all along, leading and guiding some, allowing others to be fueled by hatred and animosity, for His purposes. I have little doubt but that history is coming to a conclusion, and time is running out to visit the Holy Land. Again, I hope to bring my wife Cheryl along for a visit this next year. We have heard you speak several times now at Hope Chapel since we arrived there in early 2011, and we have been very amazed each time. Your heart is for the Lord. In turn, He has given you the ability to teach others about your precious Israel. I am eager to learn more!
May the Lord bless you and make His face shine upon you this day. In the precious name of Yeshua.
Moran, Shabbat Shalom!
Moran, my Brother, thank you for your thoughts today. I will continue to think on them…
Those who love and honor Yeshua, love whom He loves…and He loves His people Israel! From across the world, we’ve heard testimonies of so many likeminded believers who are praying and fasting and loving Israel during this war. Hallelujah! How can the graft not love the root that it is grafted onto?!!! There is no life without the root…!!
The enemy is always trying to make God look like a liar, so he has always tried to annihilate the Jews hoping to disprove the eternal Abrahamic covenant. Tragically, the enemy has also made inroads into some parts of the Church all the way from antisemitism to indifference to Replacement theology, etc. Israel is a stumbling block not just to the nations, but also to the Church. The LORD is shaking the world, and He’s also shaking the Body of Messiah. He is coming soon for a refined Bride who cries for His return, and He will be coming at the request of the nation Israel, who will be shouting, “Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the LORD – Baruch HaBa B’Shem ADONAI!!” May all those who love the appearing of Yeshua, King Messiah, bless His Name and bless His people! Abba, let the One New Man, the Jew and the Gentile, come together in truth, in love, and in oneness in Messiah.
We will not stop praying for you, Israel. We will be as Aaron and Hur, who lifted up the arms of Moses, so that Israel would be victorious in battle.
Love and Shalom,
Michele