640. ISA 43:5, ISA 43:6. OBLIGATIONS OF CHRISTIANS TO LABOR FOR THE CONVERSION OF THE JEWS

Isa_43:5, Isa_43:6. Obligations of Christians to Labor for the Conversion of the Jews

By Rev. Earl Gibbee, D. D.

"I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; I will say to the north, Give up: and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth."’97Isa_43:5, Isa_43:6.

This prophecy looks far beyond the deliverance of the Jews from their former captivity. It evidently points to that great and glorious deliverance which still awaits them. A deliverance that will eclipse, and infinitely outshine, their former deliverances from Egypt and from Babylon. In applying the passage before us to the recall and conversion of the Jews, I would direct your attention to the following particulars.

I. Our obligations, as Christians, to engage in this work.

II. Our encouragement to proceed and persevere in it.

III. The glorious consequences that will probably result from it.

And may the Lord God of Israel, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, look down from heaven and visit us! May he graciously be pleased to animate our hearts, and to strengthen our hands, in this work and labor of love!

I. Our obligations, as Christians, to engage in this work.

It would not be difficult to show that many are our obligations to seek the salvation of the Jews; but I shall content myself with stating only a few.

1. Gratitude for the inestimable benefits which we have derived from them.

Should it be asked, What advantage or benefit have we derived from the. Jews? we answer, "Much, every way: and chiefly because that unto them were committed the oracles of God," Rom_3:2. They were intrusted with that invaluable treasure, which was to enrich the Church of God through every succeeding age. To them "pertained the adoption," into which we are admitted; "the covenants," with the privileges of which we are favored; "the promises," of which we are made partakers; and "of whom," let it never be forgotten by

Christians, "as concerning the flesh Jesus Christ came, who is over all, God blessed forever," Rom_9:4, Rom_9:5.

Here let us pause, and contemplate the immensity of the debt which we owe to this despised and outcast people; and let us remember that most of this debt remains to this day unpaid. Ought we not to be ashamed of our culpable neglect? Ought we not to feel a portion at least of the apostle’s spirit, who could wish himself cut off and separated from Christ, for his brethren and for his kinsmen’s sake, Rom_9:3. Surely the Jews have claims upon us far beyond any heathen nation; and yet for the heathen have we chiefly employed our labors.

2. As a reparation of the cruel wrongs and injuries which we have inflicted upon them.

It would be as shocking, as it would be endless, to recount the terrible oppressions which this unhappy people have suffered in every age of their dispersion. Dreadful as have been the persecutions which the Church of God hath experienced in former times, I apprehend they have been far exceeded by the persecutions which even Christian nations have inflicted on the Jews. Every Christian country is deep in this guilt, and every Christian country requires a national expiation of it. And let us not fondly suppose, that England is, in this respect, less criminal than other nations. No; the pages of our history are stained with our cruelty and injustice. How often has this miserable people been fined and pillaged by the former governments of this land! How often have they been compelled to redeem their lives at the expense of all their treasures! Did our monarchs want money to carry on their wars? The Jews were sure to be the first objects of their rapacity. Judah’s wickedness is no exculpation of England’s sin. Rather, have we not reason to fear, that the Lord may have a controversy with us, both for our past and present oppressions of his ancient people? Have we nothing to dread in the prospect of the day, which the prophet emphatically calls, "the day of the Lord’s vengeance, the year of recompences for the controversy of Zion?" Isa_34:8. Is it nothing to us, that that great and notable day of the Lord is at hand, when Jerusalem shall become "a cup of trembling," and "a burdensome stone," to all the nations that have afflicted her? Zec_12:5. Would we avert from us the indignation of the Lord, and escape his threatened judgments? Let us undo the bands of wickedness. Let us turn to Israel with compassion, and with repentance.

3. From an ardent desire to promote the glory of God.

An earnest desire to promote the glory of God is a prominent feature in the character of a true Christian; and we may reasonably doubt the profession of those who do not feel the constant influence of this principle. My brethren, the conversion of the Jews is indisputably an object most intimately connected with the glory of God, and with the honor of Christ. I am fully persuaded, that we can never expect any particular enlargement of the Redeemer’s kingdom till the veil be removed from Israel. If, therefore, we would indeed promote the glory of God, and extend the triumphs of the Redeemer, let us turn our attention primarily to the Jews’97let us gladly spend and be spent for them. Having thus stated our obligations to engage in this work, let us consider,

II. Our encouragement to proceed and persevere in it.

To some, the attempt to convert the Jews may appear visionary; to others, it may appear inexpedient; but they, who are acquainted with their Bibles, must know that it is not hopeless. We are encouraged to attempt this work,’97

1. From the testimony of prophecy.

The restoration of the whole house of Israel is so plainly and expressly foretold in Scripture, that it may properly be called an article of our faith. "Thus saith the Lord God: Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land.’97Moreover, I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant; and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore. My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people," Eze_37:21, Eze_37:26, Eze_37:27. See also Hos_3:4-5; Zep_3:14, Zep_3:15. We are also encouraged to proceed,

2. From the very great attention which has already been excited among the Jews.

Arduous as is the work in which we are engaged, and unpromising as it may to many appear; yet we can confidently declare, that our Society hath hitherto no reason to repent of its laudable efforts; on. the contrary, its exertions have already produced very striking effects. A spirit of inquiry has been stirred up among the Jews; which is, of itself, a most favorable circumstance: for, if the Jews can only be brought diligently to search and study their own Scriptures, we may reasonably hope that the most important consequences will result from their inquiries. Not a few of the Jews have already been brought to abjure their errors, and openly to confess Jesus of Nazareth, as their Messiah and Redeemer. Several others have evinced an earnest desire to know more of the Friend and Saviour of sinners. Another ground of encouragement may be drawn,

3. From the present signs of the times.

That a day will come, when both the house of Judah and of Israel shall be brought home to the fold of Christ, is a truth grounded on the express promise of God: and many reasons may be assigned which induce us to think that this day is at hand. Of late years, the attention of Christians has been very remarkably turned to the study of prophecy; and especially to those prophetic parts of Scripture which directly treat of the conversion of the heathen, of the restoration of the Jews, and of the glories of the millennial era. The strenuous exertions which are making, on every side, to diffuse the knowledge of the gospel of peace, are the surest pledges of the approaching triumph of our Redeemer. Already do the mists of heathen darkness begin to be dissipated; already do the benign rays of the Sun of righteousness begin to illumine those regions of the earth, which have long "sat in darkness and in the shadow of death." Every thing is preparing for the solemn inauguration of Christ, as King and Lord of all: when both Jew and Gentile shall be given to him "for an inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for a possession," Psa_2:8.

III. The. glorious consequences that will result from the conversion of the Jews. Great will be its consequences both to the world and to the church of God. Consider,

1. Its glorious consequences to the world.

Among other blessings, which will result to the world at large from this grand event, we are particularly taught to expect, from the sure word of prophecy, that there will be a universal diffusion of religious knowledge, and a universal enjoyment of uninterrupted peace. "Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more," Isa_2:4. When the Lord shall bring again the captivity of Israel, the whole face of the earth will be changed: it will be the commencement of a new and blessed era to all nations. See Jer_31:34; Psa_72:7-8, Psa_72:10, Psa_72:11.

2. Its glorious consequences to the church of God.

Inexpressibly magnificent is the description of the happiness and glory of the church, in that day when "the Lord shall bring again Zion," Isa_52:8. The conversion of the Jews shall be the means of bringing in the whole fulness of the Gentiles. Then shall the name of Christ be known "from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same:" his praises shall be heard and celebrated in the uttermost parts of the earth. See Isa_60:1, Isa_60:3, Isa_60:5.

(1.) To God’s covenant with Abraham and with his seed, you owe all that you are, and all that you hope to be. You that are the younger brother of your Father’s house, have risen to your present preeminence on the ruin of your elder brother.

(2.) My brethren, when Christ sent forth his apostles to preach the gospel of the kingdom, he particularly charged them to "begin at Jerusalem." Let me not be misunderstood, when I humbly hint, that in our attempts to convert the heathen, we should follow this rule, and begin at Jerusalem too. Did Christ command his apostles to "go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel," Mat_10:6; and shall we seek them last? Oh, no! we will remember that as we "have now obtained mercy through their unbelief," so it is the Divine appointment that "through our mercy they also may obtain mercy," Rom_11:30, Rom_11:31.

Autor: JABEZ BURNS