Topical Bible: The Jews: National Character of Love of Country

◄ The Jews: National Character of Love of Country ►

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The Jewish people, as depicted in the Bible, exhibit a profound love for their country, a sentiment deeply rooted in their identity and faith. This love is not merely a cultural or ethnic attachment but is intricately tied to their covenantal relationship with God and the land He promised them.

Biblical Foundations

The love of country among the Jews is first and foremost a reflection of their covenant with God, who promised the land of Canaan to Abraham and his descendants. In Genesis 12:1-3 , God calls Abraham to leave his homeland and promises, "I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing." This promise establishes a divine connection between the Jewish people and the land, making their love for it a matter of spiritual significance.

The land of Israel is repeatedly described as a "land flowing with milk and honey" (Exodus 3:8), symbolizing not only its physical abundance but also its spiritual richness. The Jews' attachment to their land is thus both a matter of survival and a fulfillment of divine promise.

Expressions of Love for the Land

Throughout the Old Testament, the Jews' love for their country is expressed in various ways. The Psalms, for instance, are replete with expressions of longing and devotion to Jerusalem and the land of Israel. Psalm 137:5-6 poignantly captures this sentiment: "If I forget you, O Jerusalem, may my right hand forget its skill. May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I do not set Jerusalem above my highest joy."

The prophets also emphasize the significance of the land, often calling the people back to faithfulness by reminding them of their unique relationship with it. In Jeremiah 29:7 , the exiled Jews are instructed to "seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper." This highlights the enduring connection between the people and their land, even when they are physically separated from it.

Historical Context

The historical experiences of the Jewish people further illustrate their love for their country. The Babylonian exile was a period of profound longing for the homeland, as reflected in the lamentations and prayers of the exiled community. The return from exile under the leadership of figures like Ezra and Nehemiah was not merely a political event but a spiritual renewal, as the people sought to restore their national and religious identity in the land God had given them.

The Maccabean Revolt is another testament to the Jews' love for their country. Faced with the imposition of Hellenistic culture and religion, the Jewish people fought to preserve their religious and national identity, demonstrating their deep commitment to the land and the covenant.

Theological Implications

The Jewish love of country is deeply theological, rooted in the belief that the land of Israel is a divine gift and a central component of God's redemptive plan. This love is not merely nostalgic or nationalistic; it is an expression of faith and obedience to God's promises. The land serves as a tangible reminder of God's faithfulness and the hope of future restoration.

In summary, the national character of the Jews' love for their country is a complex interplay of divine promise, historical experience, and theological conviction. It is a love that transcends mere geography, embodying a profound spiritual connection to the land that God has chosen for His people.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 137:6
If I do not remember you, let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Hymns for Christian Devotion
... 317. -- Prayer for the Jews. 318. ... For a Life devoted to God's Glory. CHRISTIAN CHARACTER
AND LIFE. 339. ... 841. -- God Acknowledged in National Blessings. 842. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/adams/hymns for christian devotion/

Abraham's Faith
... work, and its peculiar spirit and national character, wherewith to ... The Jews, indeed,
have an old tradition that Nimrod ... in your own house, who love and trust you ...
/.../kingsley/twenty-five village sermons/sermon xii abrahams faith.htm

Seances Historiques De Geneve --The National Church.
... to the conceptions embodied in any other national religion, were ... of Him in accordance
with the character of His ... Jews did not perceive, that the attribution of ...
/.../seances historiques de genevethe national.htm

Palestine Eighteen Centuries Ago
... But the national deities of the heathen might be transported ... from the first universal
in its character and design ... in view of the Gentiles they are Jews; in their ...
/.../sketches of jewish social life/chapter 1 palestine eighteen centuries.htm

The Chosen People
... discourage the people, to lower their conception of the character of God ... Hatred of
the Romans, and national and spiritual pride, led the Jews still to ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 2 the chosen people.htm

From Abraham to Egypt.
... the Jews will finally repent of their national sin and accept the crucified Savior
as the Jews' Messiah; the ... success is a sure sign of nobility of character. ...
/.../tidwell/the bible period by period/chapter iv from abraham to.htm

The Nobleman's Son.
... teachings than the proud Jews of the national capital. ... and of more open hearts than
the Jerusalem Jews. ... a miracle, but because his words and character met the ...
/.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/the noblemans son.htm

Divided Worship
... blended by them with their own national idolatry ... monotheists, even more rigid than
the Jews themselves, and ... of God; for all greatness of character is perfected ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/divided worship.htm

In the House of his Heavenly, and in the Home of his Earthly ...
... of Jud??a, the taxing, and the national rising, as ... seeming ignorance of her Son's
true character: the necessary ... Among the Jews the contempt for manual labour ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter x in the house.htm

Barriers Broken Down
... She has no national or religious prejudice or pride to ... Afterward, when the Jews turned
still more persistently from ... He ignores everything of this character. ...
/.../white/the desire of ages/chapter 43 barriers broken down.htm