Topical Bible: The Jews: The Objects of God's Love

◄ The Jews: The Objects of God's Love ►

Jump to: Torrey's • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

The Jewish people hold a unique and significant place in the biblical narrative as the chosen people of God. This special relationship is rooted in the covenants established by God with the patriarchs and is a recurring theme throughout the Scriptures. The Jews are depicted as the recipients of God's love, promises, and divine purpose, which are evident from the earliest chapters of the Bible.

Covenantal Relationship

The foundation of God's love for the Jewish people is established through His covenant with Abraham. In Genesis 12:1-3, God calls Abram (later Abraham) and promises to make him a great nation, bless him, and make his name great. This covenant is reiterated and expanded in Genesis 17:7, where God declares, "I will establish My covenant as an everlasting covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you" . This covenantal relationship is further confirmed with Isaac and Jacob, establishing the lineage through which God's promises would be fulfilled.

The Exodus and the Law

The love of God for the Jewish people is powerfully demonstrated in the Exodus narrative. God hears the cries of the Israelites in bondage and raises up Moses to lead them out of Egypt. In Exodus 6:7, God reassures them, "I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians" . The giving of the Law at Mount Sinai further solidifies this relationship, as God provides the Israelites with commandments to guide their lives and maintain their distinct identity as His people.

Prophetic Assurance

Throughout the prophetic books, God's enduring love for the Jewish people is reaffirmed, even amidst their disobedience and exile. The prophets often speak of a future restoration and renewal. In Jeremiah 31:3, God declares, "I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have drawn you with loving devotion" . This assurance of God's unwavering love is a recurring theme, emphasizing His commitment to His covenant people despite their failings.

Messianic Hope

The Jewish people are also central to the messianic hope that permeates the Old Testament. The promise of a Messiah, a descendant of David, who would establish an everlasting kingdom, is a testament to God's love and faithfulness. Isaiah 9:6-7 speaks of this coming ruler: "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" . This messianic expectation is fulfilled in the New Testament with the coming of Jesus Christ, who is recognized as the promised Savior.

The New Testament Perspective

In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul addresses the special status of the Jewish people in Romans 9-11. He acknowledges their unique role in God's redemptive plan, stating in Romans 9:4-5, "Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the giving of the Law, the temple worship, and the promises. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them proceeds the human descent of Christ, who is God over all, forever worthy of praise! Amen" . Paul emphasizes that God's gifts and calling are irrevocable (Romans 11:29), underscoring the enduring nature of God's love for the Jews.

Eschatological Fulfillment

The eschatological vision in the Bible includes the ultimate fulfillment of God's promises to the Jewish people. In Revelation, the New Jerusalem is depicted with twelve gates, each named after the twelve tribes of Israel (Revelation 21:12), symbolizing the integral role of the Jewish people in God's eternal plan. This imagery reflects the culmination of God's love and faithfulness to His covenant people throughout history.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Deuteronomy 7:8
But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn to your fathers, has the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of slaves, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Deuteronomy 23:5
Nevertheless the LORD your God would not listen to Balaam; but the LORD your God turned the curse into a blessing to you, because the LORD your God loved you.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Jeremiah 31:3
The LORD has appeared of old to me, saying, Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love: therefore with loving kindness have I drawn you.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

God's Love for a Sinning World
... when parents have unfortunate children"poor objects of compassion ... fully in sympathy
with the ancient Jews in their ... God had well counted the cost before He ...
//christianbookshelf.org/finney/sermons on gospel themes/i gods love for a.htm

How we are to Unite Our Will with God's in the Permission of Sins.
... from thence and place it upon other objects and employments ... on account of the
reprobation of the Jews, in the ... must ever adore, love and praise God avenging and ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter viii how we are.htm

Difficulties and Objections
... was Christ's announcement that God had a purpose of grace toward Gentiles as well
as Jews. ... To ascertain who are the objects of God's love other passages ...
/.../pink/the sovereignty of god/chapter eleven difficulties and objections.htm

Enmity Between Man and Satan
... is kindled because, through Christ, they are the objects of God's ... all this evil as
the result of God's work in ... wealth, pomp, or grandeur that the Jews were led ...
/.../white/the great controversy/chapter 30 enmity between man.htm

Enmity Between Man and Satan.
... kindled, because, through Christ, they are the objects of God's ... all this evil as
the result of God's work in ... wealth, pomp, or grandeur, that the Jews were led ...
/.../the great controversy between christ and satan /30 enmity between man and.htm

God's Sovereignty Defined
... The objects of mercy, then, are those who are miserable, and all ... During one of the
Feasts of the Jews, the Lord Jesus went up to ... Why does not God love the Devil ...
/.../pink/the sovereignty of god/chapter one gods sovereignty defined.htm

His Conversion
... high priest, who had jurisdiction over the Jews outside as ... him to concentrate himself
on the objects presented to ... his fall in the arms of God's love; he was ...
/.../stalker/the life of st paul/chapter iii his conversion.htm

The Declaration of the Congregational Union of England and Wales. ...
... I. The Scriptures of the Old Testament, as received by the Jews, and the books ... They
believe that all who will be saved were the objects of God's eternal and ...
/.../the declaration of the congregational.htm

The Kingdom of Heaven
... of his subjects, were endangered by these favoured objects of his ... What the Jews did
in the end thereof you may ... The wrath of God revealed itself as usual, by no ...
/.../kingsley/all saints day and other sermons/sermon xxx the kingdom of.htm

Homilies on Galatians and Ephesians.
... 222]15; to be beneficial to the objects of it ... Paul, [359]71; how Jews and Gentiles
are made one ... Love, God's love the cause of our being chosen, [389]52; how to ...
/.../homilies on galatians and ephesians.htm