In election, the land was a gift of Yahweh to his son Israel, and in rejection, he withdrew it and drove him away from the land. Now in restoration, Yahweh brings him back and puts him in the land to possess it.
“Therefore behold, days are coming,” declares Yahweh, “when it will no longer be said, ‘As Yahweh lives, who brought up the sons of Israel out of the land of Egypt,’ but ‘As Yahweh lives, who brought the sons of Israel from the land of the north and from all the coun- tries where He had banished them.’ For I will restore them to their own land which I gave to their fathers.” (Jer. 16: 14- 15)
Two epithets of Yahweh are introduced here. One is based on the context of past election and the other on that of future restoration.
The parallel is that as Yahweh’s redemptive act of exodus was a historical event in the past, so the return of Israel from exile by the help of Yahweh will be equally sure to come. At that time Yahweh will be worshiped on the basis of that future saving act from captiv- ity, just as he had been worshiped till then on the basis of the past event of deliverance. Yahweh’s future saving act for Israel is that he brings them back and restores them to their own land which he gave to their fathers. Therefore, we can see that the restoration is viewed as Israel’s return to their own land from the dispersion. In Jer. 12: 15, Yahweh clearly specifies that his restoration of Israel is his bringing Israel back to their inheritance, to their land. This idea can also be found in Jer. 30:3; 31:4; Ezek. 11: 17; 34:27; 36:8, 24,28,35; 47: 13- 23; Amos 9: 13-15; Joel 2: 18; Ps. 105:43-45.
4) “My Delight Is in Her” (;~FY%‘J), “Married”
(;rhYD) In rejection, the land was to be desolated, defiled, and forsaken. In restoration, however, this aspect of rejection is reversed. Is. 62:4-5THE DIVINE ELECTION OF IS R A E L
presents a significant aspect of restoration with respect to the land.
It will no longer be said to you, “Forsaken,”
Nor to your land will it any longer be said, “Desolate”;
But you will be called, “My delight is in her,”
And your land, “Married”;
For Yahweh delights in you,
And to Him your land will be married.4 For as a young man marries a virgin, So your sons will marry you;
And as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, So your God will rejoice over you.
This prophecy again presents new names for Zion (Is. 60: 14) and the land which will replace the old ones. During the period of rejec- tion, Zion was called “Forsaken” @lTY). But at the time of restora- tion, it will be called “My delight is in you” (;I>-‘Y~~Q.
land, it has been called “Desolate”
(xW), b u t h e r e a f t e r i t w i l l b e
(;rhYl), because Yahweh delights in Zion as the young bridegroom rejoices over his virgin bride and the land ac- cepts the inhabitants of Zion. The concept of the sons’ marriage to the land is puzzling. However, the report of the tribal leaders of Israel who came back from spying out the land of Canaan provides a suggestion for understanding this imagery. They said: “The land t’n-ough which we have gone, in spying it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants; and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great size” (Num. 13:32). According to this description, the land did not seem to be a place which would accept them as dwellers.
Thus, during the period of rejection the mountains of Israel were called “a devourer of men and bereaver of the nation of children”
(Ezek. 36: 13). In the time of restoration, however, they will no longer be so called, because “you will no longer devour men, and no longer bereave your nation of children” (36: 14). The land will be cultivated
41. The NASB insertion of “to Him” in verse 4 is totally misleading, since the context provides the notion of Yahweh’s marriage to the land. But verse 5,
“your sons will marry you,” makes it clear that “your sons” indicates the people of the land and “you” refers to the land.
THE RE L A T E D TH E M E S
and sown and it will put forth branches and bear fruit for the people of Yahweh. Yahweh will multiply man and beast on that land and cause it to be inhabited as it was in former days (368-11). Thus, the concept of marriage between the inhabitants and the land in Is.
625 can be explained in terms of the land’s acceptability of the inhabitants. In that day, “They will say, ‘This desolate land has become like the garden of Eden; and the waste, desolate, and ruined cities are fortified and inhabited’ ” (Ezek. 36:35).
Therefore, Yahweh not only brings his people back to their own lands, but also renews the desolate wasteland for his people return- ing from the exile to inhabit.
(4) Yahweh Will Buy Back Israel
In rejection, Yahweh sold his people Israel as slaves and made them serve Nebuchadnezzar (Jer. 17:4; 27:4,17; 28:14; 40:9). In restora- tion, Yahweh buys back his people.
For thus says Yahweh, “You were sold for nothing and you will be redeemed without money.” (Is. 52:3).
Since %x, which is rendered “to redeem,” is in contrast to 13~ (to sell) in the same verse, “to buy” would be a more accurate render- ing here than “to redeem.” ;rg also carries the same meaning.
Then it will happen on that day that the Lord Will again recover the second time with His hand The remnant of His people, who will remain,
From Assyria, Egypt, Pathros, Cush, Elam, Shinar, Hamath, And from the islands of the sea. (Is. 11: 11)
On the day of restoration Yahweh will stretch out his hand igain and will deliver his people. As he redeemed Israel out of Egypt, he will again purchase (XP) it out of all the countries named. There- fore, this will be Yahweh’s second redemption of Israe1.42
42. KD, Isaiah, p. 289.
THE DIVINE ELECTION OF ISRAEL
Even though Israel was sold for nothing (Is. 52:3), in restora- tion Yahweh will pay the ransom.
For I am Yahweh your God,
The Holy One of Israel, Your Savior;
I have given Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in your palce.
Since you are precious in My sight, Since you are honored and I love you,
I will give other men in your place and other peoples in exchange for your life. (Is. 43:3-4)
Once Tyre, Sidon, and Philistia sold the sons of Judah and Jerusa- lem to the Greeks (Joel 3:3,6). But Yahweh is going to arouse them from the place where they sold them, and return their recompense on their head. On that day Yahweh will sell their children into the hand of the sons of Judah. “‘Also I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the sons of Judah, and they will sell them to the Sabeans, to a distant nation,’ for Yahweh has spoken” (Joel 3:8). The fortune of Israel is completely restored.
When Yahweh redeems Israel, they will be his servants. At that time Israel will be called his chosen servant.
But, you, Israel, My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen,
Descendant of Abraham My friend.
You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, And called from its remotest parts,
And said to you, “You are My servant,
I have chosen you and not rejected you.” (Is. 41:8-9)
The clause “You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called from its remotest parts” suggests that this taking and calling refers to the future restoration of Israel. Yahweh’s choosing of Israel is not a second one or a new one. He had already chosen them to be his servants before the time of their dispersal to the ends of the earth, and he did not reject them completely. Yahweh’s choosing Israel was still effective even during the period of exile. When Yah- weh restores them, however, he calls them again saying, “You are
THE RELATED THEMES
My servant, I have chosen you and not rejected you.” The Servant Songs of Isaiah are full of this idea (42:l; 43:lO; 44:1-2,21; 45:4;
4820; 49:3-6; 52: 13; 54: 17; 56:6; 65:8-16; 66: 14; cf. also Jer. 46:27- 28; Ezek. 28:25; 37:25).
One point to be noted here is that when Israel is introduced as Yahweh’s servant in the context of restoration, Yahweh is some- times presented as the king of Israel, the master (Is. 41:21; 43: 15;
44:6). When Yahweh buys Israel back and restores the status of his people’s servanthood, he will appoint them as “a light of the na- tions” (49:6) so that his salvation may reach to the ends of the earth, and he will use them as his witnesses through whom he shall show his glory (49:3). Therefore, at the time of restoration the task of Israel as his servant will become enlarged and universal in its character.
(5)
Yahweh Will Plant Israel Again
Yahweh uprooted Israel in rejection. But now Yahweh plants them again in their land.
For I will set My eyes on them for good, and I will bring them again to this land; and I will build them up and not overthrow them, and I will plant them and not pluck them up. And I will give them a heart to know Me, for I am Yahweh; and they will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with their whole heart.
(Jer. 24:6-7) Yahweh’s setting his eyes on them for good, bringing them again to this land, building them up, and planting them are all his works of restoring his people in the future. At that time the relationship be- tween Yahweh as their God and Israel as his people will be reestab- lished. In particular, we can see here that the concepts of “building up” (XI) and “planting” (YPJ) are the opposites of the rejection ideas “to overthrow” (01;1) and “pluck up” (VnJ) (cf. Jer. 42: 10).
y? carries the same idea of restoration as YPJ in the future tense (Hos. 2:25 [E. 231). In Jer. 31:27, Yahweh is said to sow the
235
THE DIVINE ELECTION OF ISRAEL
house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man and the seed of beast. Hosea describes the scene on the day that Yahweh plants and sows Israel again as follows:
I will be like the dew to Israel;
He will blossom like the lily,
And he will take root like the cedars of Lebanon.
His shoots will sprout,
And his beauty will be like the olive tree, And his fragrance like the cedars of Lebanon.
Those who live in his shadow Will again raise grain,
And they will blossom like the vine.
His renown will be like the wine of Lebanon. (Hos. 14~6-8 [E. 5-71) When Yahweh heals the apostasy of Israel, he will be like “dew” to Israel, which promotes the life and growth of plants. On that day Israel will take root (1'VlV TV), and his shoot will sprout and blos- som. The fame of Israel will be restored again like that of the cedars and wine of Lebanon. The Song of the Vineyard will be sung again (Is. 27: l-7).
(6) Yahweh Will Gather His Flock Again
The imagery which portrayed Yahweh as a shepherd is also seen in the context of restoration. In contrast to rejection, Yahweh as a shepherd gathers together his dispersed sheep from the land of exile and feeds them.
Then I Myself shall gather the remnant of My flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and shall bring them back to their pasture; and they will be fruitful and multiply. (Jer. 23:3) As a restoration term, yap is also found in Dt. 30:34; Is. 11:12;
40: 11; 435; 54:7; Jer. 29:14; 31:8,10; Ezek. 20:34,42; 34:13; 36:24;
37:21; Mic. 2: 12; 4:6; Nah. 3: 18; Zech. 10: 10.
10K carries the same meaning as PW.
?uitD~ mum ppu pq7 153 2py* iwu qou
miun mm nm iin3 my2 ma juu3 wmu in- 236
THE RELATED THEMES
I will surely assemble all of you, Jacob, I will surely gather the remnant of Israel.
I will put them together like sheep in the fold;
Like a flock in the midst of its pasture They will be noisy with men. (Mic. 2: 12)
Yahweh, assembling and gathering the remnant of Israel, is pic- tured as a shepherd who gathers his flock in the pasture. The same usage of IoN is also found in Is. 11: 12; Jer. 21:4; Ezek. 11: 17.
When Yahweh gathers his sheep, he will feed (;lyy) and lead (5~12) them. He will not devour them; rather he will take care of them.
:%3$ ni?y ut~ pml IY~~D pap’ 7ym ;ryi’ ivy ;rym Like a shepherd He will tend His flock,
In His arm He will gather the lambs, And-carry them in His bosom;
He will gently lead the nursing ewes. (Is. 40: 11)
According to Jer. 50:19, Yahweh will bring Israel back to the pas- ture lands of Carmel and Bashan, and they will be satisfied in the hill country of Ephraim and Gilead (cf. Ezek. 34: 14,15; Mic. 7: 14).
In contrast to the rejection imagery in which Israel became a prey for all the beasts of the field, Micah compares the remnant of Israel to a young lion among the beasts of the forest in restoration.
0’31 my q73 mx3 zpy’ mm mi vervy3 3-333 7y nine mu2 :5wi yui qmi on71 ~~y-au wu And the remnant of Jacob
Will be among the nations, Among many peoples
Like a young lion among the beasts of the forest, Like a young lion among flocks of sheep, Which, if he passes through,
Tramples down and tears,
And there is none to rescue. (Mic. 5:7 [E.8]) (7) Yahweh Will Rebuild Israel
Since Yahweh is viewed as a builder of Israel in election, he is portrayed as her rebuilder in the context of restoration.
THE DIVINE ELECTION OF ISRAEL
I will restore the fortunes [i.e., captivity] of Judah and the fortunes of Israel, and I will rebuild them as they were at first. (Jer. 33:7) The verb 8~ implies the meaning of rebuilding in this context. In Jer. 31:3, tly (again) is added to specify the meaning.
~uitp~nkn~ nml inx vy m~pnem bm mm pn 'iyn iv Again I will build you, and you shall be rebuilt,
0 virgin of Israel!
Again you shall take up your tambourines, And go forth to the dances of the merrymakers.
(8) Yahweh Will Cleanse Israel
In restoration, Yahweh cleanses his defiled people.
And they will no longer defile themselves with their idols, or with their detestable things, or with any of their transgressions; but I will deliver them from all their dwelling places in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them. And they will be My people, and I will be their God. (Ezek. 37:23)
Because the Israelites defiled themselves by worshiping foreign gods, Yahweh also defiled them. In restoration, the people will no longer defile themselves and Yahweh will cleanse (1X7) them from their sins of apostasy.
Ezekiel 36:24-28 describes Yahweh’s cleansing and renewing of Israel:
THE RELATED THEMES
For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands, and bring you into your own land. Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthi- ness and from all your idols. Moreover I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances. And you will live in the land that I gave to your forefathers; so you will be My people, and I will be your God.
On the day that Yahweh brings the Israelites back to their own land, he will cleanse them. Sprinkling clean water on a sinful man is a required rite in the Law of Moses for purification (Num. 19:4ff.).
By sprinkling, Yahweh is going to cleanse all the filthiness of the Israelites. Furthermore, he will remove the heart of stone from them and give them a new heart and he will put his spirit within and cause them to walk in his statues and keep his ordinances (Hos. 65 [E. 7:1]; 14:4; Joel 3:l [E. 2:28]).
Yahweh is about to renew Israel entirely After that, the Yahweh- Israel relationship will be reestablished. We can also note here the election formula “You will be My people, and I will be your God.”
Therefore, cleansing is one of the essential parts of Yahweh’s res- toration of Israel. Thus, they will be called “The holy people, the redeemed of Yahweh” (Is. 62: 12).
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CHAPTER IV
The New Testament Reflections
In describing the exclusive relationship between God and his peo- ple, the New Testament refers or alludes to many Old Testament texts. Many metaphors found in the Hebrew Bible are also used in the New Testament. However, their meanings are expanded or the objects of comparison in the metaphors are changed from the re- lationship between Yahweh and Israel to the relationship between Jesus and the disciples or between Jesus and believers.
1. THE BELIEVERS AS THE BRIDE OF JESUS