Paul
the apostle told the people in Rome how Isaiah in the Old Testament
wrote concerning Israel,
“Wherefore?
Because they
sought it
not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they
stumbled at that stumbling-stone”,
and
in
chapter nine and verse thirty-three of Romans,
Paul continued his thought as he told his readers about, “a
stumbling-stone and a rock of offense”
where
we read:
As
it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumbling-stone and rock of
offense:
and
whosoever believes on him shall not be ashamed.
The
verse begins, “As
it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumbling-stone and rock of
offense:”
Paul
began with the words, “as
it is written”
which means “int he manner in which it is delineated or formed with
letters on a tablet, parchment, paper or other material”, “behold”
or “lo and see”, “I
lay in Sion”
which refers to “God sets and puts in place” “a
stumbling-stone”
which means “a small rock upon which a person may trip and fall”
“and
rock”
or “a cliff or ledge” “of
offense”
which means “pertaining to a trap, snare or impediment placed in
the way and causing one to stumble or fall”. Paul shared how God
put a “stumbling-stone” in the way of the people in “Zion” or
“Israel” which became a huge “cliff or ledge” to impede them.
The
verse goes on to say “and
whosoever believes on him shall not be ashamed.”
Paul
added the words, “and
whosoever”
which means “and each, every, all, the whole and everyone who”
“believes”
which means “is persuaded, places confidence in and thinks to be
true” “on
him”
or “on Jesus God's Son” “shall
not be ashamed”
which means “will in no way and never be dishonored, disgraced,
shamed and suffer repulse”. Paul shared how those who believe in
Jesus Christ as the Messiah will never have need to be “shamed,
dishonored or disgraced”.
When
we meditate upon these words of Paul, we see how he
referred to Isaiah chapter twenty-eight and verse sixteen, “Behold,
I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious
corner stone,
a sure foundation: he that believes shall not make haste” to
demonstrate how God has kept His word concerning the “Jews and the
Gentiles”. God gave Jesus to Israel first, and then to the
Gentiles, however, they rejected Jesus as the Messiah, and He became
a “stumbling-stone”
to them. God offers His Son Jesus to everyone today, and yet, to
many, He becomes the same “stumbling-stone
and rock of offense”
to them. Jesus desires to “save”
people, but if they reject His offer, they have tripped and fallen
over the only way to eternal salvation.
Next
time we
begin a new chapter and see Paul tell his readers what is his,
“heart's
desire and prayer to God for Israel”,
so
read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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