John Stott - The Place of Israel

 

The Place of Israel

by John Stott [1]

Rector Emeritus,  All Souls Church, London, England

Our topic has been announced as “The Place of Israel,” and the topic that has been set for us is an object lesson in biblical hermeneutics as it’s usually called in the principles of interpreting the Bible.  But I would like to remind you right at the beginning that there are at least four ways in which the word “Israel,” whose place we are to investigate, can be used.

One:     Israel was that devious scoundrel, the second son of Isaac, whose first name was Jacob – meaning “he who deceived or he who struggles,” who amply lived up to his name – but whom God renames “Israel,” because having struggled with men all his life, he at last came to struggle with God for the blessing he needed (a blessing to which he was not entitled).

Two:     Israel is the chosen people of the Old Testament days – the 12 tribes descended from the 12 sons of Jacob called the children of Israel, because Israel (or Jacob) was a common ancestor.

Three:   Israel is the messianic community – the people of Jesus – the true descendents of Abraham because they share Abraham’s faith.  This includes Gentiles like most of us if we believe in Jesus, but excludes Jews who don’t.  When Paul ended his letter to the Galatians, “Peace and mercy upon the Israel of God,” he was referring to believers in Jesus, whatever their ethnic origin.  So Israel is the messianic community.

Four:    Israel today, for many people if you read the newspapers, is the Israeli nation, promised a national home by the Balfour Declaration of 1917 and given it in 1948.

So Israel has four meaning.  It means Jacob.  It means Jews.  It means Christians.  And it means Israelis.  And that is just the problem when you are asked who you are talking about.

To read further click HERE.

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1. John Stott was ordained into the ministry of the Church of England in 1945. He served as the senior pastor (rector) of All Souls Church in London from 1950-1975. He became Rector Emeritus in 1975 and devoted his life to a ministry of teaching worldwide, and writing.  Stott has written over 40 books. His best known, “Basic Christianity”, has been translated into more than 50 languages. Other titles include “The Cross of Christ,” The Contemporary Christian,”  “ Evangelical Truth,” “New Issues Facing Christians Today,” and eight New Testament expositions.

You Can Do Anything. (Not You .... God!)

Four Horns and Four Craftsmen

Zechariah 1:18–21 (NIV),

¹⁸ Then I looked up, and there before me were four horns. ¹⁹ I asked the angel who was speaking to me, “What are these?” He answered me, “These are the horns that scattered Judah, Israel and Jerusalem.” ²⁰ Then the Lord showed me four craftsmen. ²¹ I asked, “What are these coming to do?” He answered, “These are the horns that scattered Judah so that no one could raise their head, but the craftsmen have come to terrify them and throw down these horns of the nations who lifted up their horns against the land of Judah to scatter its people.”

In this vision Zechariah sees four horns that are interpreted by the angel as those which scattered Israel; and the arrival of four craftsman that come and throw down these horns.  The horns are symbols of strength, usually military strength or kingdoms.  "The four craftsmen come to overthrow the power of the nations. This is symbolic of God’s judgment coming on the nations that have persecuted His people, a fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham that He would curse those who cursed Abraham’s descendants (Gen. 12:3)." [1]  The number 4 has a unique biblical meaning. Essentially is speaks of God's works.  So the meaning of the four horns and the four craftsman are that all are ultimately ordained by God. For a correct understanding of what I mean by "ordain" click HERE. 

There is much debate over who these four are.  One of the helpful notes is offered by The Believer's Bible Commentary:

"As the “horn” often represents a Gentile king (cf. Dan. 7:24; Rev. 17:12), the “four horns” allude either to the four empires spoken of by Daniel—Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome (cf. Dan 2:31–45; 7:3–28) or to the earlier powers of Assyria, Egypt, Babylon, and Medo-Persia." [2] 

Who are the four craftsmen?  They certainly are four nations ordained to deal with the oppressors of Israel.  Historically, from our vantage point they appear to be Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome and ultimately Christ.[3]  Why do I believe that the last "craftsman" to vindicate God's people is Christ?  I take that from another prophecy -- the prophecy of Daniel.  In Daniel 2:31-45, Daniel prophecies 5 coming kingdoms including the Babylonian captivity.  The fifth kingdom is the Kingdom of God.

““In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever.” (Daniel 2:44, NIV)

So Zechariah's prophecy ends up looking like this: 

THE HORNS	THE CRAFTSMAN
Babylon	Medo-Persian
Medo-Persia	Greece
Greece	Rome
Rome	Christ

  

Christ, then is the ultimate "Craftsman."   The carpenter's son from Galilee is destined to establish a Kingdom.  A Kingdom with no end.

So quite clearly the main point is that those whom God ordains to bring judgment on His people; He also ordains to bring into judgment those He ordained to scourge His people!   As noted in Isaiah 10:5,12 (NIV),

⁵ “Woe to the Assyrian, the rod of my anger, in whose hand is the club of my wrath! ¹² When the Lord has finished all his work against Mount Zion and Jerusalem, he will say, “I will punish the king of Assyria for the willful pride of his heart and the haughty look in his eyes.

John Calvin eloquently discussed this work of God in the mammoth work: Institutes of Christian Religion. You can read his chapter on this HERE. However the essence of this Vision is summarized well in this statement: "This is symbolic of God’s judgment coming on the nations that have persecuted His people, a fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham that He would curse those who cursed Abraham’s descendants (Gen. 12:3)." [4]

The Abrahamic Covenant will stand the test of time.  Ultimately, as noted above, Christ will come and deal with all the enemies of His covenant people.  "When God has work to do he will raise up some to do it and others to defend it and protect those that are employed in the doing of it." [5]  As Job said of God, ““I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted.” (Job 42:2, NIV). 

Of Jesus Christ, the writer to the Hebrews said,   “Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.” (Hebrews 2:14–15, NIV).

Father, I am reminded that we do not put our trust in chariots, nor in horses.  Father we don't put our trust in human kingdoms and earthly kings.  Father, Your Son and our Redeemer is the One who will fulfill this prophecy. He will bring judgment on the seed of the Serpent.  He will vindicate the seed of the woman.  He will do it in a way that even uses these wicked people to serve His purposes. He will do it in a way that in no way renders Him impeachable.  We await the One who has come and is coming to make all things new and right.  Until then, Father, grant the grace of Your Spirit that we would be sustained, encouraged and patient.  These are wicked days.  Your Church is under great assault.  But vengeance is Yours.  In that we rest for we know that all this is for the glory of Your Son and the eternal joy of Your people. Amen.

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1. Whitlock, L. G., Sproul, R. C., Waltke, B. K., & Silva, M. (1995). The Reformation study Bible: Bringing the light of the Reformation to Scripture: New King James Version (Zec 1:21). Nashville: T. Nelson.

2. Believer’s Study Bible. 1991 (W. A. Criswell, P. Patterson, E. R. Clendenen, D. L. Akin, M. Chamberlin, D. K. Patterson & J. Pogue, Ed.) (electronic ed.) (Zec 1:18). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

3. KJV Bible Commentary. 1994 (E. E. Hindson & W. M. Kroll, Ed.) (1800). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

4. Whitlock, L. G., Sproul, R. C., Waltke, B. K., & Silva, M. (1995). The Reformation study Bible: Bringing the light of the Reformation to Scripture: New King James Version (Zec 1:21). Nashville: T. Nelson.

5. Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: Complete and unabridged in one volume (1570). Peabody: Hendrickson.