the Week of Proper 20 / Ordinary 25
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Romans 11:4
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Don't forget God's reply. "Don't think for a minute you know what's happening Elijah. I still have over seven thousand cowboys who haven't bent the knee to Baal!"
But what is the divine response to him? "I HAVE KEPT for Myself SEVEN THOUSAND MEN WHO HAVE NOT BOWED THE KNEE TO BAAL."
But what does the divine response say to him? "I have left for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal."
But what answer does God make to him? I have still seven thousand men whose knees have not been bent to Baal.
But what says the divine answer to him? I have left to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed knee to Baal.
But what was God's reply to him? I have left 7,000 men for Myself who have not bowed down to Baal.
But how does God answer him? "I have reserved for myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to Baal."
But what saith the answer of God to him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to Baal.
But what did God say to him in reply? "I have reserved for Myself 7,000 men who have never bent the knee to Baal."
But what saieth the answere of God vnto him? I haue reserued to my selfe seuen thousand men, who haue not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.
But what does the Divine answer say to him, "I reserved to Myself seven thousand men who did not bow a knee to Baal." 1 Kg. 19:18
But what sayeth the answere of God vnto him? I haue reserued vnto me seuen thousande men, which haue not bowed their knee before Baal.
but what said the oracle to him? "I have reserved to my self seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to Baal."
The Loyal Minority Does this mean, then, that God is so fed up with Israel that he'll have nothing more to do with them? Hardly. Remember that I, the one writing these things, am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham out of the tribe of Benjamin. You can't get much more Semitic than that! So we're not talking about repudiation. God has been too long involved with Israel, has too much invested, to simply wash his hands of them. Do you remember that time Elijah was agonizing over this same Israel and cried out in prayer? God, they murdered your prophets, They trashed your altars; I'm the only one left and now they're after me! And do you remember God's answer? I still have seven thousand who haven't quit, Seven thousand who are loyal to the finish. It's the same today. There's a fiercely loyal minority still—not many, perhaps, but probably more than you think. They're holding on, not because of what they think they're going to get out of it, but because they're convinced of God's grace and purpose in choosing them. If they were only thinking of their own immediate self-interest, they would have left long ago. And then what happened? Well, when Israel tried to be right with God on her own, pursuing her own self-interest, she didn't succeed. The chosen ones of God were those who let God pursue his interest in them, and as a result received his stamp of legitimacy. The "self-interest Israel" became thick-skinned toward God. Moses and Isaiah both commented on this: Fed up with their quarrelsome, self-centered ways, God blurred their eyes and dulled their ears, Shut them in on themselves in a hall of mirrors, and they're there to this day. David was upset about the same thing: I hope they get sick eating self-serving meals, break a leg walking their self-serving ways. I hope they go blind staring in their mirrors, get ulcers from playing at god. The next question is, "Are they down for the count? Are they out of this for good?" And the answer is a clear-cut No. Ironically when they walked out, they left the door open and the outsiders walked in. But the next thing you know, the Jews were starting to wonder if perhaps they had walked out on a good thing. Now, if their leaving triggered this worldwide coming of non-Jewish outsiders to God's kingdom, just imagine the effect of their coming back! What a homecoming! But I don't want to go on about them. It's you, the outsiders, that I'm concerned with now. Because my personal assignment is focused on the so-called outsiders, I make as much of this as I can when I'm among my Israelite kin, the so-called insiders, hoping they'll realize what they're missing and want to get in on what God is doing. If their falling out initiated this worldwide coming together, their recovery is going to set off something even better: mass homecoming! If the first thing the Jews did, even though it was wrong for them, turned out for your good, just think what's going to happen when they get it right! Behind and underneath all this there is a holy, God-planted, God-tended root. If the primary root of the tree is holy, there's bound to be some holy fruit. Some of the tree's branches were pruned and you wild olive shoots were grafted in. Yet the fact that you are now fed by that rich and holy root gives you no cause to crow over the pruned branches. Remember, you aren't feeding the root; the root is feeding you. It's certainly possible to say, "Other branches were pruned so that I could be grafted in!" Well and good. But they were pruned because they were deadwood, no longer connected by belief and commitment to the root. The only reason you're on the tree is because your graft "took" when you believed, and because you're connected to that belief-nurturing root. So don't get cocky and strut your branch. Be humbly mindful of the root that keeps you lithe and green. If God didn't think twice about taking pruning shears to the natural branches, why would he hesitate over you? He wouldn't give it a second thought. Make sure you stay alert to these qualities of gentle kindness and ruthless severity that exist side by side in God—ruthless with the deadwood, gentle with the grafted shoot. But don't presume on this gentleness. The moment you become deadwood, you're out of there. And don't get to feeling superior to those pruned branches down on the ground. If they don't persist in remaining deadwood, they could very well get grafted back in. God can do that. He can perform miracle grafts. Why, if he could graft you—branches cut from a tree out in the wild—into an orchard tree, he certainly isn't going to have any trouble grafting branches back into the tree they grew from in the first place. Just be glad you're in the tree, and hope for the best for the others. I want to lay all this out on the table as clearly as I can, friends. This is complicated. It would be easy to misinterpret what's going on and arrogantly assume that you're royalty and they're just rabble, out on their ears for good. But that's not it at all. This hardness on the part of insider Israel toward God is temporary. Its effect is to open things up to all the outsiders so that we end up with a full house. Before it's all over, there will be a complete Israel. As it is written, A champion will stride down from the mountain of Zion; he'll clean house in Jacob. And this is my commitment to my people: removal of their sins. From your point of view as you hear and embrace the good news of the Message, it looks like the Jews are God's enemies. But looked at from the long-range perspective of God's overall purpose, they remain God's oldest friends. God's gifts and God's call are under full warranty—never canceled, never rescinded. There was a time not so long ago when you were on the outs with God. But then the Jews slammed the door on him and things opened up for you. Now they are on the outs. But with the door held wide open for you, they have a way back in. In one way or another, God makes sure that we all experience what it means to be outside so that he can personally open the door and welcome us back in. Have you ever come on anything quite like this extravagant generosity of God, this deep, deep wisdom? It's way over our heads. We'll never figure it out. Is there anyone around who can explain God? Anyone smart enough to tell him what to do? Anyone who has done him such a huge favor that God has to ask his advice? Everything comes from him; Everything happens through him; Everything ends up in him. Always glory! Always praise! Yes. Yes. Yes.
But what is God's response to him? "I HAVE KEPT for Myself SEVEN THOUSAND MEN WHO HAVE NOT BOWED THE KNEE TO BAAL."
But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have left for myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to Baal.
But what is God's reply to him? "I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Ba'al."
But what sayth the answer of god to him agayne? I have reserved vnto me seven thousande men which have not bowed the knee to Baal.
But what does the answer of God say to him? I have left for myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to Baal.
But what saith the answer of God to him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to Baal.
but what saith the divine answer to him? `I left to Myself seven thousand men, who did not bow a knee to Baal.'
But what answer did God give Elijah? He said, "But I have left seven thousand people in Israel who have never bowed down before Baal."
But what was the divine response to him? " I have kept for myself seven thousand people who have not bent the knee to Baal ."
And what was the divine reply to him? "I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal."
But the Lord told Elijah, "I still have seven thousand followers who have not worshiped Baal."
But what is God's answer to him? "I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not knelt down to Ba‘al."
But what is God's reply to him? "I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal."
But what saith the answere of God to him? I haue reserued vnto my selfe seuen thousand men, which haue not bowed the knee to Baal.
And it was said to him in a vision: Behold I have reserved for myself seven thousand men, who have not knelt on their knees to worship Baal.
But how does God answer him? "I have reserved for myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to Ba`al."
But what was the divine reply to him? "I have reserved for myself 7,000 people who have not knelt to worship Baal."1 Kings 19:18">[fn]1 Kings 19:18;">[xr]
And it was said to him by revelation, Behold, I have left to myself seven thousand men, who upon their knees have not kneeled nor worshipped Baal.
And it was said to him, by revelation: Behold, I have reserved for myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed their knees, and have not worshipped Baal.
But what does the divine response say to him? "I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal." 1 Kings 19:18">[fn]
But what did God say to him? God said, "I still have 7,000 men. None of them have worshiped the false god Baal."
But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have left for myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to Baal.
But what is the divine reply to him? "I have kept for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal."
But what saith unto him the response? I have left for myself seven thousand men, who, indeed, have not bowed a knee unto Baal.
But what saith the divine answer to him? I have left me seven thousand men that have not bowed their knees to Baal.
But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.
But what does the divine response say to him? "I have left for myself seven thousand people who have not bent the knee to Baal."
But what sayth the aunswere of God vnto hym? I haue reserued vnto my selfe seuen thousande men, which haue not bowed the knee to [ye image of] Baal.
But what answer did God give to Elijah? God said, "I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have never given worship to Baal."
But what is the divine response to him? "I HAVE KEPT for Myself SEVEN THOUSAND MEN WHO HAVE NOT BOWED THE KNEE TO BAAL."
What answer did God give him? "I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not worshiped the false god Baal."
But what seith Goddis answere to hym? Y haue left to me seuene thousyndes of men, that han not bowid her knees bifore Baal.
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
I have reserved: 1 Kings 19:18
Baal: Numbers 25:3, Deuteronomy 4:3, Judges 2:13, 1 Kings 16:31, 2 Kings 10:19, 2 Kings 10:20, Jeremiah 19:5, Hosea 2:8, Hosea 13:1, Zephaniah 1:4
Reciprocal: Isaiah 1:9 - a very Isaiah 4:2 - them that are escaped Isaiah 17:6 - General Isaiah 45:23 - That unto Jeremiah 3:14 - one of a city Ezekiel 12:16 - I will Hosea 13:2 - kiss Amos 3:12 - so shall Micah 5:3 - then Micah 7:18 - the remnant Zephaniah 3:13 - remnant Zechariah 3:2 - a brand Mark 15:19 - and bowing Luke 17:34 - two Acts 28:24 - General Romans 9:17 - For Romans 9:27 - a remnant Philippians 2:10 - every Hebrews 3:16 - not Hebrews 10:24 - to provoke Revelation 3:4 - even
Cross-References
In those days, and for some time after, giant Nephilites lived on the earth, for whenever the sons of God had intercourse with women, they gave birth to children who became the heroes and famous warriors of ancient times.
In that way, the Lord scattered them all over the world, and they stopped building the city.
That is why the city was called Babel, because that is where the Lord confused the people with different languages. In this way he scattered them all over the world.
After the birth of Arphaxad, Shem lived another 500 years and had other sons and daughters.
After the birth of Shelah, Arphaxad lived another 403 years and had other sons and daughters.
Where can we go? Our brothers have demoralized us with their report. They tell us, "The people of the land are taller and more powerful than we are, and their towns are large, with walls rising high into the sky! We even saw giants there—the descendants of Anak!"'
For the Lord will scatter you among the nations, where only a few of you will survive.
"Listen, O Israel! Today you are about to cross the Jordan River to take over the land belonging to nations much greater and more powerful than you. They live in cities with walls that reach to the sky!
So David became even more famous when he returned from destroying 18,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt.
Your enemies, Lord , will surely perish; all evildoers will be scattered.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
But what saith the answer of God unto him?.... The divine response, or oracle, the בת קול, "Bath Kol", or voice from heaven; the still small voice of the Lord, which Elijah heard, 1 Kings 19:12:
I have reserved to myself; for his worship and service, to be partakers of his grace, inheritors of his kingdom, to show forth his praise, and for his name's sake, for his honour and glory: these he reserved in eternal election, in the council and covenant of peace; separated them in time from others by his grace, and preserved them from the general defection and apostasy: even
seven thousand men: meaning either that precise and exact number, which was but small in comparison of the very large multitude of persons that were in the ten tribes, or else a certain number for an uncertain:
who have not bowed the knee; a sign of reverence and adoration:
to [the image] of Baal; Jezebel's god, the god of the Zidonians; a name common to many of the "deities" of the Gentiles, and signifies "lord", or "master"; we read of "Baalim" in the plural number, for there were "lords many" of this name: in the Greek text the article is of the feminine gender, wherefore our translators have supplied the word image. This word has, in the Septuagint version, sometimes a feminine article as here; see 2 Kings 21:3; but in 1 Kings 19:18, from whence this passage is taken, the article is masculine, as it is also in Judges 2:11, and in other places. This deity being either of both sexes, or of no distinguished sex; or it may be, the reason it has so often a feminine article is, because it was a young heifer, or in the form of one; so in the history of Tobias 1:5, it is said, that "all the tribes which apostatized together sacrificed",
τη βααλ τη δαμαλει, "to Baal the heifer". The apostle's view in mentioning this instance is to show, that when the church and cause of God are at the lowest, God has always some true worshippers of him; and that he never casts away his foreknown people, whose numbers are generally more than they are thought to be by the saints themselves; good men, as Elijah, may be mistaken in this matter; all which he accommodates to the then present state of God's people, in Romans 11:5.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
The answer of God - ὁ χρηματισμός ho chrēmatismos. This word is used no where else in the New Testament. It means an oracle, a divine response. It does not indicate the manner in which it was done, but implies only that it was an oracle, or answer made to his complaint by God. Such an answer, at such a time, would be full of comfort, and silence every complaint. The way in which this answer was in fact given, was not in a storm, or an earthquake, but in a still, small voice; 1 Kings 19:11-12.
I have reserved - The Hebrew is, “I have caused to remain,” or to be reserved. This shows that it was of God that this was done. Amidst the general corruption and idolatry he had restrained a part, though it was a remnant. The honor of having done it he claims for himself, and does not trace it to any goodness or virtue in them. So in the case of all those who are saved from sin and ruin, the honor belongs not to man, but to God.
To myself - For my own service and glory. I have kept them steadfast in my worship, and have not suffered them to become idolaters.
Seven thousand men - Seven is often used in the Scriptures to denote an indefinite or round number. Perhaps it may be so here, to intimate that there was a considerable number remaining. This should lead us to hope that even in the darkest times in the church, there may be many more friends of God than we suppose. Elijah supposed he was alone; and yet at that moment there were thousands who were the true friends of God; a small number, indeed, compared with the multitude of idolaters; but large when compared with what was supposed to be remaining by the dejected and disheartened prophet.
Who have not bowed the knee - To bow or bend the knee is an expression denoting worship; Philippians 2:10; Ephesians 3:14; Isaiah 45:23.
To Baal - The word “Baal” in Hebrew means Lord, or Master. This was the name of an idol of the Phenicians and Canaanites, and was worshipped also by the Assyrians and Babylonians under the name of Bel; (compare the Book of Bel in the Apocrypha.) This god was represented under the image of a bull, or a calf; the one denoting the Sun, the other the Moon. The prevalent worship in the time of Elijah was that of this idol.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Romans 11:4. But what saith the answer of God — The answer which God made assured him that there were seven thousand, that is, several or many thousands; for so we must understand the word seven, a certain for an uncertain number. These had continued faithful to God; but, because of Jezebel's persecution, they were obliged to conceal their attachment to the true religion; and God, in his providence, preserved them from her sanguinary rage.
Who have not bowed the knee — Baal was the god of Jezebel; or, in other words, his worship was then the worship of the state; but there were several thousands of pious Israelites who had not acknowledged this idol, and did not partake in the idolatrous worship.
