THE CONSOLATION OF ISRAEL
( Concern for National Israel )
God decreed a covenant; a covenant of works,
on Sinai He gave it to man:
Obey the Law, from it righteousness draw,
- be saved by it if you can.
We labored and cried, and from it we tried,
to earn our favor with God.
We strained and strived, in failure we sighed,
- and felt the disfavor of His rod.
After many years through sorrow and tears,
we discovered our nature too foul.
Our confidence gone, we moved out alone,
- ran to an idol named Baal.
He too, was severe, filled us with fear;
demanded our children to take.
This was for naught, no righteousness it brought,
- so him, we too, did forsake.
On return to our land, we dealt with a man,
many people worship as Deity.
He taught mercy and grace; withstood us to face,
- was nailed to a Roman tree.
After the dispersion of all, denying Adam's fall,
our leaders placed our trust in man.
Utopia to build, by the strength of our will,
- find satisfaction in life as we can.
Doomed to fail, we helped make a Humanist hell,
with torture as never before.
Workers paradise gone, its doctrine all wrong,
- salvation's not there anymore.
Some men claim, to our “perceived” shame,
that Messiah was the one crucified.
But, they're common folk, without credentials of note,
- and are quiet easily stupefied.
Surely we, the learned, can readily discern,
by reasoned, scholarly analysee.
We're not easily fooled, as a general rule,
- and we have an historic pedigree.
Yet, if Abraham’s promised seed, was singular indeed,
reason demands Messiah be so too.
Then, our Zionist claim, to National Messianic fame,
- is just another fanciful bugaboo.
Should we look anew at him whom we slew,
determine if his claims could have merit:
The Prophets shed light on a Messiah in type;
- shall we see if the scriptures declare it?
In the Genesis of old, a wonderful story is told,
of a singular birth - miraculous.
The woman’s seed (Virgo), a virgin shall conceive,
- calling him Immanuel (God with us)
Did Adam’s fig leaf portray his work in brief;
the attempt, his sinfulness to cover:
While the “blood sacrificed skin”, atoned the sin;
- covering it rightly all over?
Cain’s works of his will, “the best from his field,”
could not win him God’s favor.
Was Abel’s sacrifice, a “type” of Christ’s strife,
- to God, a sweet smelling savor?
The “provided” Ram, replacing the damned;
Abraham saw this parallel.
Did Christ, sacrifice give, for sinners to live,
- sparing them a deserved hell?
Hosea redeemed, a shameful, unfaithful thing,
paying the price that was due.
Gomer, prisoner of sin - Hosea, her freedom to win;
- is this what Christ came to do?
Joseph, you know - with the colorful clothes,
was wrongly abused by his brethren.
But, the pain he went through, though they never knew,
- resulted in their natural salvation.
Is, "When I see blood, I'll pass over you", Metaphoric too:
is this, Christ's passion being shown?
The Egyptians paid the price, with a useless sacrifice;
- they had no savior to atone.
Of the bones in the valley, lets make a short tally;
did the wind bring life - or prophesying?
They used not their will, in that lifeless field;
- it was the Spirit’s own devising.
The blood of the sacrificial Goat, - Israel's great hope,
seems (spotless) a "sign" of perfection.
The ancients shed light on a Redeemer of might,
- bestowing a sinless connection!
Does the Christian life, “typed” in Israel's Sinai strife;
show Moses to be Christ's shadow?
He led them well, made intercession when they fell,
- brought them to Canaan's bright meadow.
Could extremities in the past, of Israel be cast,
to reveal a new covenant future:
Where wisdom and light, come not by natural sight,
- but are granted by Spiritual nurture?
If Christ was a King, being predestined to reign,
over an eternal kingdom -
It couldn't be carnal, for that's not eternal,
- but a Spiritual one, say some.
My confusion is great, as is all Israel's of late,
while we wonder in great exasperation.
Oh, where is our peace, when shall the warfare cease,
- oh, God where is our consolation?
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"Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name “Immanuel”(God with us) Isaiah 7:14
"Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made, He sayeth not to seeds, as of many; but as of one, and to thy seed, which is Christ.” Galatians 3:16
“And, if you be Christ's then are ye Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise.”
Galatians 3:29
"God will provide HIMSELF a lamb for a burnt offering... " Genesis 22:8
"...when I see the blood I will pass over you..." Exodus 12:13
" Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.” Ezekiel 37:9
" ...Go yet, love a woman beloved of her friend, yet an adulteress, according to the love of the LORD toward the children of Israel,...”Hosea 3:1a
" But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good...” Genesis 50:20
1Cor.4:7 “For who maketh you to differ from another, and what hast thou that thou didst not receive”?
Rom.10:1 “Brethren, my hearts desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved.”
Job 19:25 “ I know that my redeemer liveth”.
Isa. 53 and 54:17 ( Proofs of Christ,s passion and substitutionary atonement in the old Testament,- of which there are many.)
Lionel