How are Christians to “provoke them (Jews) to Jealousy”? -2

  For this tidbit, I will continue to use Derek Prince’s book ‘The Key to the Middle East’ to show how Christians ought to treat Jews using the model of Jeremiah 31. On page 121, Derek Prince offers four action items for Christians “to provoke them (Jews) to jealousy” in order to fulfill Romans 11:11: 1.to praise; 2.to proclaim; 3.to pray, and 4.to comfort. In this tidbit series, I endeavor to answer the question: how should Christians treat Jews?
  Last time I examined Prince’s first point: 1.to praise. Today, let’s look at point 2:
 
2.To Proclaim:
Jeremiah 31:10: “Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock.”
 
First, notice ‘to’ whom this passage is addressed: “O ye nations”! In Jeremiah 31:10, God is giving a commandment, not to 'a' nation, but to the world's nations! In other words, this passage teaches how God expects the NATIONS of the world---not just Christians--to treat Israel!!! So, God will hold the nations and the Christians in those nations accountable to this passage!
   The first phrase of Jeremiah 31:10 is evidence of God’s expectations: “Hear the word of the Lord…” God commands the nations of the world---as well as Christians--to hear His word!!!
  The next phrase in 31:10: “declare it in the isles afar off” reveals the location where the “nations”, and their Christians are to make their declarations/proclamations: “the isles afar off”!
  The Hebrew word for “declare” is nagad.* I love its first definition: “stand boldly out opposite”. In other words, at the command of the Sovereign God, the ‘nations of the world’ are instructed to make a bold, unashamed declaration….’FOR’ Israel!
  Considering the political climate of the world today with its obvious hatred towards Israel, it is a sign from God that Strong’s Concordance used the phrase “stand boldly out opposite” as one of its entries. In other words, in the providence of God, the writer of Strong’s Concordance, which is merely a simple Hebrew/Greek dictionary---and obviously without any foreknowledge of how the word nagad would apply to this present day—offered “stand boldly out opposite” as its first definition! When the Holy Spirit inspired ‘nagad’ in Jeremiah 31:10 over 2500 years ago, the only Sovereign God perfectly understood the conditions for ‘nagad’s’ application to Israel…in this day!!
  Therefore, for a nation or a Christian to obey Jeremiah 31:10’s injunction: “to declare”, or ‘To Proclaim’--- on behalf of Israel---according to Strong’s Concordance, it will require that nation or individual to “stand boldly”! Why? Because Israel has been identified as THE enemy in this day! Therefore, to stand in favor of what nearly the whole world detests requires great courage, as those who hate Israel begin to hate you!
  Yet, another confirmation of this fact is the last two words “out opposite”. These last two words of Strong’s phrase “stand boldly out opposite” indicate that what the nations--including Christians--will have to “stand boldly” on behalf of, will be the opposite of everyone else! I repeat, this reveals that only the very courageous will be able to obey Jeremiah 31:10!
  Finally, ‘what’ God instructs the nations to declare “in the isles afar off” is the climax, and THEEEE reason the nations (and Christians) that choose to obey Jeremiah 31:10 will be so strongly opposed, i.e.hated. The text clearly says God commands the nations to proclaim: “He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock”!!!
   WOW!!! This is prophecy! It is a special Word from God, not only instructing what the Gentile nations should proclaim but it is also a prediction of what God will do in the latter day ‘for’ Israel!!! This phrase teaches:
1.God judged Israel and scattered them. This refers to the diaspora in
135 AD when Bar Kochba declared himself to be the Jewish Messiah,
and raised up an army to fight the Romans. The Romans slaughtered
over 1 million Jews, and scattered many other Jews into the nations
of the world---which is now known as ‘The Diaspora’.
2.Because God made a “forever” covenant (2Sam7:22-24; Ps105:6-11)
with Israel, the same God that scattered the Jews in judgment will
re-gather them to fulfill His covenant. Of course, this began
with the re-gathering of the Jews into their own nation in 1948.
 
  In other words, this magnificent prophecy of Jeremiah31:10 not only instructs the nations** what to “To Proclaim”, i.e.“to declare”, but the ‘scattering and regathering’ aspect of this prophecy is a sign (Gen1:14; Heb2:4) that directly connects historical Israel to the modern state of Israel, which began in 1948…to the Providence of God! I repeat, God sovereignly scattered Israel, and God sovereignly regathered Israel!!! Christians must include this truth as part of our proclamation of the gospel to the world!! AND…this is the reason God instructed the Great Commission…“to the Jew first”!!!
  Incredibly, God has given the nations---which must include the Christians in those nations—this great mandate to tell the world of this great prophecy! But this is not yet the end of Jeremiah 31:10. The final phrase declares: “and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock.” Prince writes, “In the closing section of the proclamation, Jeremiah says that the Lord will also “watch over his flock like a shepherd.” The word translated “watch” over also means “keep” or “guard.” Here is further confirmation that this second regathering of Israel will not be something temporary or transient. Once God has gathered them, He will continue to watch over and protect them. As their Shepherd, He will accept responsibility for their permanent security and well-being.” (pg 126)
  WOW!!! Tragically, over the centuries, so far has the church missed this aspect of our great calling…to the Jew first!!! May God yet have mercy!!!
 
*nâgad, naw-gad´; a prim. root; prop. to front, i.e. stand boldly out opposite; by impl. (causat.), to manifest; fig. to announce (always by word of mouth to one present); spec. to expose, predict, explain, praise:—bewray, × certainly, certify, declare (-ing), denounce, expound, × fully, messenger, plainly, profess, rehearse, report, shew (forth), speak, × surely, tell, utter. -Strong’s
**and of course Christians
 
 
Quotebit
Creativity is birthed and flourishes only in an atmosphere of the reality of an infinite God, Who exists as more than enough.   -Derrick Jackson