Lessons From Elijah and David
Romans 11:1-10
Paul exhorted the Israelites by bringing to remembrance their running after other gods and now encourages them in the fact that God will do His work. It is amazing that God actually spoke to Paul but it is more amazing how He spoke to Paul. God showed Himself to Paul in the form of a bright, blinding light and actually spoke in a verbal voice instructing Paul proving that Jesus Christ was the Messiah. Paul was vigorously persecuting the Christ followers because he thought that Christ was a phony. Now, God Himself speaks to Paul and tells him that Christ is indeed His Son and He should be served not persecuted. This also gives credence to the fact that the Jews are special to God. God had only spoken to the Jews in this fashion and even at that, He had not spoken like that for over 400 years.
Now Paul gets into the life of two people that God used greatly and he tries to teach the Jews, and us, a couple of important facts. First, Elijah, vs. 2-4, I Kings 19, was a great man but had an issue with feeling as if God had abandoned him. Are you there? Elijah felt that he was the only one serving God and that God was not there. He was rebuked and it cost him dearly.
Secondly, there is a remnant. In other words, God is not done, He knows what He is doing, and God is in control. God leaves a remnant of perfect size though small it may seem at times and He watches over them.
Lastly, Paul uses David to remind them that God will bless them. Paul quotes one of the most known messianic psalms that the Jews would know well. God will deliver His people from evil if they seek Him. So, where is your faith? Do you trust God or are you giving up on Him?