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CONVERSION OF THE JEWS GRADUAL
THE conversion of the Jews has till of late occupied a very small portion of attention in the Christian world: and even at this moment a sad indifference towards it too generally prevails. Notwithstanding the prophecies relating to it are so clear, the subject is scarcely ever brought before a Christian audience; and notwithstanding it is inseparably connected with the conversion of the Gentile world, it is overlooked for the most part as an event in which we have no interest. Degraded as the Jews are, God still declares, that “they are beloved of him for their fathers’ sakes:” but by us, who are indebted to their fathers for all the light that we enjoy, they are neglected and despised, as though their souls were of no value. This unconcern for their welfare is even justified by us, from a mistaken notion that God will in some miraculous way effect their conversion suddenly, and without the intervention of human means. But, whilst the prophecy before us serves to correct that error, it encourages us to exert ourselves in their behalf, and to expect that our labour shall not be in vain in the Lord.
In it we see,
I. The mercy reserved for the Jewish people—
That “they shall be gathered” from their dispersion, and “worship the Lord in the holy mount at Jerusalem,” is certain: and,
1. It may well be thought that this shall be accomplished literally—
[There are even amongst wise and good men some who doubt whether the Jews shall literally be restored to their own land; and therefore I would spook with diffidence respecting it: but I confess that in my opinion the declarations of God respecting it are so strong and numerous, that I should scarcely know what to believe on the authority of Scripture, if I did not believe that. I will however content myself with mentioning only two passages; which yet, I consider as clearly determining the point. Moses, in one of his last addresses to the Jews, tells them, that if by their iniquities they should provoke God to drive them out of the land of Canaan, and to scatter them among the nations, yet he would, on their repentance, “have compassion on them, and gather them from all the nations whither they were scattered; yea, though they should be driven out unto the uttermost parts of heaven, even from thence would the Lord fetch them, and bring them again into the land which their fathers possessed; and do them good there, and multiply them above their fathers [Note: Deu_30:1-5.].” This was never verified at their return from Babylon, since they were not brought “from the uttermost parts of heaven,” but almost exclusively from Babylon; nor did they ever afterwards become near so numerous, as they had been under David and Solomon. The other passage to which I will call your attention is taken from the Prophet Zechariah, who wrote after their return from Babylon. Extremely particular is the prophet in stating the populousness and prosperity of the nation at the period of their final return to their own land from their present dispersion: that “old men and old women should dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, every man walking with his staff in his hand for very age, whilst the streets should be full of boys and girls playing in them [Note: Zec_8:3-5.].” If it be inquired what period is there referred to, we are told, that it should be “when ten men out of all languages of the nations should take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you; for we have heard that God is with you [Note: Zec_8:23.].” When, I would ask, was this ever fulfilled? When were the Jews ever so high in favour with all the nations of the earth? At no past period assuredly: but they shall be at a future season, even at that season when God shall interpose to reestablish them in the land from whence they have been driven out. But, however this may be,]
2. It is confessed by all, that it shall be spiritually fulfilled—
[The Christian Church is called “Mount Zion, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem,” to which all true believers are come [Note: Heb_12:22.]. And to it shall the Jewish people also come in due season. Scattered as they now are, and at the utmost possible distance from Christianity, the time is coming, when “the good Shepherd will seek and search them out, and bring them into his fold, and cause them to feed upon the mountains of Israel [Note: Eze_34:11-14.].” Then, says God, “I will set up one Shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; and he shall feed them, and be their shepherd. And I the Lord will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them: I the Lord have spoken it [Note: Eze_34:23-24.].” Let this be compared with what the Prophet Hosea says to the same effect; and no doubt can remain, either respecting whom it is spoken, or at what period it is to be accomplished [Note: Hos_3:5.]. Were we to take from the Old Testament all the passages which speak to the same purpose, we should transcribe no inconsiderable portion of the prophetic writings. But this is unnecessary, since there is not any one who believes the Scriptures, who does not believe that the Jews shall at a future period be converted to the faith of Christ, and acknowledge him as their Messiah. Yet we must on no account pass over the testimony of St. Paul, who occupies one entire chapter with this subject; assuring us, that there is yet among the Jews “a remnant according to the election of grace [Note: Rom_11:6.];” that “they shall again be graffed on their own olive-tree, from which for our sakes (though for their own transgressions) they have been broken off:” and that as their temporary rejection from the Church of God has been the means of introducing the Gentiles into it, so shall their restoration to it be an infinitely richer blessing to the Gentiles than ever their rejection was, being to the whole Gentile world “as life from the dead [Note: Rom_11:12; Rom_11:15; Rom_11:19-20; Rom_11:24.].”]
Regarding then the bestowment of this mercy to the Jews as certain, we proceed to state,
II. The way in which it shall be vouchsafed to them—
This we will trace,
1. In its commencement—
[The extent of territory originally assigned to them in God’s covenant with Abraham, was that which is here specified in our text; it was from the river Euphrates to the Nile [Note: Gen_15:18]. But, having been driven from thence, they are compared to an olive-tree which has been stripped of all its fruit, except a few that were either hidden from the owner, or inaccessible to him, on the topmost boughs [Note: Isa_17:4-6.]. God, however, will send his servants to seek out this scattered fruit, and to “beat it off,” or shake it off, from the tree, in order to gather it for him. The success that will attend their labours will not be great: the Jews will be gathered only, as if it were, “one by one.” But to them it will be a joyful event, that they have not been left to be devoured by the birds, but have been collected for the Master’s use. This is elsewhere described by the same prophet: “When thus it shall be in the midst of the land among the people, there shall be as the shaking of an olive-tree, and as the gleaning grapes when the vintage is done: they shall lift up their voice; they shall sing for the majesty of the Lord; they shall cry aloud from the sea [Note: Isa_24:13-14.].” To the same effect, God speaks also by the Prophet Jeremiah: “Turn, O backsliding children, saith the Lord; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family (or tribe), and I will bring you to Zion [Note: Jer_3:14.].”
Such will be the effects produced upon the Jews at the commencement of the efforts that shall be made for their restoration to God. As it respects the mass of the dispersed, the first converts will be only a small remnant, a gleaning after the gathering has been made; as the prophet has informed us: “Though the people of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant only shall return [Note: Isa_10:22.]:” but as it respects the complete in-gathering which shall ultimately follow, they will be as the first-fruits before the harvest, and the drop before the shower.]
2. In its progress—
[In due time “the great trumpet will be blown,” and the Jews that are scattered to the utmost ends of the earth shall hear it. The trumpets were, by God’s command, to be blown on different occasions; and especially, for the convoking of the people to the tabernacle in the wilderness; for the regulating of their journeys towards the Promised Land [Note: Num_10:2.]; and for the proclaiming every fiftieth year the year of Jubilee [Note: Lev_25:9.]. The Gospel is this trumpet, which will be “sounded out” through the whole world; and it will “come with power and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance [Note: 1Th_1:5; 1Th_1:8; 1Th_2:13.],” to “the outcast Israelites in the land of Egypt, and to those who are ready to perish in the land of Assyria.” Then will that be fulfilled which is spoken by the Prophet Jeremiah, “The watchmen upon the mount Ephraim shall cry, Arise ye, and let us go up to Zion to the Lord our God. For thus saith the Lord: Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations: publish ye, praise ye, and say, O Lord, save thy people, the remnant of Israel. Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the coasts of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child, and her that travaileth with child, together; a great company shall return thither. They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble; for I am a Father to Israel, and Ephraim is my first-born [Note: Jer_31:6-14. Quote the whole of this.].” &c. &c. — — — “Then shall the Lord set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people from Assyria, and from Egypt,” &c.; “and shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.” “And the Lord shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea, &c.: and there shall be an high-way for the remnant of his people which shall be left from Assyria, like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt [Note: Isa_11:11-12; Isa_11:15-16.].” Nor shall they come alone from the places of their dispersion; for vast multitudes will accompany them, insomuch, that “Israel shall be only as a third of the whole number, whom the Lord of Hosts will bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance [Note: Isa_19:23-25.].” Thus eventually “shall all Israel be saved: for this is God’s covenant with them, when he shall take away their sins [Note: Rom_11:26-27.].”]
3. In its consummation—
[“They shall worship the Lord in the holy mount at Jerusalem:” and O what worship will then be offered in every place! the worshippers all so enlightened! (for “the light of the moon will then be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun seven-fold, as the light of seven days [Note: Isa_30:26.]:”) and their experience of heavenly things so deep! for “the knowledge of the Lord will then cover the earth, not in extent only, but in depth also, as the waters cover the sea [Note: Hab_2:14.]:” and God revealing himself so gloriously in the midst of them! (for then “the sun will be no more their light by day, neither for brightness will the moon give light unto them; but the Lord will be an everlasting light unto them, and their God their glory [Note: Isa_60:19-21. Cite the whole, with suitable remarks.].”) Then will be realized (at least in its incipient state), that vision of the beloved disciple, who says, “I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven, saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people; and God himself shall be with them, and be their God [Note: Rev_21:2-3.].”]
see then from hence,
1. How groundless is the objection which so many raise against the efforts that are making for the conversion of the Jews, that they are useless—
[Many ask, not with grief and sorrow, but with a kind of malignant triumph, What good have you done? Your society has now been instituted several years, and what has been their success? I answer, that no person can reasonably expect to sow and reap on the same day. No other society has prospered at the first moment of its institution. Inquire of missions to the heathen; Have they prospered all at once? How much less then can it be expected, that the Jews, with all their deep-rooted prejudices, should in a moment lay them all aside, and, overcoming obstacles greater than can be conceived, become at once the disciples of the despised Nazarene? But the Christian world have conceived a notion, that the Jews are to be converted all in a day. This however is a mistake. What God may do at a future period I presume not to say. I do myself conceive, that in God’s appointed time, when God’s servants shall “prophesy unto them,” and “the great trumpet be blown” throughout the earth, there will be a resurrection of the dry bones; and they will rise “a great army [Note: Eze_37:9-10.].” But this is not to be expected at the first commencement of our endeavours, as you have already heard. We are not taught to expect, in the first instance, more than the gleanings of an olive-tree: and, if we get “one of a city, and two of a tribe,” and gather them from different places, “one by one,” we are to account ourselves richly recompensed fur our labours. How many, I would ask, did our Lord Jesus Christ, and his twelve apostles, aided by seventy other disciples, convert in the four years previous to the day of Pentecost? Yet they wrought miracles in confirmation of their word. Was the smallness of their success during that period any ground for saying, that they had lost their labour, and that it would be useless to prosecute their object any further, especially since they must do it at so great a risk to themselves, and to all who should embrace their religion? Thus then I say, that as many have been gathered as, considering the contracted scale on which the efforts have been used, and the total want of a proper medium of access to them which till lately we have experienced, could in reason be expected. We grant that the converts have hitherto been few, and that yet for a season they may continue to be only us slender gleanings; but is this a reason why we should not search them out, and endeavour with care and labour to beat the tree? If a house with only half-a-dozen persons in it should be on fire, and some were exerting themselves for their preservation, what would you think of the humanity of the person who should deride and damp their efforts, from the consideration that they could only hope to benefit a few? Look at the text, and see the description given of the Jews: are they not “outcasts,” and “ready to perish?” And is not this a sufficient reason to seek their salvation, though we should save from destruction only “one or two?” They are called “the lost sheep of the House of Israel:” and has not our Lord taught us, that, if there be only one of a hundred gone astray, we should go after that one and seek to bring it home? Yea, has he not in this very connexion told us, that “it is not the will of your Father that one of his little ones should perish [Note: Mat_18:12-14.]?” Should not we then be like-minded with God, and determine, that not one shall perish, through any want of effort on our part to save him? Should we not all unite as one man to carry into effect the purposes of God’s love towards them? Is there any hope that the few which invite our labours, shall be gathered in, if there be none to beat or shake the tree? or can there be a general convocation of them to the Lord, if there be none to go forth and sound the trumpet in their ears? Know ye then, that we want instruments, active and zealous instruments, to do the Lord’s work: we need pecuniary aid also, that we may send forth missionaries to the ends of the earth, with the Gospel trumpet in their hands, and the love of God in their hearts, to make known to the Jews their Messiah, and to “bring them home as an offering to the Lord their God [Note: Isa_66:20.].” O that God would stir us all up to seek the welfare of the children of Israel, and make use of us to hasten forward the period of their complete redemption!]
2. What we all need in order to our own salvation—
[Let us not, in our zeal for others, forget ourselves. We are all, with the exception of a small remnant, in as bad a state as the Jews themselves. The only difference between us is, that they are ignorant of Christ, but “we profess to know Christ, yet in works deny him.” As far as respects vital godliness, we are as far from God as they. “All we like sheep have gone astray; and, no less than they, do we need to return to the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls [Note: 1Pe_2:25.].” It is true of us, as well as of them, that the truly pious are but a remnant. “The god of this world” has the harvest; and the God of heaven nothing but “the gleanings.” The Lord’s people are but “a little flock;” and in comparison of the multitudes who go in “the broad road that leadeth to destruction,” they are but “few” who “enter in at the strait gate, and walk in the narrow path.” Forgive me, then, if with holy violence I enveavour to “beat you off” from the tree on which you are yet standing, and to “gather you” for the Lord. Let me sound in your ears the Gospel trumpet, which proclaims “liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound:” and let me entreat you to “return (as the remnant will assuredly do) to the living God [Note: Isa_10:21.],” “to worship the Lord in the holy mount at Jerusalem.” We must be content, we fear, to “gather you one by one:” for, notwithstanding all the efforts that are made for the restoration of your souls to God, it is a melancholy fact, that we succeed but little better with you in the midst of all your advantages, than we do with the Jews in the midst of all their disadvantages. If we labour ever so much, and can reach only “two or three upon the topmost bough, and four or five upon the outermost bough,” we are forced to be content, yea, and to think ourselves well repaid; so little power has the Gospel in the present day, and so sparingly is the Spirit of God poured out upon us. Know this however for your good. Whatever is necessary for the Jews, is necessary for us also. Must they believe in Christ? so must we. Must they give themselves up to him? so must we. Must they walk in his steps, and be conformed to his image? so must we. And sure I am, that the more we experience these blessings in our own souls, the more shall we labour to communicate them to the whole world, and more especially to those for whose sake God has imparted to us the superior blessings we enjoy [Note: Rom_11:30-31.].]