Romans 11 is Paul’s answer to one haunting question: has God abandoned Israel? The chapter moves from Elijah’s lone vigil to the olive tree mystery, from a remnant preserved by grace to the fullness of the Gentiles, closing with the most doxological moment in all of Paul’s letters.
Full sung version coming soon.
Lyrics
I ask then did God reject his people May it never be For I also am an Israelite a descendant of Abraham Of the tribe of Benjamin God didn’t reject his people whom he foreknew
Or don’t you know what the Scripture says about Elijah How he pleads with God against Israel Lord they have killed your prophets They have broken down your altars I am left alone and they seek my life
But how does God answer him I have reserved for myself seven thousand men Who have not bowed the knee to Baal Even so too at this present time also there is a remnant According to the election of grace
And if by grace then it is no longer of works Otherwise grace is no longer grace What then That which Israel seeks for that he didn’t obtain But the chosen ones obtained it and the rest were hardened
According as it is written God gave them a spirit of stupor Eyes that they should not see and ears that they should not hear To this very day David says Let their table be made a snare a trap a stumbling block And a retribution to them
Let their eyes be darkened that they may not see Always keep their backs bent I ask then did they stumble that they might fall May it never be But by their fall salvation has come to the Gentiles
To provoke them to jealousy Now if their fall is the riches of the world And their loss the riches of the Gentiles How much more their fullness
For I speak to you who are Gentiles Since then as I am an apostle to Gentiles I glorify my ministry If by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh And may save some of them For if the rejection of them Is the reconciling of the world
What would their acceptance be but life from the dead Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom And knowledge of God How unsearchable are his judgements And his ways past tracing out
Listen
Romans 11 sung by Psalm Selah. The whole Bible, one chapter at a time.