Paul opens Romans 9 with anguish for Israel - then makes the most concentrated case for divine election in the New Testament: God’s mercy is God’s sovereign gift, not a human inheritance.
Full sung version coming soon.
Lyrics
I tell the truth in Christ I am not lying My conscience testifying with me in the Holy Spirit That I have great sorrow and unceasing pain in my heart For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ For my brothers’ sake my relatives according to the flesh
Who are Israelites whose is the adoption and the glory The covenants the giving of the law the service and the promises Of whom are the fathers and from whom is Christ as concerning the flesh Who is over all God blessed forever
But it is not as though the word of God has come to nothing For they are not all Israel that are of Israel Neither because they are Abraham’s offspring are they all children But your offspring will be accounted as from Isaac That is it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God
But the children of the promise are counted as heirs For this is a word of promise At the appointed time I will come And Sarah will have a son Not only so but Rebekah also conceived by one by our father Isaac
For being not yet born neither having done anything good or bad That the purpose of God according to election might stand Not of works but of him who calls it was said to her The elder will serve the younger
Even as it is written Jacob I loved but Esau I hated What shall we say then Is there unrighteousness with God May it never be For he said to Moses I will have mercy on whom I have mercy And I will have compassion on whom I have compassion So then it is not of him who wills nor of him who runs
But of God who has mercy For the Scripture says to Pharaoh For this very purpose I caused you to be raised up That I might show in you my power and that my name might be proclaimed In all the earth So then he has mercy on whom he desires And he hardens whom he desires
You will say then to me Why does he still find fault For who withstands his will
Listen
Romans 9 sung by Psalm Selah. The whole Bible, one chapter at a time.