God's Promise In The Old Testament

[LadyKay]

Sometimes I wonder if God' promises from books of the Old Testament, were only meant for the people he was speaking them too at the time. For example. In Jeremiah 29:11. God is telling the Israelites  "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  What if God just meant this promise to the Israelites?   And not to the rest of us?  Could that be the case? And all the other promises in the Old Testament that God tells the Israelites? Or certain people?    

[R. Hartono]

Some yes some not.

[Omegaman 3.0]

2 hours ago, R. Hartono said:

Some yes some not.

I agree with Hartono on this one, though I do not feel qualified to dictate to others which are which!  For example, the ten commandments seem to have been given to Moses for the people of Israel, to the tribes that were brought out of Egypt. However, I would not go so far as to say, that Thou shalt commit no murder, is limited only to the Israelites. Also I notice that each of those commandments are mentioned in the New Testament, with the exception of the sabbath. Make of that what you will.

Context means a lot, some things are to individuals, some to peoples, some more general. I say study the context, know the culture, make your best judgement and follow your Spirit led conscious.

[Michael37]

3 hours ago, LadyKay said:

Sometimes I wonder if God' promises from books of the Old Testament, were only meant for the people he was speaking them too at the time. For example. In Jeremiah 29:11. God is telling the Israelites  "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  What if God just meant this promise to the Israelites?   And not to the rest of us?  Could that be the case? And all the other promises in the Old Testament that God tells the Israelites? Or certain people?    

Hi LadyKay, You raise a valid and often contested point. Three Scriptural Principles, which you may recognise, come to mind by way of answer:

1. All Scripture is Profitable:

2Ti 3:14-17  But continue you in the things which you have learned and have been assured of, knowing of whom you have learned them;  (15)  And that from a child you have known the holy scriptures, which are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.  (16)  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  (17)  That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

2. Scripture Provides Examples For Our Admonition:

1Co 10:6-11  Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.  (7)  Neither be you idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.  (8)  Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.  (9)  Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.  (10)  Neither murmur you, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.  (11)  Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

3. The Purpose Of Scripture Is To Give Us Hope:   

Rom 15:4  For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

Bearing these principles in mind it is possible to discern both a local and a universal application of Scripture promises, and at very least to gain insight into spiritual things by way of analogies, comparing like with like when something in the Old Testament matches a thing in the New Testament. Some scholars, particularly secular academics, loathe and detest this practice but their strict code of literalism blinds them to the organic properties of Scripture as described in Hebrews 4.   

Heb 4:12-13  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.  (13)  Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

[Who me]

7 hours ago, LadyKay said:

What if God just meant this promise to the Israelites

A good question and one I'm not going to attempt to answer as there is a bigger issue that people ignore.

 

God made many promises to and with the Israelites. What people forget is that there are conditions which lead to blessings or curses.

Example God promised prosperity to the Israelites, but this was conditional on there obedience to his laws.

They were his chosen people, but that didn't stop God sending them into exile because of there rebellious nature and restoring a remnant only on national repentance.

 

God is not a sugar daddy.

[JohnD]

8 hours ago, LadyKay said:

Sometimes I wonder if God' promises from books of the Old Testament, were only meant for the people he was speaking them too at the time. For example. In Jeremiah 29:11. God is telling the Israelites  "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  What if God just meant this promise to the Israelites?   And not to the rest of us?  Could that be the case? And all the other promises in the Old Testament that God tells the Israelites? Or certain people?    

There are in fact personal, temporal, and conditional distinctions in the Bible, obviously. We are not all called to go to Nineveh to

preach judgment, for example. And we are not to get the rocks ready for a well deserved stoning, on this side of the cross... much as we'd like

to...

But by and large, God's general promises (and judgments, for that matter) were aimed at people who were faithful to the degree of

God's progressive revelation (or not).

Progressive: meaning revealed over time through various dispensations...

Not at all what the liberals did to the meaning of the word "progressive."

And through every dispensation / progression of God's revelation it has always been

about his Grace (dispensed  even under the Law) and our belief in him.

King David broke the Law but his faith in the LORD despite his falling short of the Law

made him a man after God's own heart. He trusted God completely. As we should.

[JohnD]

I am of the interpretation that there is, and always was a line of demarcation between those who are for

God and those who are not for God. And that this line of demarcation extends into the very bloodline of

Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob...  which is what the Apostle Paul was driving at:

Romans 9:6 (AV)
6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:

What gets folks' ire up over this point is the Apostle appears to be saying those that are for God are "all

Israel."

Pride of the Jews and Prejudice of the Gentiles usually prevent this point from going very far. The Bible

actually has lots to say on the subject. To the point: there is a Spiritual Israel and a physical Israel.

Faith in Jesus makes physical Jew or Gentile part of the house of Spiritual Israel. It does not change their physical status

(a physical Gentile cannot become a physical Jew).

The line of demarcation is defined also as the distinction between the spiritual and the physical.

And in this sense, the spiritual promises to spiritual Israel apply to all who believe in the Jewish Messiah.

Isaiah 54:7–10 (AV)
7 For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee.
8 In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer.
9 For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee.
10 For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.

This is a great passage for water baptism (which is an outward testimony of an inward transformation from unbelief to belief)... 

Grace is all through this passage.

John 16:27 (AV)
27 For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.

[LadyKay]

There have been times in my life when I have been going through great trials.  I open up my Bible and my eyes land on a promise in the Old Testament. Or one pops into my head from out of no where. I think that maybe these are the promises from that are meant for me as well. A way God communicates with me. His words go beyond all measure of time. They were for the beginning and will be for the end. 

[johnthebaptist]

20 hours ago, LadyKay said:

Sometimes I wonder if God' promises from books of the Old Testament, were only meant for the people he was speaking them too at the time. For example. In Jeremiah 29:11. God is telling the Israelites  "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  What if God just meant this promise to the Israelites?   And not to the rest of us?  Could that be the case? And all the other promises in the Old Testament that God tells the Israelites? Or certain people?    

It is true that the Lord was talking to the Israiltes in the Old Testament, and we Christians do not adhere to all the ordinances, statutes, and decrees he delivered. Still, he is the God for all people, not just the Jews. We Christians have our own rules to follow. If you have any doubts, read the New Testament.

[Michael37]

6 hours ago, LadyKay said:

There have been times in my life when I have been going through great trials.  I open up my Bible and my eyes land on a promise in the Old Testament. Or one pops into my head from out of no where. I think that maybe these are the promises from that are meant for me as well. A way God communicates with me. His words go beyond all measure of time. They were for the beginning and will be for the end. 

Hi again, LadyKay. Yes, in times of trial the Word of God is indeed profitable, as it is always. Even when there is no specific trial God speaks through His Word, and I sometimes testify about the anointing I was given with this OT Scripture in Isaiah 51:

Isa 51:3  For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.

This verse speaks of the restoration that God does in people who find themselves in spiritual waste places, wildernesses, and deserts.