Psa 14:7 | KingComments | STEP | David’s sigh and exclamation, “Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion!”, is quoted by Paul in Romans 11. He quotes this verse to prove that all Israel will be saved when “the fullness of the Gentiles has come in”, as he first argued ( ). The quote that immediately follows is not a sigh as here in the psalm, but a certainty. He quotes: “The Deliverer will come from Zion” ( ). Paul makes known in Romans 11 the mystery ( ) that Israel has been rejected by God, but will also be accepted again by God. This then concerns a remnant. Because the fools, that is the unbelieving mass, have all been judged, this remnant is “all Israel”. With this ‘new’ Israel, God continues after the “the fullness of the Gentiles has come in” ( ). This last expression means that the Christian testimony on earth has fulfilled the time of its testimony, has reached its end. God has had to cut it off because it has not remained in His goodness ( ). After that, Israel will again become the object of His public love. That the deliverance or the Deliverer comes from Zion to redeem His people, that is, the believing remnant who have repented, means that He will come first to Zion ( ). That will happen at His second coming, which is His return to earth. Then He will have let “His captive people” return from the scattering, and all the people, the two and the ten tribes, will be under one King and one Shepherd in the land ( ). He has brought a turn in their fate. A pre-fulfillment, which is only partial and also temporary, is the return from exile in Babylon, also with mainly Israelites from the two tribes ( ). The final fulfillment will occur in the realm of peace. In Psalm 15 we are given a description of the features of those who will partake of it. The psalm concludes with the joy of “Jacob” and the gladness of “Israel”. Jacob means “heels holder” ( ). It is the name of weakness and deviation that have characterized the patriarch Jacob, while at the same time there has been a longing for the blessing of God. That shows his entire history. In this regard we may consider that God calls Himself “the God of Jacob” just when He is about to deliver His people from the bondage of Egypt ( ). This name of God also appears several times in Psalms ( ). Israel means “prince of God” ( ). Jacob received this name from God after his struggle with Him. In that struggle he begged for the blessing. Whoever begs for the blessing is in God’s eyes His prince. It is the name that expresses the value of God for such a person. Jacob is the name of practice, Israel is the name of position before God. That Jacob rejoices shows that even in enjoying full redemption and blessing, there will always be the awareness that it is undeserved, and bestowed by mere grace. That Israel is glad shows that God is above all weakness and has made of Jacob an Israel.

‏ Psalms 14:7

The Hope of the Righteous

David’s sigh and exclamation, “Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion!”, is quoted by Paul in Romans 11. He quotes this verse to prove that all Israel will be saved when “the fullness of the Gentiles has come in”, as he first argued (Rom 11:25b). The quote that immediately follows is not a sigh as here in the psalm, but a certainty. He quotes: “The Deliverer will come from Zion” (Rom 11:26).

Paul makes known in Romans 11 the mystery (Rom 11:25a) that Israel has been rejected by God, but will also be accepted again by God. This then concerns a remnant. Because the fools, that is the unbelieving mass, have all been judged, this remnant is “all Israel”. With this ‘new’ Israel, God continues after the “the fullness of the Gentiles has come in” (Rom 11:25b).

This last expression means that the Christian testimony on earth has fulfilled the time of its testimony, has reached its end. God has had to cut it off because it has not remained in His goodness (Rom 11:22). After that, Israel will again become the object of His public love.

That the deliverance or the Deliverer comes from Zion to redeem His people, that is, the believing remnant who have repented, means that He will come first to Zion (Isa 59:20). That will happen at His second coming, which is His return to earth. Then He will have let “His captive people” return from the scattering, and all the people, the two and the ten tribes, will be under one King and one Shepherd in the land (Eze 37:21-25). He has brought a turn in their fate.

A pre-fulfillment, which is only partial and also temporary, is the return from exile in Babylon, also with mainly Israelites from the two tribes (Ezra 1:1-5). The final fulfillment will occur in the realm of peace. In Psalm 15 we are given a description of the features of those who will partake of it.

The psalm concludes with the joy of “Jacob” and the gladness of “Israel”. Jacob means “heels holder” (Gen 25:26). It is the name of weakness and deviation that have characterized the patriarch Jacob, while at the same time there has been a longing for the blessing of God. That shows his entire history. In this regard we may consider that God calls Himself “the God of Jacob” just when He is about to deliver His people from the bondage of Egypt (Exo 3:6 ; 15 ; Exo 4:5). This name of God also appears several times in Psalms (Psa 20:1b ; Psa 46:7 ; 11 ; Psa 75:9 ; Psa 81:1b ; 4 ; Psa 94:7 ; Psa 114:7 ; Psa 146:5).

Israel means “prince of God” (Gen 32:28). Jacob received this name from God after his struggle with Him. In that struggle he begged for the blessing. Whoever begs for the blessing is in God’s eyes His prince. It is the name that expresses the value of God for such a person. Jacob is the name of practice, Israel is the name of position before God. That Jacob rejoices shows that even in enjoying full redemption and blessing, there will always be the awareness that it is undeserved, and bestowed by mere grace. That Israel is glad shows that God is above all weakness and has made of Jacob an Israel.