"Gather" Israel

Before we begin our topical study of the word "gather" it occurred to me one more reference should be addressed as a foundational reference demonstrating a latter-day covenant transition from the Gentiles to Israel. The reference is Romans 11:20-27:

"Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God" on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again. For if thou wert grafted cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature,and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these,which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree? For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins." (Romans 11:20-27)

Paul in his epistle to the Roman Saints attempted to educate the Gentile converts of Rome that their situation was as perilous as Israel. If God did not spare His covenant people from covenant rejection and covenant curses that accompany their disobedience, the Gentile converts had better take heed themselves.

Paul goes on to teach the Roman Saints that with covenant rejection came partial blindness on Israel that would continue until the Gentiles reached a "fulness" which I believe refers to a fullness of iniquity. When the fullness of the Gentiles arrives a "Deliverer" will come out of Zion and turn ungodliness from Jacob: Generally, scholars identify the role of "Deliverer" to Christ, hence the capital letters. I believe the "Deliverer" is the Davidic servant referred to by Joseph when he said, "But their (Israel)unbelief has not rendered the promise of God of none effect: no, for there was another day limited in David, which was the day of His power; and then His people, Israel, should be a willing people;-and He would write His law in their hearts, and print it in their thoughts; their sins and their iniquities He would remember no more." (TPJS, pg.15)

Moving forward we will begin the topical study of the gathering of Israel by examining scriptural passages using the word "gather." We will begin with the Old Testament and move forward chronologically.

The first reference using the word "gather" as it relates to the gathering of Israel is Deuteronomy 30:3. The verse says: "That then the Lord thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the Lord thy God hath scattered thee."

Now we have identified a verse using our designated word, the next step is to survey the surrounding verses (and sometimes chapters.) In this instance I noticed the heading on chapter 29 of Deuteronomy and it states: "Israel makes a covenant with the Lord whereunder they shall be blessed if obedient, cursed if disobedient-If disobedient, their land shall be as brimstone and salt." This chapter gives us the terms of the covenant.

Verses 18-29 of Deuteronomy 29 is the explanation of the curse that falls upon Israel if they are disobedient.

Chapter 30 of Deuteronomy begins with verse 1 explaining how the Lord will gather Israel in a future day: "And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, wither the Lord thy God hath driven thee, And shalt return unto the Lord thy God, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thy soul; That then the Lord thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the Lord thy God hath scattered thee. If any of thine be driven out unto the outmost parts of heaven, from thence will the Lord thy God gather thee, and from thence will he fetch thee: And the Lord thy God will bring thee into the land which thy father possessed, and thou shalt possess it; and he will do thee good, and multiply thee above thy fathers. And the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live. And the Lord thy God will put all these curses upon thine enemies, and on them that hate thee which persecuted thee. And thou shalt return and obey the voice of the Lord, and do all his commandments which I command thee this day. And the Lord thy God will make thee plenteous in every work of thine hand, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy land, for God: for the Lord will again rejoice over thee for good, as he rejoiced over thy fathers: If thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law, and if thou turn unto the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul."

I think we are off to a good start. We'll look at this passage in depth tomorrow.