When grace was offered to the Jews, as a nation they rejected it (Acts 7:5151Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. (Acts 7:51) to 8:3; 13:38-17, etc.), and God's answer to the pleading of chapters 63 and 64 therefore begins by pointing to the Gentiles who accepted His gift: "I am sought (out) of them that asked not for Me; I am found of them that sought Me not; I said, Behold Me, behold Me! unto a nation that was not called by My name."
As for Israel, His word is, "I have spread out My hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way not good, after their own thoughts, a people that provoketh Me to anger continually to My face...." In Rom. 10:20, 21,20But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. 21But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people. (Romans 10:20‑21) the application of these two verses to the Gentile and the Jew is made plain.
John 12:20-33,20And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast: 21The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus. 22Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus. 23And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. 24Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. 25He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. 26If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honor. 27Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. 28Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. 29The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him. 30Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes. 31Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. 32And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. 33This he said, signifying what death he should die. (John 12:20‑33) in the desire of the Greeks who came up to Jerusalem to see Jesus,—a desire which led Him to speak of His cross and His return to scenes of heavenly glory—gave a foreshadowing of the Gentile reception of the gospel of God's grace when the good news was offered them (Acts 10:44-45; 11:19-26,44While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 45And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 10:44‑45)
19Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only. 20And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord. 22Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. 23Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. 24For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord. 25Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: 26And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. (Acts 11:19‑26) etc.) Acts 8:51-53 furnishes a striking contrast in the testimony of the first Christian martyr before the Jewish council. We cannot doubt that the Holy Spirit was then in Stephen witnessing to the truth of Israel's state.
Verses 8 and 4 of our chapter refer to the practice of idolatry, to which Israel was of old devoted, and will be again more than before. (See Matt. 12:43-4543When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. 44Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. 45Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation. (Matthew 12:43‑45).)
In verse 11 the marginal readings of "Gad" and "Meni", which are believed to represent the planets Jupiter and Venus, are better; the first meant "fortune" or "chance'', and the other "number"; this explains the use of the word "number" in verse 12.
Verse 17: The Millennium is in view, with such blessings as the earth has never known since the fall of our first parents, and no wonder, for Satan will he shut up, and the Lord and His heavenly people will be seen on earth, while open sin will have no place. At its close the new heaven and new earth will appear, to abide eternally.
A lovely picture is presented to our minds of the land of Israel, and in a way the whole earth, in verses 19-25. To think of a day to conic on earth when there shall. be no weeping; nor sorrow; when death will be rare, and people will live longer than Methuselah; when selfishness and greed and violence shall he excluded, is wonderful indeed! It can only be realized when judgment has purged the world of all that offends God.
In that day there will be no waiting for answers to prayer, at least for personal need, for "before they call, I will answer; while they are yet speaking, I will hear'' (verse 24).
Then shall not only the earth yield her bountiful measure, but the wolf and the lamb which now it would delight to devour, shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the ox; yet, mark, dust shall be the serpent's meat. God does not forget the part of the serpent taken by Satan (Gen. 3, Rev. 12:99And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. (Revelation 12:9)), and would not have His people forget it.
For Christians there is a prospect far beyond the joys of the Millennium; heaven is their home; Christ their portion forever. To be with Him is the longing desire of those who love and seek to honor Him here; soon He will come and take them to the scene of radiant glory that is His home above.