I would suggest... that "the nation intended" is the future nation of Israel under the new covenant. The proof of this from Scripture appears to me very abundant. It will be granted, I presume, that Israel at present has no national existence, Hos. 3:33And I said unto her, Thou shalt abide for me many days; thou shalt not play the harlot, and thou shalt not be for another man: so will I also be for thee. (Hosea 3:3).
In connection with the new covenant we find this promise: "If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the Lord, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me forever (Jer. 30:36)."
The Prophets who had denounced Israel as "a sinful nation." "an hypocritical nation," "a rebellious nation," "a nation not desired," "an ungodly nation," &c., apply to them such titles as "the righteous nation," the true Jeshurun (Isa. 26:22Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in. (Isaiah 26:2)), "My nation" (Isa. 51:44Hearken unto me, my people; and give ear unto me, O my nation: for a law shall proceed from me, and I will make my judgment to rest for a light of the people. (Isaiah 51:4)), "The small one become a strong nation" Isa. 60:2222A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the Lord will hasten it in his time. (Isaiah 60:22), "One nation in the land" (Ezek. 37:2222And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all: (Ezekiel 37:22)).
These and kindred expressions are, I believe, comprehended under the "all Israel" of Rom. 11:2626And 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: (Romans 11:26). Israel as a nation will be spiritually converted. "Thy people shall be all righteous" and politically regenerated, and as such will be the pattern nation during the Millennium Isa. 2:1-41The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. 2And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. 3And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. 4And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. (Isaiah 2:1‑4). This, I presume, is their νομοθεσια (Rom. 9:44Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; (Romans 9:4)). They will be the fountain of legislation to the nations, instead of copying them as their fathers did (1 Sam. 8:55And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations. (1 Samuel 8:5); Hos. 13:10, 1110I will be thy king: where is any other that may save thee in all thy cities? and thy judges of whom thou saidst, Give me a king and princes? 11I gave thee a king in mine anger, and took him away in my wrath. (Hosea 13:10‑11)); and instead of the nation{ s?} of Christendom being the pattern of legislation to them, as in their "high-mindedness" they now vainly imagine.
That "the kingdom is to be given" to Israel is promised (Mic. 4:88And thou, O tower of the flock, the strong hold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem. (Micah 4:8)). "The daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion, the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem." This interesting subject might be pursued. But I only add that Israel's national conversion and political preeminence (Isa. 60:1212For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted. (Isaiah 60:12), appears from Scripture to be entirely sui generis, and by no means interferes with that cluster of spiritual privileges now the portion of all believers, who are "a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people."
Presbutes The Christian Annotator 3:320 (1856).