The Remnant Among the Nations

Introduction

The Remnant

The memoury of a long-lost dynasty. A humiliating reality, signaling a soon to be realized extinction.

The means the Messiah uses to overcome the nations is the remnant of his people in the world.

Among the Nations

While the imminant destruction of the people of God as it had been structured in the OT is sure, the remnant plays the vital

The rigorously similar structures (of verses 7 & 8) contrast radically the remnant’s twofold concurrent ministries among the nations: being a source of salvation to some, and an instrument of destruction to others.

- Bruce Waltke

Like Dew and Showers

The imagery of dew and showers gives us the picture of relief and refreshment. For the original readers and an agrarian society, it meant fruitfulness, abundance, wealth, and a secure future.

This future remnant, from whom God will make his future people in a new covenant, will not be pooled up but rather sprinkled around the world like rain that will produce an abundant harvest all around the world.

Like a lion

The second image is of a lion among a valley of sheep or in a forest full of deer and other creatures.

This is the other affect that the future remnant will have on the world. As Paul said, the Gospel we preach is either the aroma of life or the stench of death depending on who hears it.

Who is the remnant? The remnant is Christ and, by extension, those who are in Christ. He is the one who inherits the promises of Abraham and thus fulfils the role of the remnant, that is, the remaining one who still qualifies to represent God as his imagebearer.

The full force of the wrath of this lion is seperated from the age of mercy where the rain falls and people are given the chance to bring the fruit of the gospel to fruition and the day of wrath when the enemies will be cut off.

No more Idols

The Irony that Israel among the nations will reject their idols despite being among gentiles, when they couldn’t stop worshipping foreign gods in their own land.

Chariots

Images

The End of the Disobedient

Conclusion: Israel’s Uncompromising Future Service to God Among the Gentiles

2 Corinthians 2:14–16 (ESV)

But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life.