Romans Part 29 – Romans 9:17-24
Verse 17
• “For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh” – Exo 9:16
• “For this same purpose” - What is the purpose? – Not salvation or damnation
• “that I might show my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth” – This is the purpose. It is related to Israel being set free and seeing the power of their God, and the other nations seeing the power of Israel’s God.
Verse 18
• “hath he mercy on whom he will hath mercy” Israel, David, the remnant.
• “and whom he will he hardeneth” – Pharaoh, Saul, unbelieving Israel.
• When did God harden Pharaoh’s heart? – Not before the foundation of the world and not before he had sinned – Exo 4:21, 7:3 - Future tense cf Exo 5:1-18.
• How does God harden? – With a mighty hand - Exo 3:19, 6:1, 7:10-14, 20-23, 8:15-19, 31-32, 9:11-12, 14:1-9
• Saul hardened with words after disobedience - 1Sam 15:24-28. David given mercy - 2Sam 7:8, 12:13, Psalm 89:28-37, Isa 55:3.
• Unbelieving Israel by speaking in parables - John 12:39-40, Isa 6:9-10, Matt 13:13-15. The believing remnant by making the parables known.Matt 13:16-18, Luke 8:9-10, 12:32.
Verse 19-21
• “Thou wilt say then unto me” – Paul anticipates the following questions will be asked in response to what he has said.
• “why doth he yet find fault?” – Rom 3:5-8 – God doesn’t owe us any mercy. We are sinners and God can respond to us however he chooses.
• “Who hath resisted His will?” – Man has – Cain, Pharaoh, Saul, Moses when he struck the rock. Eze 33:11, Luke 13:34, 2Tim 3:8.
• “Nay but. O man, who art thou that repliest against God? – Paul responds with this question. Ungrateful children are the ones who respond against God/parents
• “shall the thing formed say to him that formed it ‘Why hast thou made me thus?’ – Isa 45:9-10, 29:13-16, Matt 15:7-9, Isa 30:8-18, 1:2-4
• ”hath not the potter power over the clay” – Potter = God. Clay = Israel.
• “of the same lump” – The nation of Israel.
• “one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?” – Two vessels from the same lump
I. Honour – believing Israel
II. Dishonour – unbelieving Israel – Jer 18:1-12 gives clearly shows Israel is the clay and avid the potter.
Verse 22-24
• “What of God willing to shew His wrath, and to make His power known” - His wrath has not come yet – Matt 3:7
• “endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction” – Isa 65:2-8, Rom 2:1-9.
• “And that He might make known the riches of His glory” – Rom 9:4, Isa 46:13.
• “on the vessels of mercy,” – Those who accepted the Messiah – Luke 2:30-32, 12:32, John 1:11-12.
• “afore prepared unto glory” – Gods election of Israel’s elect was to show His glory as an everlasting possession.
• “not of the Jews only” – Rom 2:10-11, Gen 12:3, Matt 15:21-28.
• “but also of the Gentiles” — Isa 49:6, Zech 8:23, Ruth 2:10-12, Heb 11:31,
If you have any questions: My email - csb33@centurylink.net
