Romans 9:4-5 “What Matters”

 Here’s my fairly literal translation of these verses:

⁴ones who are Israelites, of whom [is] the adoption and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the law and the [temple] service and the promises. Of whom [are] the fathers, and out of whom [is] the Christ (that [is], according to the flesh), the One being God upon all, blessed into the ages. Amen.

The passage before us generates a lot of interesting observations. First I want to note that, in these words, we should realize Paul is drawing back the curtain of his heart. He is passionately expressing what his eyes see as of great value in this world, and in so doing, he would allow us to see our world through Jesus’ eyes.

What does this world value? Gold, diamonds, palatial mansions, physical beauty, athletic ability, luxurious clothes, delicious food. In Rev. 17ff, we see the drunken harlot of Babylon, and how is she described? “The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held in her hand a golden cup, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries” (17:4). The book of Esther opens with Ahasuerus throwing a 6-month long party and we’re told “For a full 180 days he displayed the vast wealth of his kingdom and the splendor and glory of his majesty” (1:4). Our world treasures everything the Great Harlot offers!

However, look again at our passage. What are the great benefits Paul would attribute to the Jewish people? Notice, as usual, he lists seven – in this case, the first being that they are “Israelites” and the seventh being that theirs is the ancestry of none other than Jesus the Messiah Himself! I find great value in pausing and realizing that this world sees no value whatsoever in any of these seven blessings! What about me? What about my heart? Which do I see as of greater value? It is true that there is great beauty in this world and there in nothing necessarily wrong in enjoying that beauty, but the question is, “What do I value?” I want to be like Paul and see “the promises” as far greater riches than gold and silver! Moses did. Heb. 11:24-26 would tell us, “By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.”

As our Bibles lie there open to Romans chapter 9, these two simple verses call out and challenge us all to pause and ask, “What do I really value?” Can I look at the seven blessings listed and say, “Yes, those are things that I see as priceless”? Would I rather have any one of them than all the gold in the world? Thanks be to God that, in the Word, He helps you and me to see the things that truly matter in this life. He would help us to live lives where we accumulate true blessings, not the ashes and straw of this world’s treasures. “Oh, to die the death of the righteous!” exclaimed Balaam. Oh, to die, surrounded by a loving family, with a heart filled with memories of kindnesses and hours spent investing in the lives of others, and knowing that my very next step is to enter the presence of Him who has been all these years my Shield and my exceeding great reward!

This passage calls us to remember what matters!