Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel? \”Lord, they have killed Thy prophets, they have torn down Thine altars, and I alone am left, and they are seeking my life.\” But what is the divine response to him? \”I have kept for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.\” Rom. 11:2b-4
Here in Romans chapter eleven, the apostle Paul, describes the spiritual condition of the physical nation of Israel in his time. His quotes come from 1 Kings 19 and events in the life of the prophet Elijah following his title fight with the prophets of Baal about who was the true God in Israel.
“But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who will render to every man according to his deeds:” Romans 2:5-6 (NASB)
We’ve a few more forays into the book of Romans before we sally forth into other rich New Testament scriptural soil supplemented by Old Testament quotations. Today we consider our text from Romans 2:6 and the apostle Paul’s citation of the inspired psalmist’s utterance as found in Psalm 62:12. Although Paul does not say, ‘as it is written’, in prefacing his citing of the psalmist, it would be very clear from whom he references in light of who he is addressing (the Jews) in this section of his letter.
Here is the passage in Psalms from which Paul quotes in its context. “Once God has spoken; twice I have heard this: That power belongs to God; and lovingkindness is Thine, O Lord, for Thou dost recompense a man according to his work.” (Ps. 62:11-12). We offer here an alternate translation from the Rotherham’s version for your consideration. “One thing, hath God spoken, two things (there are) which I have heard, that, power, belongeth unto God; and thine, O my Lord, is lovingkindness—for, thou, wilt pay back unto every man—according to his deed.”
