We were all bruised in the fall, says Sibbes. Christ will not break us, but will instead save us.

David agrees that there comes a time when God will harden. Israel rejected God's righteousness, and was blinded, but their stumble was not their fall. Crucial distinction here! Stumbling does not equal falling!

Anglican theologian Sibbes in his classic work of 1630, introduces Isaiah's "bruised reed" passage, the astounding words referring to our humble Lord Jesus Christ.

God hardens. God blinds. It is a hard saying, but Paul makes it very clear. There is a chosen people. It is not natural Israel. It is a faith-filled people, Jew and Gentile. The others are hardened. The whole story has not been told yet, so we wait on the unfolding of the plan.

God's gracious covenant, and the security of the believer because of it. We have become His, and that is that. "Loved with everlasting love, led by grace this love to know, Spirit breathing from above, Thou hast taught me it is so..."

God has cast away Israel? Absolutely not, says Paul! And he gives reasons.

A covenant involves promises on both sides. God has made precious promises to His people. He keeps them all. Are we keeping the promises we made?

Israel knew but rejected and received not. The Gentiles did not know but received. Paul takes us deeper into the mind of God than some of us care to go. God's ways are not ours. He saves whom He wills to save. So be it.

Not just the Spirit and the Son, but the Father Himself calls us to communion with Him.

A call to fearlessness by the prince of preachers. Many fear war, persecution, the return of "Popery". God calls his own not to fear whatever comes.