ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

Tusite Novema 23, 2021 

So then it is not of him who wills…but of God who shows mercy.

pea tā ‘oku ‘ikai tu‘unga ki he‘ete loto ki ai…ka ki he fai ‘alo‘ofa ‘a e ‘Otua.

Loma 9 (Romans 9)

(v. 14-16) Pea ta fēfē ai? Te ta pehē koā, Tā ‘oku ‘i ai ha‘ane fai ta‘etotonu ‘a e ‘Otua, ‘ō? Molekemama‘o! He na‘a mo Mōsese ‘oku ne folofola kiate ia, ‘o pehē, ‘Ilonga ‘a ia ‘oku ou ‘alo‘ofa ki ai, te u fai ‘alo‘ofa ki ai, ‘io, ‘ilonga ‘a ia ‘oku ou manava‘ofa ki ai te u fai manava‘ofa ki ai. ‘Āua; pea tā ‘oku ‘ikai tu‘unga ki he‘ete loto ki ai, pe ki he‘ete lele ki ai, ka ki he fai ‘alo‘ofa ‘a e ‘Otua.

(v. 14-16) What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.” So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.

 

* G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible*

The connection between this very remarkable passage and the preceding climax is close. The great certainty of "no separation" is the experience of one in close communion with the Lord experimentally. What the apostle now declared is the outcome of the fact that the sphere of his life is Christ. When this is remembered, we have the key to what else were inexplicable. No man could have written such words unless he were indwelt and dominated by Christ through the Holy Spirit. The first expression is toward his brethren after the flesh. The description of God's purpose for Israel is very fine.

The word 'but" with which the sixth verse opens suggests the contrast between the glorious facts concerning Israel just enunciated and Israel's present condition. The great fact is declared that "they are not all Israel, that are of Israel; neither, because they are Abraham's seed, are they all children." God had made a selection from the seed, Isaac and not Ishmael, Jacob and not Esau. The selection in each case was based upon an underlying purpose of God which the apostle calls "the purpose of God according to election." The underlying principle of the action of God is His mercy and His compassion.

The apostle took an illustration from the opposite condition. Pharaoh is an example of the result of unbelief and wilful setting of the heart against the right. The figure from Jeremiah of the potter and the clay must be interpreted by the character of God. The quotation from Hosea is used here in a wider sense than by the prophet himself. The writer is referring to such as were, according to the flesh, outside the covenant. The quotation from Isaiah re-emphasizes the fact that not all Israel after the flesh shall be saved, but a remnant only. This again is by divine choice.

 

* David Guzik :: Study Guide for Romans 9*

Is there unrighteousness with God? Paul answers this question strongly: Certainly not! God clearly explains His right to give mercy to whomever He pleases in Exodus 33:19.

I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy: Remember what mercy is. Mercy is not getting what we do deserve. God is never less than fair with anyone, but fully reserves the right to be more than fair with individuals as He chooses.

Jesus spoke of this right of God in the parable of the landowner in Matthew 20:1-16.

We are in a dangerous place when we regard God’s mercy towards us as our right. If God is obliged to show mercy, then it is not mercy – it is obligation. No one is ever unfair for not giving mercy.

So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy: God’s mercy is not given to us because of what we wish to do (him who wills), or because of what we actually do (him who runs), but simply out of His desire to show mercy.