Romans 9:4

Israelites. Paul does not call them “Hebrews,” which would distinguish them by language, nor “Jews,” which would mark them by race. He uses, instead, the title that designates their position as the chosen people of God. As descendants of Jacob, who received from God the name “Israel,” they are heirs of the promises given to the fathers (Eph. 2:12). In the NT the title is transferred to the Christian church, which Paul speaks of as “the Israel of God” (Gal. 6:16).

Adoption. See on chapter 8:15. Here the term implies the relationship between God and Israel announced in Ex. 4:22, “Israel is my son, even my firstborn” (cf. Deut. 14:1; Deut. 32:6; Jer. 31:9; Hosea 11:1). The call of Abraham and his seed to be God’s peculiar people marked the beginning of this “adoption.” See Vol. IV, pp. 25-27.

The glory. See on chapter 3:23. In this case the reference seems to be to the visible token of the presence of God. This was seen in the pillar of cloud and fire, the blazing light on Mt. Sinai, the Shekinah in the tabernacle and in the first Temple (see Ex. 16:10; 24:16; 40:34, 35; 1 Sam. 4:22; 1 Kings 8:10, 11; Heb. 9:5). Only Israel among all the nations had been privileged to have such a manifestation of God’s presence. See on John 1:14.

Covenants. These are “the covenants of promise” to which the Gentiles were “strangers” (Eph. 2:12, 13; see also Gen. 17:2, 7, 9; Ex. 2:24). The Jews seemed to regard these covenants as placing God under obligation to favor them with divine protection and blessing. At the same time they ignored their own obligations and failed to fulfill the conditions upon which the covenants were based.

Giving of the law. The reference is doubtless to the laws given at Sinai. Israel, above all other nations, had been favored with a revelation of God’s will (Deut. 4:8; Neh. 9:13, 14). Paul has already rebuked the Jews for assuming that the mere possession of the law, without obedience, would bring blessing (see Rom. 2:17-29).

Service of God. Greek latreia, translated “divine service” in Heb. 9:1. The reference is doubtless to the service of the sanctuary (see Heb. 9:6, where latreia is again translated “service of God”). Since the whole purpose of the ceremonial system was to develop a holy people and to teach them the provisions of God’s plan of righteousness by faith in the coming Redeemer, the Israelites had been highly favored by being entrusted with the “service of God.” But this privilege had been seriously abused (see Matt. 21:13; John 2:14-16).

Promises. These are especially the OT promises concerning the Messiah and His kingdom and Israel’s glorious future (see also Acts 26:6; Gal. 3:16, 21; Heb. 7:6).