11-Triumph

Let me repeat the final paragraph of the previous chapter.
What a pessimistic book this is, to be sure! Well... yes and no.
All is not gloom and despair. Far from it. We know the
narrative must end in TRIUMPH. It will. Glorious triumph!
For a start, significant straws have been in the wind. Have you
missed them?
Take Israel. As we have seen, throughout the days of the old
covenant, right from Sinai, Israel played fast and loose with
their covenant, kicking over the traces with regard to the law.
Spiritually speaking, Israel showed her propensity to be a serial
adulteress. So much so, both kingdoms eventually went into
captivity under the wrath of God. There were a few bright spots
– in Judah – but the reality is that the history of Israel reveals a
dreadful catalogue of unfaithfulness and disobedience, one
which culminated in the Jews‟ by-and-large rejection of the
Messiah when he appeared among them, even though they had
long expected him, and were (supposedly) looking forward to
his coming.