Restoration understood in framework of Gods covenant

I will appeal only to the scriptures and interpret them in this covenant framework. Unfortunately no room will be allowed to argue philosophically. It is interesting to note that Israel's hope of restoration when her sins are forgiven are described always very much in this worldly terms. The terms of Deuteronomy 30 for example speak of her restoration in Garden of Eden terms. In fact I can go so far as to say the whole Old Testament uses Garden of Eden language when speaking of Israel's restoration. Isaiah and Ezekiel are especially rich in this language. They speak of streams in the desert, of crops that are bountiful. Of the lame walking, the blind seeing. The language of restoration encompasses creation, society as a whole, and individuals within it. However to the western mind that thinks that nothing heavenly can exist on earth, but only in heaven far away. That is because we are reading a Greek world view back into a Hebrew framework of what is heavenly.

We have to let the scripture speak freely and not to gag it by what we understand as heavenly. The point I am making is that many of the promises that we so freely refer to of Israel's restoration are language of the New Heavens and Earth. This is the age to come which is the renewal of all things. Because of many peoples blindness to this context of the promises, many interpret them and place them in this present wicked age. They place them within this present order of things, as we know it today. It must strike anyone, who is serious about the bible, how our jargon of going to heaven when we die is almost completely absent from the Old Testament. The reason is they were waiting for God to save them from the curse that is over all the earth. They were waiting for God to transform the earth again as it was in the Garden of Eden. In the scriptures there is a day, a point in time when God will do this. Those who trusted in Yahweh hoped to be raised from the dead on that day to partake of Gods renewed world. That was the hope they were saved in. Compare this with Romans8 and you will find the apostle Paul held to this hope.

So then what was the hope of Israel? What was the faith of Israel?

In the Mosaic covenant we have the promises of blessing and cursing. The terms of judgement that result in exile and oppression under foreign rulers, as well as what will happen when Yahweh circumcises their hearts and forgives national Israel her sins. Here in Deuteronomy 30:vs 1-12.we have a vision of Israel's future. Without this as our framework we can never understand the story of Israel. Yahweh is her covenant God, but there will come a time when he will renew his covenant with Israel in such a way that will put his Torah on their hearts. Also when Israel is restored God will establish her in the land in peace. It is all too easy to be literally wooden about these promises. But we must stop awhile and take in what we have just read. Let's just go over it again. 1stly God is speaking about future events in Israelis history. 2ndly these events are linked to obedience and disobedience of the Old covenant. 3rdly the promises of national forgiveness and the circumcision of Israelites heart are eschatological events. The promise of the circumcision of the heart is a new covenant event. That at least helps us to place this promise, historically. When this happens the Old covenant has been completed. Also the language used to describe Israel's return to the land is Edenic as vs9 depicts their restoration as been for good. Also the language of the Lord rejoicing over them is New covenant language.

Now it is well documented how the Lord sent Israel into exile into Assyria and again into Babylon. It is also well documented how God put oppressive rulers over them in the times of the judges because of rebellion against Yahweh. We also know that Israel returned geographically to Israel. However when they returned the great promises of restoration according to the Old covenant did not happen! This point must be grasped. That the promises of restoration had not happened are expressed both by Ezra as well as Nehemiah. Nehemiah expresses his hope of restoration after having suffered exile right from Deuteronomy 30 1-10, as does Daniel9. This proves that we are on solid ground that Israelites themselves interpreted their exile and restoration in terms of the Mosaic covenant. As did the prophets such as Jeremiah and Isaiah they proclaimed the woes of the covenant to rebellious Israel. All that God promised to do to them came upon them. The prophets also proclaimed their restoration. This is very interesting that their restoration is proclaimed in both Jeremiah as well as Ezekiel in terms of the New covenant. In the New covenant the promise of the Old covenant is reproclaimed. However it is made clearer that the return to the land is eschatological and is again described in Edenic terms. Also the promise of the Old to circumcise their hearts is now made as a New covenant promise. So these promises are end time language ,as this is Kingdom of God language. Also it must be noted we are now in the time of the New covenant. However the fullness of the New covenant promises still must come to pass as the land in Garden of Eden terms must still be inherited.