The Relationship of Jewish and Gentile Believers to the Law Between A.D. 30 and 70 in the Scripture

111 nations coming to the LORD with Israel as the channel. If the nations "learn the ways of my people ... then shall they be built in the midst of my people." Isaiah sees a similar scenario in which Israel is saved by the Lord (45: 17) who then extends his offer of salvation to the nations. 154 These references also harmonize and support the thrust of James' words. The meaning of James' quotation James' point in his quotation is twofold. First he acknowledges Peter's point that God is now calling Gentiles to salvation and buttresses it with references to Scripture. This conversion of Gentiles was announced and approved by God beforehand in the Old Testa– ment. The context of Amos (chapters 7-9) involves five visions of judgment which climax with the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile (9: 1-7). God promised to sift Israel in the sieve of the nations but that not a kernel of the remnant would be lost. Then afterwards during Messianic times 155 God would turn again to re-establish the house of David. The promise to rebuild the tent of David in Amos is a brief and direct reference to the promises of God in the Davidic covenant of 2 Samuel 7 . The covenant in its entirety involves God's particularistic promises to the nation of Israel through king David . 156 Second, he teaches by the ways of my people, to swear by my name , The LORD liveth ; as they taught my people to swear by Baal; then shall they be built in the midst of my people . (KJV) 154 20 As emble yourselve and come together, draw near , you ur i or of th nation ! .... 21 Declare and pre ent your case; let them take coun el togeth r! Who told thi long ago? Who declared it of old? Wa it not I , the LORD? There i no oth r g d b id me , a righteou God and a avior; there i no one beside me . 22 Turn to me and b a d , all the end of the earth! For I am God, and there i no other. 1 Amo ' time rame conform to Jewi h e chatolog a and the Me iamc age . hapter nin de ribe both of th ' ne r ' utur mv 1 m d truction and e il ( : 1- 10) nd ( ) th p litical ortune r e tor d ( : 11 - 1 ) and ph i al pr p rit 13- 15) 1 6 he pr mi t D vid ( m 7 : 1 ) n t nl in n nt pr nt nd . . . hi h tam a m ain b m d ni n h 111 b kin but