Why did Israel not submit to the righteousness of God?
Israel failed to submit to God's righteousness because they were ignorant of it and sought to establish their own righteousness through works of the Law. They kept the Law, feasts, and sacrifices without faith, not recognizing Christ as the object of faith and the end of the law for righteousness.
Les explains that Israel was ignorant of God's righteousness and went about to establish their own righteousness instead of submitting to God's. They tried to do it with their own works and left faith out of the picture. They kept the Feast Days, followed the sacrifices, and followed the Law to the letter, but with no faith. Without faith it is impossible to please God, and that was just as true in the Old Testament economy as it is today. Christ was the object of faith Israel was expected to embrace. He came proving who He was, the fulfillment of over 360 distinct Old Testament prophecies. If they knew their Bible as they thought, they should have recognized Him, but they did not know their Bible. Les compares this to people today who do whatever a denomination prescribes according to rote and ritual but without faith, which counts for nothing.
For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
More Questions
Why were the Jews in Romans 10 ignorant of God's righteousness?
These Jews were ignorant because they had never been taught — their ignorance was not a downplay on their intelligence level but simply the result of never having been instructed.