What does it mean that Israel's table was made a snare in Romans 11:9?
Israel feasted as a nation at God's own table, receiving His blessings, but in unbelief that table became a snare, trap, stumbling block, and recompense. Their rejection of Jehovah's goodness led to spiritual blindness—eyes darkened and back bowed—while individual Jews still may believe the Gospel.
Les explains that Romans 11:9 quotes David in the Psalms: "Let their table be made a snare." Israel was literally, as a nation, feasting at the very table of God Himself, but it became a snare, a trap, a stumbling block, and a recompense. As a result of their unbelief and their rejecting all the good things Jehovah had showered upon them, the conclusion was that their eyes would be darkened so they may not see, and their back bowed always. That is their spiritual eyes. In their unbelief, God made sure they really would not believe by putting a spiritual blindness upon the nation. Les reminds us that God deals with the Jew on two levels, national and individual. Nationally they are blinded, waiting for the return of their Messiah at the end of the tribulation, when the remnant will be saved. But today in the age of grace, nationally they are blinded, yet an individual Jew has every opportunity to believe the Gospel. So no one should feel sorry for the Jew as if he has no chance.
And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:
More Questions
What was Israel's position at God's table according to Romans 11?
Israel was literally feasting at God's table and receiving all the blessings and the ramifications of that place.
What happened to Israel because of their exalted position at God's table?
Israel's exalted position of sitting at God's table became a snare, trap, stumbling block, and recompense, and caused them to fall.