No — God has never permanently given up on Israel, even in the face of their disobedience.
God's word through 2 Samuel 7 shows that when Israel commits iniquity, He will chasten them with the rod of men, but His mercy shall not depart from them. Les Feldick emphasizes the 'flip side' of that promise: though Israel has been disciplined repeatedly, God has not turned His back on them forever. He has set them aside for a time, but His promises to Abraham and David remain in effect.
2 Samuel 7:14-16 — This is the clearest Old Testament promise that Israel's sin brings chastening, not abandonment, and that God's mercy remains.
In 2 Samuel 7, God makes a promise concerning David's house that extends beyond Solomon to the nation of Israel. God says, 'I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men: But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee.' This is God's own declaration that discipline — not abandonment — is what follows Israel's sin. God's promise is not conditioned on Israel's perfect obedience. The 'if he commit iniquity' clause shows God anticipated their failure, and the response promised is chastening through other nations. Even then, God's mercy will not depart from them.
Les Feldick hammers on the word 'but' in 2 Samuel 7:15 as 'the flip side.' He says that although Israel has committed iniquity and God has used other nations to chasten them repeatedly, the flip side is that God's mercy has never departed from them. He applies this to the whole nation of Israel, not just Solomon. Les points to the book of Judges as a cycle: under a faithful judge Israel rises spiritually, prospers, and defeats enemies; when the judge dies, they fall back into idolatry and bondage. Yet God kept raising up judges for three to four hundred years. He explains that God has set Israel aside since the crucifixion, but He has not turned His back on them forever. God's land covenant with Abraham is still in effect — when Christ returns, Israel will possess the whole Middle East from the river of Egypt to the Euphrates. All of this confirms that God's discipline is not the same as abandonment.
In 2 Samuel 7:14 God says He will chasten Israel with the rod of men and with the stripes of the children of men. Les Feldick explains that this means God will use other nations to punish and subdue Israel when they are rebellious, idolatrous, or unbelieving. He points to Israel's history of being overrun and put into subservience by conquering nations as the fulfillment of that discipline.
Les uses the book of Judges to show that God never gave up on Israel during the centuries of the judges. Under a good judge Israel rose spiritually, prospered, and defeated enemies. When the judge died, the people fell back into idolatry and brought the enemy back. God would raise up another judge, and Israel would rise again. This repeated cycle lasted three to four hundred years.
Les points to the covenant God made with Abraham, in which God said, 'Unto thy seed have I given this land' from the river of Egypt to the river Euphrates. That promise was deeded to Abraham by God. Les says there is no chance God will change His mind. When Christ returns, Israel is going to have the whole Middle East as their homeland.
Abrahamic Land Promise Remains
God deeded the land to Abraham from the river of Egypt to the Euphrates; Israel can neither lose nor forfeit that deed.
Chastening with Rod of Men
Les teaches that Israel's repeated failures have brought God's discipline through other nations, but that discipline is not abandonment.
The 'But' of Mercy
Les highlights God's promise that even after chastening Israel, His mercy shall not depart, and that 2 Samuel 7:16 applies these promises to the nation of Israel.
Set Aside, Not Cast Off
Les explains that although Israel has been set aside since the crucifixion, God has not turned His back on them forever; the nation will still face tribulation but not be destroyed.
Mercy after Discipline
Les repeats the flip side: even if God must discipline or disperse Israel, His mercy shall not depart from them.
Judges Cycle
Les uses the era of the judges to show that God repeatedly restored Israel after each fall, proving He does not give up on them.
National Father-Son Discipline
Les applies the father-son language of 2 Samuel 7 to the nation of Israel; history shows God using conquering nations to chasten them.
Mercy Cannot Depart
Les insists that no matter how far Israel falls or how unbelieving they become, God's mercy cannot depart from them.
2 Samuel 7:14: I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:
This verse shows that Israel's iniquity results in discipline, not rejection.
2 Samuel 7:15: But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee.
The 'but' is the pivotal promise that God's mercy remains even after chastening.
2 Samuel 7:16: And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.
This verse connects the promise to the enduring nation of Israel.
Genesis 15:18: In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:
This is the unconditional land promise that Les says remains in force for Israel.
No. Les Feldick teaches that God has set Israel aside for a time, but He has not turned His back on them forever. He is still moving them toward the day when their Messiah returns.
No. Chastening is what a father does with a son. God says He will discipline Israel with the rod of men, but His mercy shall not depart from them. This is the very opposite of rejection.
Yes. Les points out that God deeded the land to Abraham from the river of Egypt to the Euphrates. When Christ returns, Israel will have the whole Middle East as their homeland.
Watch the Teaching: The Gifts & Calling of God Without Repentance — Romans 11:29 Explained