The 'services of God' in Romans 9:4 were Israel's God-given system of prescribed worship — the tabernacle, the priesthood, and the whole system of sacrificial worship — given to prepare the nation for a future role.
Les teaches that these services were among the privileges Paul lists for Israel as he opens his parenthetical section on the nation in Romans 9-11. God gave Israel the priesthood, temple worship, and the whole system of sacrificial worship so that Israel would know exactly what to do under any circumstances. The Greek word latria links this to Hebrews 9:1, where the first covenant had 'ordinances of divine service.' Yet as Les notes, the system accomplished practically nothing in changing the Adamic nature.
Romans 9:4 — The verse under question; Paul lists the service of God as one of Israel's special privileges.
Hebrews 9:1 — Les uses this verse to show that the services were the prescribed ritual of the first covenant, using the same Greek word latria.
Romans 9:4 lists 'the service of God' as one of the privileges belonging to the nation of Israel: 'Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises.' Hebrews 9:1 connects these services to the first covenant: 'Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.' Romans 3:1-2 emphasizes the Jew's advantage: 'What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.' Exodus 19:6 records God's stated purpose for Israel: 'And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation.' These verses show that Israel's service was God-given and connected to the law covenant, and that Israel was set apart for a priestly role among the nations.
Les teaches that the services of God were part of the unique privileges God gave to Israel. God gave Israel the priesthood, the temple worship, and the whole system of sacrificial worship so that Israel would know exactly what to do under any set of circumstances. He says the purpose of these services was to make Israel aware of God's holiness and sovereignty, and to prepare them for a future role while the rest of the world was steeped in pagan idolatry. Les describes the services as the ritual or ecclesiastical part of the legal system, given in part to compensate for Israel's breaking of the moral law. He cross-references Hebrews 9:1 to show that the same Greek word latria used in Romans 9:4 refers to the established, prescribed ritual according to the law. Yet, as he points out in Romans 3, these services — along with the priesthood, worship, and civil law — accomplished practically nothing in changing human nature; they proved that the Adamic nature is just as evident in the son of Abraham as in a Gentile.
Les describes the services as the ritual or system of worship that God gave Israel — the tabernacle, the priesthood, and the whole system of sacrificial worship. God established the priesthood so that Israel would know exactly what to do under any set of circumstances. These were the prescribed ordinances of divine service under the first covenant.
Les teaches that God gave Israel the law, the priesthood, and the whole system of sacrificial worship to make them aware of His holiness and His sovereignty, and to prepare them for a future role while the rest of the world was steeped in pagan idolatry. He also describes the ritual system as given to compensate for Israel's breaking of the moral law. God prepared Israel to be a kingdom of priests by giving them the temple worship, the priesthood, and the Old Testament.
Les points to Hebrews 9:1, where the first covenant had 'ordinances of divine service.' He notes this is the same Greek word latria used in Romans 9:4, and that the word 'divine' comes from a different Greek word implying the established or prescribed ritual according to the law. When people came to the Temple, they knew exactly what they were to do, and how, and when.
Les observes from Romans 3 that God gave Israel the priesthood, the worship, the civil law, and the whole system of law, yet it accomplished practically nothing. It simply proved that the Adamic nature is just as evident in the son of Abraham as it is in a Gentile — there is no difference. Thus, the services did not change human nature; they revealed its problem.
Paul writes Romans 9-11 as a parenthetical section of the letter, leaving off his instructions and doctrines for Gentiles to deal with the nation of Israel — its past, present, and future. The services of God are one of the Old Testament privileges Paul rehearses as he qualifies his remarks about Israel's status.
Introduction to the Services in Romans 9:4
Les confirms that after covering the earlier privileges in Romans 9:4, the next item he teaches on is the 'services,' placing the services of God directly in Paul's list of Israel's unique blessings.
Purpose of the Law, Priesthood, and Sacrificial Worship
Les explains that God gave Israel the priesthood and the whole system of sacrificial worship in order to make them aware of His holiness and sovereignty and to prepare them for a future role in a world of pagan idolatry.
8 Privileges God Gave Only to Israel — Romans 9:4 Explained
All the things that God did on behalf of Israel with regard to the covenants, we are now experiencing that which, what shall I say, run over from it, or falls over the edges, or whatever. And so yes, we are experiencing the great salvation of God and all that, because of what God has done in fulfilling the covenants of Israel. But as the covenants themselves are concerned, we have nothing to do.
The Ritual System Given After the Moral Law Was Broken
Les teaches that God gave Israel the ritual system of worship, including the tabernacle and the priesthood, to compensate for their breaking of the moral law and to tell Israel exactly what to do under any circumstances.
Latria and the Prescribed Ordinances of Divine Service
Les cross-references Hebrews 9:1 with Romans 9:4, showing that the Greek word latria describes the prescribed ritual according to the law, so that people knew exactly what to do, how, and when in temple worship.
Israel's Advantages and Their Limited Result
Les notes that although God gave Israel the priesthood, the worship, the civil law, and the whole system of law, it accomplished practically nothing — proving the Adamic nature is as evident in the Jew as in the Gentile.
Preparing Israel as a Kingdom of Priests
Les shows that God called Israel out of humanity, promised they would become a kingdom of priests, and prepared them through the law, temple worship, the priesthood, and the Old Testament, while the Gentiles remained outside the covenant promises.
Romans 9-11 as Israel's Parenthetical Section
Les explains that Romans 9-11 is a parenthetical portion of Paul's letter where he turns from Gentile doctrine to deal with the nation of Israel — past, present, and future — which is why the services of God appear in Romans 9:4.
Romans 9:4: Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;
This is the verse under study, where Paul lists the 'service of God' among the special privileges belonging to Israel.
Hebrews 9:1: Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.
Les cross-references this to Romans 9:4, noting the same Greek word latria behind 'divine service,' meaning the prescribed ritual according to the law.
Romans 3:1-2: What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.
This shows that the Jewish nation had every spiritual advantage, yet, as Les notes, the entire system proved the Adamic nature is present in Jew and Gentile alike.
Exodus 19:6: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
This records God's intent for Israel to become a kingdom of priests — the role the law, temple worship, and priesthood were preparing them for.
Les explains that the services of God were Israel's God-given system of worship — the tabernacle, the priesthood, and the whole system of sacrificial worship. God established these prescribed services so Israel would know exactly what to do, how, and when.
God gave Israel the priesthood and sacrificial system to make them aware of His holiness and sovereignty and to prepare them for a future role in a world steeped in pagan idolatry. God also gave the ritual system to compensate for Israel's breaking of the moral law.
Yes. Les says the same Greek word latria appears in both passages. In Hebrews it refers to 'ordinances of divine service,' with the word 'divine' implying a prescribed ritual according to the law.
According to Romans 3, Israel had every advantage — the priesthood, the worship, and the whole system of law — yet it accomplished practically nothing. As Les puts it, the system proved the Adamic nature is as evident in the Jew as in the Gentile.
Watch the Teaching: The Service of God Explained: What Israel's Worship Meant — Romans 9:4