No — God will never abandon the nation of Israel; He will discipline them, but His mercy will not depart.
In 2 Samuel 7, God promises that even when Israel commits iniquity, He will chasten them with the rod of men, yet He adds, 'But my mercy shall not depart away from him.' Les Feldick emphasizes that this little word 'but' is the turning point: no matter how far Israel falls short, God's mercy remains. He also points out that God still has His eye on Israel as His covenant people and will fulfill every covenant promise.
2 Samuel 7:14-15 — God's promise to David extends to the nation of Israel: He will discipline them for iniquity, but His mercy will never depart.
In 2 Samuel 7, God speaks to David about his royal house and makes a father-son promise. Verse 14 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.' Verse 15 then turns with the word 'But': 'But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee.' Verse 16 continues, 'And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.' The Scripture itself shows both discipline and enduring mercy. God does not promise to overlook iniquity; He promises to chasten His people. But He also promises that His mercy will not be removed from them.
Les Feldick teaches that God's relationship with Israel is that of a father with a son — a father disciplines his child. He explains that in 2 Samuel 7:14, God tells David that when Israel commits iniquity, He will chasten them with the rod of men, meaning He will use other nations to punish them. Then in verse 15, the word 'but' flips the picture: in spite of all the discipline Israel deserves, God says, 'My mercy shall not depart from them.' Les repeatedly emphasizes that God has chastened Israel throughout history — through other nations, conquests, and dispersion — but He has never given up on them. He applies the promise beyond Solomon to the whole nation of Israel, saying verse 16 shows it is the nation that is in view. He also teaches that God's covenants with Israel can never be broken or forgotten, and even though Israel is currently in unbelief, God still has His eye on them as His covenant people.
Les Feldick clarifies that while the promise in 2 Samuel 7 was given to David concerning Solomon, it is not limited to Solomon. He notes that verse 16 shows the promise is about the nation of Israel, the children of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The royal line through David continued down to Christ, but the chastening and mercy promised here apply to Israel as a nation.
Les explains that when Israel became rebellious, steeped in unbelief or idolatry, God would bring in conquering nations to put them in subservience. He cites the book of Judges as a pattern of Israel going up and down — rising under godly judges and plunging into sin when they died. God chastised them over and over, but He never gave up on them.
Les highlights the word 'but' as one of the important words in Scripture. He says it does 'the flip side': even though God will have to chasten Israel because of their iniquity, He immediately promises that His mercy shall not depart away from him. The discipline does not cancel the mercy.
No. Les insists, 'Don't ever subscribe to the idea that God is through with the Jew.' Even though Israel is in unbelief today and their government is as secular as any other, God still has His eye on them as His covenant people. The covenant promises will still come to fruition, including a glorious earthly kingdom.
Israel: A Covenant, Set-Aside People
Les shows that Israel is a covenant, special set-aside people, and the royal Davidic line continued through to Christ — establishing why God will not abandon them.
God's Fatherly Discipline and Unfailing Mercy
Les directly answers the question by quoting 2 Samuel 7:15: no matter how far Israel falls short, God says 'My mercy shall not depart from them.'
The 'But' in 2 Samuel 7:15
Les explains that God may use other nations to discipline and even disperse Israel, but the word 'but' shows that mercy will not depart.
God Never Gave Up On Israel
Using Israel's roller-coaster history from Judges, Les shows that God chastised them but never gave up on them.
'But' — Mercy Still Holds
Les stresses that even though Israel has been rebellious, God promises 'my mercy shall not depart away from him,' and verse 16 shows this applies to the nation.
Chastening With the Rod of Men
Les identifies the 'rod of men' as other nations brought in to punish Israel, while noting the promise is not just about Solomon but the nation of Israel.
God Is Not Through With the Jew
Les directly refutes the idea that God is finished with the Jewish people, stating God still has His eye on them as His covenant people.
God's Covenants Never Broken or Forgotten
Les teaches that God's covenants with Israel can never be broken or forgotten, and they will always come to fruition.
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 establishes that God will treat Israel as a son and will discipline them when they sin.
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 word 'But' provides the direct answer: mercy remains even amid discipline.
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 shows the promise reaches beyond Solomon to an everlasting kingdom for Israel.
No. In 2 Samuel 7:14-15, God says if Israel commits iniquity, He will chasten them, but His mercy shall not depart away from him. Les Feldick emphasizes the word 'but' — discipline does not cancel God's mercy or His covenant promises.
Les Feldick teaches it is not limited to Solomon. He points to verse 16 and explains that the promise covers the nation of Israel, the children of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Les says, 'Never.' Even though Israel repeatedly fell into sin and idolatry, as seen in Judges, God chastised them but never gave up on them. He still has His eye on them as His covenant people.
Watch the Teaching: Is God Done With Israel? What the Bible Really Says - Romans 9 Explained