I'm going to ask you to stay in church and we're going to read this together. And just a disclaimer, this is an unrehearsed service. Amir and I, none of this is planned. You'll probably find that out in a moment. But as usual, in fact, Amir, will you read with them? You'll be picking up on the second or the even verses? No problem. Yeah. In English though, okay?

So I say then, has God cast away his people?

Certainly not.

For I also am an Israelite of the seat of Abraham and of the tribe of Benjamin.

God has not cast away his people whom he for knew.

Or do you not know what the scripture says of Elijah,

how he pleads with God against Israel, saying,

Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars,

and I alone am left.

And they seek my life. but what does the divine response say to him

I have reserved for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the need to ba'al

even so then at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

And if by grace, then it is no longer of works.

Otherwise, grace is no longer grace.

But if it is of works, it is no longer grace.

Otherwise, work is no longer work.

What then?

Israel has not obtained what it seeks,

but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded.

Just as it is written, God has given them a spirit of stupor,

eyes that they should not see and ears they would not hear.

To this very day.

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