Chizuk Emunah Under the Microscope: Chapter 26

You shall loosen your hand from your heritage that I gave to you, and I will make you serve your enemies in a land that you do not know, for in my anger a fire is kindled that shall burn forever.” (Jeremiah 17:4)

Christians during Troki's time believed that this verse was a prooftext that the Law of Moses and the associated covenant would be done away with. As we have seen in previous posts, no provisions were ever made for the covenant to end. Jeremiah said in chapter 31.

Thus says the Lord:

“If the heavens above can be measured,

and the foundations of the earth below can be explored,

then I will cast off all the offspring of Israel

for all that they have done,

declares the Lord.” (Jeremiah 31:37)

The greatest apostasy would not cause God to lose his covenant with national Israel, which is a separate entity from the church.

Troki points out that the Hebrew word for "forever" עַד־עֹולָם has multiple meanings.

For the palace is forsaken,

the populous city deserted;

the hill and the watchtower

will become dens forever,

a joy of wild donkeys,

a pasture of flocks;

until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high,

and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field,

and the fruitful field is deemed a forest. (Isaiah 32:14-15)

It seems like "forever" has more than one use, which admittedly weakens Troki's case that the covenant with Moses was to endure forever.