A PECULIAR TREASURE
Exodus 19:1-8
Key verses: 5-6, “Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: 6And 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.”
Introduction:
Israel spent 400 years in Egypt. Many of those years were good years, but a new monarch to over and Israel became a threat to them. Bondage followed and Israel suffered at the hands of the Egyptians. They also grew to be a very numerous people.
God saw their suffering and remembered His promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Through His love He redeems His people out of their bondage and makes them His Peculiar Treasure.
I. PECULIAR TREASURE = PERSONAL POSSESSION
Psalm 135:4, “For the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure.”
A. The Lord redeemed Israel.
1. He reminds them of what he had done for them, v. 4, “Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself.”
2. This is an example of the tender way that God deals with His people, Deuteronomy 32:11-12, “As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: 12So the LORD alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him.”
3. God redeemed them with great ease and with the strength of an eagle, Isaiah 40:31, “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
B. Solely because He loved her, Isaiah 63:9, “In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.”
1. The Lord did not love them because they were a large people, Deuteronomy 7:7, “The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people:”
2. God would keep His word with their fathers, Deuteronomy 7:8, “But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.”
C. The glory of their deliverance is compared to ours in Christ, 1 Peter 3:18, “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:”
II. THOSE WHO FEAR THE LORD
Malachi 3:16, “Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.”
A. A book of remembrance was written, Malachi 3:16, “Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.”
1. For those that feared Him, Malachi 4:2, “But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. 3And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts.”
a. The Sun of Righteousness, Isaiah 9:2, “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.”
b. He brought great benefits, Psalm 103:2-5, “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: 3-Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
4-Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; 5-Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”
4-Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; 5-Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”
2. For those that thought upon His name, Psalm 48:9-10, “We have thought of thy lovingkindness, O God, in the midst of thy temple. 10-According to thy name, O God, so is thy praise unto the ends of the earth: thy right hand is full of righteousness.”
B. For the Lord’s people are His Peculiar Treasure, Deuteronomy 7:6, “For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.”
III. HIS PURCHASED POSSESSION
Psalm 74:2, “Remember thy congregation, which thou hast purchased of old; the rod of thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed; this mount Zion, wherein thou hast dwelt.”
A. God’s redeemed people, Deuteronomy 9:29, “Yet they are thy people and thine inheritance, which thou broughtest out by thy mighty power and by thy stretched out arm.”
1. Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, 1 Peter 1:18-19, “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:”
2. Redeemed to God, Revelation 5:9, “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;”
B. A Chosen Generation, 1 Peter 2:9, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:”
CONCLUSION
God calls His people “ a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, and a peculiar people.” What make us different from all others? HIS HOLINESS! Examine yourselves to see if you are in that generation. Have you trusted Christ? If so, is your life a testimony of His Grace in your life?