“And the LORD hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people, as he hath promised thee, and that thou shouldest keep all his commandments; and to make thee high above all nations which he hath made, in praise, and in name, and in honour; and that thou mayest be an holy people unto the LORD thy God, as he hath spoken.” Our Text this morning, Deuteronomy 26:18-19.

God’s promise to Israel, as a nation of holy people.

Well, as an “obedient” people too.

Several words in these verses are of paramount importance.

The verb translated “hath avouched” is simply spelled “amar” in Hebrew. Its meaning … “God has spoken, has said, has uttered.” This refers to the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai. God (historically) spoke then.

A “peculiar” people (“segullah”) means those who are “shut up” unto God, His special possession! His “jewels,” His “treasure,” says the King James Bible.

Wow!

The verb “shouldest keep” is “shamar,” used a total of 468 times in the Old Testament! It means “to heed, preserve, watch,” hence “to obey.”

And here everything does hinge on Israel’s being the kind of people God wanted her to be! Even the noun “people” (“am” in Hebrew) hints at relationship, kinship!

Then watch God bless His little “possession.”

“And to make thee high (elyon) above all nations which he hath made, in praise, and in name, and in honour,” pretty special! (Israel is far from this today, though still God’s little “pet” nation!)

But some day in the future, after Jesus comes again to earth … she will be this and a whole lot more! (I’m preparing a series of Sermons on Isaiah chapter 62 right now. There is described Israel’s future glory, in some detail.)

God’s express “passion” for His people, His followers? “That thou mayest be an holy people unto the LORD thy God.”

Where “holy” (“qadosh”) implies “set apart, consecrated, dedicated, pure.”

What a beautiful Passage about God’s “heart” for Israel.

And our jobs as saved Gentiles?

Pray for these truths to be actualized in the life of God’s “Israel.”

Praying for the salvation of “the Apple of God’s Eye!”

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Zechariah 2:8, God to Israel: “For thus saith the LORD of hosts … he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.”