GOD’S PECULIAR TREASURE – PART 1
UK
Reading: Exodus 19 Text: Exodus 19:5 – “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.”
The passage of my reading of Exodus 19, is part of the marriage ceremony between Almighty God and the nation of Israel. It is not mentioned as such, but is quite obvious from what took place and the ensuing relationship that followed. Confirmation that such an occurrence took place is to be found in the writings of the prophets, such as Hosea and Jeremiah. The terms of the marriage relationship were set out and presented to the people. God reminded them what they had witnessed for themselves, how that the Lord had brought them out of Egypt and what he had done to the Egyptians. He says, “I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself.” This in itself speaks of a special relationship between God and his people. This relationship is emphasised even more in verse 5 where he speaks of a conditional covenant that he was about to make with them.
He says, “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.” Not only that, but in verse 6 he says they would be “a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation.” Speaking to Moses he says, “These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel”: and these are the words that Moses did speak when he came down from the mount.
In a normal wedding ceremony the man is first asked the question, “will you take this woman…?” Then the response to the question is, “I will.” Then to the woman, the same. In this case Moses presents the words of God to the people; and this is found in verse 8 their response: “All that the LORD hath spoken we will do.” Following this in verse 14, Moses was told to sanctify the people and they were to wash their clothes and be ready against the third day. This was obviously a special occasion; and an important time for them to remember.
Now going to the beginning of the following chapter 20 we find here the ten commandments.
The observance of these and subsequent laws was the only way this marriage was to remain intact. As we would expect in any marriage, the two partners had to remain for each other and no third party was to come between. Both had to remain faithful. This relationship was to be of no exception, as we read in verse 3 “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” We know how events turned out and how Israel was unfaithful in marriage. They had an abundance of false gods; they disobeyed the commands of God; and the marriage fell apart. Eventually, Israel was divided into two separate houses, Israel in the north and Judah in the south. God, because of their sin, cast them off; and in the process divorced the northern house. That in a nutshell so to speak, is how the marriage began and how it ended to this present time. Though we know from the prophets, better times lie ahead; and to these times we look forward. Now, to consider other matters as regards this elect and covenant nation of Israel, “God’s peculiar treasure.”
 First of all, just to explain this strange word peculiar, of which we are all familiar, but usually in a different sense to what we have here. The sense we normally associate with the word peculiar is that of, ‘strange’, ‘odd’ or ‘unusual.’ However, in the sense as applied in the text it means, ‘one’s own property’. An example of this is that of Westminster Abbey, which is referred to as a Royal Peculiar as it is not the property of the nation, but the property of the monarch; and in this case the Queen; it belongs to her. Where the word is in use in the chapter from Exodus, it refers to Israel as the property of Almighty God. Therefore Israel, the “peculiar treasure” through marriage, is God’s property.
It is my belief and that of those holding the doctrines of ‘Israel Identity Truth’, that the Israel nation we read about in the Bible, including those of present day descendants, have a unique and distinct role to play in the affairs of the world, quite apart from the church in general. Israel is a nation and a kingdom. It is not an imaginary place in ones heart. Nor is it a spiritual entity that has been transformed into the church. Israel, though estranged from God, remains his “battle axe” and “servant” nation. That nation will eventually come to a place of repentance, be forgiven of past sins and will be restored to its former glory as the wife of God and the bride of Christ. God has not cast off his people forever, as we read in Romans 11:1 “I say then”,says Paul, “Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.”
Israel is as real today as ever it was, though few recognise it for what it is.
Why did Paul make this statement? Why did he not just say: I am a Christian, a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ! The reason is, that he knew that it was necessary to make a distinction between Christian and Israelite. Christians, though saved by the blood of the Lamb and part of the family of God, are not all Israelites. Though they share in the many blessings that come with being a Christian, including that of eternal life, God still has a special place for his people Israel, of which the Bible has much to say throughout its pages. Israel, though as real today as ever it was, is hidden from the world and even from many of the elect. Just as we are told in Romans 11:25 “that blindness in part is happened to Israel.” Instead, another people have stolen their clothes; and those people are the Jews. Many of whom are not who they declare to be: of the seed of Abraham maybe, but not via the godly line of promise through Jacob-Israel. Also, Semitic they may claim to be, but not of true Israel stock.
The book of Revelation makes us aware of this deception by some that say they are Jews; but in this book damning statements are made in two places exposing their deceit. One such statement is to be found in Revelation 2:9, which says: “I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.” This is a very forceful statement, yet Christians appear to refuse to accept that present day Jews could be any other than who they claim to be. Yet, the Bible tells us differently and warns us to be on our guard.
Not many Christians appear to read their Bibles, let alone study them as we are instructed to do: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God” is the exhortation given in 2 Timothy 2:16. God expects us to use our brains and think things out for ourselves; not just to accept what the preachers say without giving due consideration to what the Holy Spirit might be pleased to reveal if only we took time to consult the Bible, God’s true and inspired word, for ourselves.
An example of this thinking for ourselves, is what the apostle Paul instructs us to do in Philippians 2:12, “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” Working out requires us to think for ourselves, not to be led like sheep, but fo have opinions of our own and a faith that can not be moved by the strong tides of public opinion and the doctrines of men. These days and for some years now, I tend to visit various churches in my search to hear the Authorised Version of the Bible and sound teaching; but also to keep me in touch with the mood of the day. In doing this, there is at times opportunity to have some input into the lives of fellow Christians through conversation, handing out of tracts, or by other means. Though these are difficult times, I make a point of going to church on a Sunday and attempt to keep the day Holy as the Lord’s Day and as the Christian Sabbath. My mission field is as much inside the church, as it is out; but mission it is.
I have attended on several occasions recently a Pentecostal Church. It is only a few miles down the road from where I live, yet it is decades since I had last visited it; it was the memories of those previous visits that turned me off. On these recent occasions I have been pleasantly surprised as to what I found. The place is so beautifully kept; and has been very tastefully renovated. Not only that, but the members are so friendly and active in worship and in things of God; and the ministry in general is good. Having said all that, the AV is not in exclusive use, which is a disappointment; but I am working on it. One Sunday morning the minister made mention of their website and the number of hits it had had. He then went on to draw attention to their statement of faith posted on the site; then proceeded to read it through in detail, with comment. The first object of the church he said was to glorify God, more than attempting to get people saved, important though it is. We might say to that, Amen! Eventually he mentioned that they believed in the Priesthood of all believers; and stressed that quite firmly. I wasn’t quite sure where I stood regarding this, so I thought I would look it up for myself; and the following is what I found. Thus, I would like to share my thoughts with you, in the hope that you might study the matter for yourself to form your own opinion.
The Priesthood of all believers is not something that can be found in so ma ny words, in the word of God; much like the Trinity in that respect: for the word Trinity is not to be found in the Bible. However, there are certain verses that one could use to back up that belief; as there may be to support the Priesthood of all believers. From looking up Wikipedia, it tells us that “Protestants believe that through Christ they have been given direct access to God, just like a priest; thus the doctrine is called the ‘priesthood of all believers.'” That is true, we do have access to God, yet not through our own merits, but through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ our great high priest. He is the one that intercedes for us that our sins may be forgiven. Further to this we are told, that Martin Luther did not use the exact phrase ‘priesthood of all believers’, but in one of his books in 1520 he adduces a general priesthood in Christendom in order to dismiss the medieval view that Christians in the present !ife were to be divided into two classes: ‘spiritual’ and ‘secular’. He put forward the doctrine that all baptized Christians are ‘priests’ and ‘spiritual’ in the sight of God.” They should certainly be spiritual, but should they be priests?
As I return to the chapter of my reading and to verse 6 of Exodus 19, this is what it says: ”And 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 lsrael.” Therefore, this concept of being ‘priests’ and ‘holy’ applied not only to specific individuals, but to a whole nation; and at the time mentioned it was promised exclusively to the nation of Israel: “a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation.”
 When we talk about ‘priests’, we might think about the role of the Levites and their Old Testament role of offering animal sacrifice unto God; and there was only a small proportion of Israel engaged in that occupation. Whereas, a kingdom of priests, suggests that many more were to be so engaged: although, the word priest implies male orientation, but is that what God had in mind? As to an ‘holy nation’, the meaning of holy is, to be ‘sanctified’, ‘separated’ or ‘set apart.’ In a similar way that the Sabbath Day was to be a day different from the rest. It was to be a special day, set apart for the worship of Almighty God; and a day of rest from work and general activities of life that take place during the rest of the week. Therefore an holy nation, is to be totally dedicated to the worship and service of God; and of the keeping of his law .
Isaiah 61 is a well-known passage of scripture, for part of the first two verses beginning with “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me…” was read by the Lord Jesus in the temple, who said in Luke 4:21 “This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears”, obviously referring to himself “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me…”. This chapter in Isaiah is mainly about the restoration of Israel; and as it mentions in verse 2 of the “day of vengeance of our God”, points to a future time . Verse 9 says ”And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the LORD hath blessed.” This is talking about a future occasion, when Israel will be recognised by the nations of the world as to who they are, the blessed and chosen of God. My interest in this chapter is in verse 6, which says: “But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.” So this term Priests of the LORD is carried forward from its first mention in Exodus 19 where it was referred exclusively to Israel and here is advanced into the future or end time days.
The question in my mind is: Is this promise regarding Kings and Priests, under the title Priesthood of all believers, exclusively to Israel, as I have shown it is up to now? Alternatively, does it at this present time apply to all believers regardless of nationality? Well, to find the answer to that question you will need to wait until my return on the 8th December, for then I will continue and complete the theme of God’s Peculiar Treasure, as there is insufficient time to do it now.
BAmen
