- A Peculiar Treasure
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.
Another conditional promise: the condition is obedience and keeping God’s words and His covenant. Our part of the covenant is perfect obedience to the Law of God. If you obey, then you are a peculiar treasure to me. All the earth is mine, says the Lord, and I own it all and I can do what I want with it. But I chose you out of all the people to be to me a special treasure beyond price. You are peculiar. You are not like the rest of the world of sinners in rebellion. If you live according to my Commands you will be seen as different.
This conditional promise applies to us NT believers, as Peter tells us we are a “peculiar people.” Jesus says we are a pearl of great price, a treasure in a field. We can take this promise personally because by faith in Jesus Christ we are accounted righteous. We have kept the covenant because Jesus did it for us. We have an “alien righteousness.” The covenant is kept; the promise is ours. We are special; we are unique; we are different than the world; we are a treasure to God.
And I can believe this promise personally and individually for me, not just corporately as the Church as a whole. I am special; I am a treasure; I am peculiar. I didn’t deserve it, but I have it by the grace of God in Jesus Christ, Jesus died for all, but I believe He died for me. Even if I were the only one in the world He would have died for just me. I am that special to Him. He set His love and kindness upon me. That is the faith that receives. That faith is granted by grace through the Word and the Spirit, who convinces me of the Gospel.
God can do what He wants with what is His. Thank God, he has chosen to set His love upon me and save me through the death and resurrection of Jesus. He makes me special. I am nothing and by nature I am worthless, but He has made me something, and He makes me worthy. I have worth and value to God. That’s a promise.