Topic: A Peculiar People [Thursday May 25, 2017]
Text: Deuteronomy 14:1-21
Key Verse: “For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth” (Deuteronomy 14:2).
Hatred for the Jews (anti-Semitism) has been around for quite a long time. It has been noted that within the 1,700 years preceding 1948 when the Jews returned to their home land, they had experienced more than eighty expulsions from various countries in Europe. Remarkably, there is no clear reason for this happening. They have been hated for many unproven reasons.
One outstanding reason adduced by some for the hatred is that Jews claim that they are the chosen people. Were the Jews actually designed to be a chosen people? Yes. So says God’s word. The Scripture is very clear that God has a special role for Israel, “to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises” (Romans 9:4).
Though their history has been characterised by an unenviable cycle of backsliding-judgement-repentance-restoration, God is not done with them yet. Moses, in today’s text endeavoured to drill into them the truth that the Lord had set them apart to be a holy and peculiar people for His own purpose and pleasure. They were, therefore, not to imbibe the pagan lifestyle of other nations. God was interested and involved in the minutest aspects of their life. In this dispensation of grace, the privilege of divine adoption has been extended to every believer in Christ. Indeed, being a Jew (God’s people) is no more a matter of nationality, but has to do with personal relationship with God.
Those who have turned from sin and put their trust in Christ as their Lord and Saviour and accepted God’s grace are “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people….” If you belong here, live in the consciousness that you have been set apart to “shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light (1 Peter 2:9). This should reflect in your conduct, cravings and carriage. Do not abuse this privilege by living according to the world’s standards.
Thought for the day: If God has chosen you to be His, choose nothing else.
Bible Reading in one Year: Zechariah 1-5
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
