Holy and Treasured

Introduction

Most of us have something that is special to us. It is a treasured possession. If you were having to downsize, it would be the very thing that would make it in the “keep” pile rather than in the “get rid of” pile. You may have more than one thing. Think just a minute about that special thing. How do you treat it? What do you think when you see it or touch it? What memories are connected to it? I have in my office at FHU several special objects. One of those is a paper weight that belonged to my grandfather. It was on his desk at his house and when he died, my mother gave it to me. Every time I look at it, I think of my grandfather and remember seeing it on his desk. What was special to him is now special to me.

Have you ever thought about how God thinks about you? Have you ever thought about how special you are to God? We come hear and often times we are reminded of the importance of changing our lives to more closely reflect the ideal that God wants. And we should be. We often hear that we are lacking in some way and we are. No need to sugar coat the truth. We even hear that God loves us and wants what is best for us and that is truthful. What we don’t often hear is that God consciously thinks of us and values us. Yes, he values us through the demonstration of Jesus and the cross, but that God values us on a day by day basis. While God will and does punish and God has high expectations for us, he values us as a special treasure. That is what we will focus on today. God values us and through his faithfulness we are able to recognize and live with purpose and direction.

We come today to express how much we treasure God. Our worship is a time to express our deep love for God. Our heart belongs to him. There is no one else that we want to know and to be near. So we enter his throneroom with confidence, joy, and love. We are bursting with appreciation for him and our time with him this morning will be a brief reminder of how much we value him.

Possessing the Land

Deuteronomy 7 are instructions about taking possession of the promised land. These instructions and commands are designed to do two things. First, the commands are a direct result of God’s faithfulness. God made promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and those promises are now coming true. To take possession of this land would demonstrate that God is a promise keeper and that while faith demands patience, God’s timing is now going to be fulfilled. Second, following the commands will result in blessing for the nation. God wants the entire land to be free of things that distract and pull Israel from following God. Anything that can pull Israel from God’s way is to be destroyed. Occupying the land will reveal the faithfulness of God and Israel.

There is a second theme found in this chapter. Taking possession of the land could produce arrogance and pride. So there are specific instructions regarding how Israel is to think about what is getting ready to happen. In verses 7 & 8, Israel was chosen by God because of God’s love. It had nothing to do with Israel’s strength or their population. It had nothing to do with what Israel had to offer but had everything to do with God’s love and faithfulness. God choosing Israel out of love does not mean that he didn’t love other nations. Nor does it mean that God was arbitrary in his love. Rather the focus is on God’s decision made in order to carry out his purpose and will.

Notice verse 6. You are a people holy to the Lord. The word holy has a variety of meanings but here the point is not to say that Israel is holy but their focus makes them holy. The word “holy” in its primary meaning means to be free of defilement or to be pure. Israel is not pure. But when the word is followed by a phrase of possession as it is here, then the word takes on a different meaning of “set apart” or “consecrated.” Israel isn’t pure, but because of God’s faithfulness and love they are consecrated. They are dedicated for God. They are his people. They did nothing to make this happen. Abraham was minding his own business when God came to him and called him to leave his land and follow him. To be “set apart” has nothing to do with us. It is God who sets us apart. It is God who chooses us. It is God’s love which causes him to act and then we are designated as holy.

The same principle is taught in several places in the New Testament. 1 Peter 2:9-10 says: But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. We were minding our own business. We were going in our own direction. God chose us. He made us into a holy nation. We are not pure, but when God chose us he declared us to be holy; to be set apart for as his people. While we may not be pure, we are still called to be pure. Our lives are to reflect the purity of God. God chose us to be his people. What an honor!

Treasured Possession

But there is another phrase in verse 6 that demands our attention. Moses tells the people that they are God’s “treasured possession.” Other translations use the phrase “special people” or something similar but treasure captures the idea. Remember your treasured possession? How do you treat it? What memories are associated with it? What do you think when you see it or touch it? This word is used sparingly in the Old Testament but every usage has to do with treasure. But in the New Testament this idea is carried over sparingly. The same phrase is used in 1 Peter 2:9-10 but it is also used in Ephesians 1:14 in which Paul says that the Holy Spirit is given to us as a deposit guaranteeing that we are God’s possession.

Don’t miss this. Just as Israel was God’s special treasure, so we who belong to God through Jesus are God’s special treasure. What does God think about you? You are special to him. When he thinks of you he smiles. In fact, he rejoices. Luke 15:10 — Jesus says, “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” The entirety of spiritual beings including God himself rejoices when we come to him. We are God’s treasure. There is no room for arrogance or boasting. It is God who has chosen us and made us his possession.

So What?

Just as with Israel our position with God has nothing to do with our strength, our purity, or our value. Instead God gives meaning to us. So let us not lose sight of our position. Israel was going into a land that was already built; a land that already had fields to harvest and houses in which to live; a land that was ready for them. And Israel could be easily fooled into believing that a little mix with the people of the land wouldn’t be bad. Don’t be fooled. Unlike Israel our directive is not to smash altars but we are to be clear that our direction in life is different from the world in which we live.

In 7:25 God tells Israel not to covet the silver and gold in the land. True words for us. Don’t be led astray by the desire to succeed. Don’t believe that just a little more will get you what you want. Learn to be satisfied with the blessing of God. Don’t allow the thinking of this world to infiltrate your godly thinking. Don’t think that this world has anything to offer that is better than being God’s treasured possession. We can either be owned by the world and its ways or by God and His ways. The former brings discontent; the latter brings purpose and direction.

It was C.S. Lewis who put things so vividly. In his book the Weight of Glory, Lewis discusses that we are easily fooled. We believe that living in this world is difficult. And so we desire to have ease and comfort. We long for things to distract us and to take the unpleasantness of life away from us. So what do we go after? Listen to Lewis: “We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.” We are too short-sighted. It takes hard work and attention to remember that as God’s treasure we are valued and wanted and sought after. As God’s treasure we are loved, smiled upon, and the joy of God’s grace. Don’t be fooled. This world will use you. God cherishes you. Be what God intends for you to be — dedicated to him. Invitation.

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