Why did God choose Israel as His treasured possession in Psalm 135:4? Text and Immediate Context “For the LORD has chosen Jacob for Himself, Israel as His treasured possession.” (Psalm 135:4). Psalm 135 is a litany of praise that recounts Yahweh’s supremacy over idols, His mighty acts in history, and His covenant faithfulness. Verse 4 grounds the psalmist’s worship in the divine election of Israel. The Sovereignty of Divine Choice Scripture insists that Israel’s selection sprang solely from God’s gracious will, not human merit. • “The LORD did not set His affection on you or choose you because you were more numerous … but because the LORD loved you…” (Deuteronomy 7:7-8). • “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy” (Romans 9:15). Election underscores God’s absolute sovereignty and magnifies grace. Covenant Loyalty to the Patriarchs God’s choice fulfills oaths sworn to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Genesis 12:1-3; 15:5-18; 26:24; 28:13-15). These promises include land, nationhood, and worldwide blessing. Psalm 135:4 alludes to that sworn fidelity: God treasures Israel because He keeps His word (Numbers 23:19). Vehicle for Global Redemption Through Israel God planned universal salvation: • “All peoples on earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:3). • “I will also make you a light for the nations, that My salvation may reach to the ends of the earth” (Isaiah 49:6). Israel carries the oracles of God (Romans 3:2) and births the Messiah (Micah 5:2; Luke 1:32-33). God’s choice is missionary, not provincial. Display of Divine Glory Yahweh’s dealings with Israel expose His character to the nations: power (Exodus 9:16), holiness (Leviticus 20:26), justice (Deuteronomy 4:6-8), and steadfast love (Psalm 136). Their history becomes a living apologetic for monotheism. Prototype of the New Covenant People The Church inherits Israel’s priestly mandate by union with the Jewish Messiah: • “But you are a chosen race … a people for God’s own possession” (1 Peter 2:9). Gentile believers are grafted into Israel’s olive tree (Romans 11:17-24). God’s original choice thus foreshadows a multi-ethnic redeemed community. Educational Laboratory for Law and Worship Sinai provided objective moral law and sacrificial typology (Hebrews 9-10). Israel’s festivals, priesthood, and tabernacle preview Christ’s redemptive work, teaching humanity about holiness, atonement, and communion with God. Eschatological Integrity God’s gifts and calling are irrevocable (Romans 11:29). Prophets foresee a future restoration (Ezekiel 36-37) culminating in global knowledge of the LORD (Zechariah 14:9). His past choice guarantees His future purposes. Historical and Archaeological Corroboration 1. Merneptah Stele (c. 1208 BC) names “Israel” in Canaan, confirming national identity early in the Late Bronze Age. 2. Tel Dan Inscription (9th cent. BC) cites the “House of David,” validating the Davidic dynasty pivotal to messianic promise. 3. Mesha Stele (Moabite Stone) references Yahweh and Israelite kings, echoing 2 Kings 3. 4. Dead Sea Scrolls (e.g., Great Isaiah Scroll, 125 BC) match >95 % with modern Hebrew text, demonstrating the meticulous preservation of the very prophecies that anchor Israel’s vocation. These findings reinforce Scripture’s reliability and thus the factual basis of God’s election narrative. Experiential Validation Against extinction-level threats—Assyrian deportation, Babylonian exile, Roman dispersion, and modern genocides—Israel survives. Their improbable continuity, capped by national reconstitution in 1948, functions as a living testimony to covenant fidelity predicted in Leviticus 26:44-45; Jeremiah 31:35-37. Theological Summary God chose Israel: 1. Sovereignly, by sheer grace. 2. Covenantally, to honor promises to the patriarchs. 3. Missionally, to bless all nations through the Messiah. 4. Didactically, to reveal His law, holiness, and redemptive plan. 5. Eschatologically, to showcase irreversible faithfulness. Practical Implications for Readers Recognize Scripture’s trustworthiness; observe God’s heart for all peoples; embrace humility—election is grace, not entitlement; and glorify God by joining His redemptive mission through faith in the risen Christ, the ultimate Treasure who gave Himself to make treasured people. |
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