The Jews, also known as the Israelites or Hebrews, are a people group uniquely chosen by God to be His covenant people. This selection is rooted in the biblical narrative, beginning with the patriarch Abraham, to whom God made a profound promise. In Genesis 12:1-3 , God calls Abram (later Abraham) to leave his country and promises to make him a great nation, bless him, and make his name great. This covenant is foundational to understanding the Jewish identity as the people who worship the one true God.

Covenant with Abraham

The covenant with Abraham is reiterated and expanded in Genesis 17:7 , where God declares, "I will establish My covenant as an everlasting covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you." This covenantal relationship establishes the Jews as the people through whom God would reveal Himself to the world.

The Exodus and the Law

The defining moment of Jewish identity and worship is the Exodus from Egypt, where God delivers the Israelites from slavery. This event is central to Jewish worship and is commemorated annually in the Passover festival. In Exodus 19:5-6 , God speaks to the Israelites at Mount Sinai, saying, "Now if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, you will be My treasured possession out of all the nations—for the whole earth is Mine. And unto Me you shall be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation." Here, the Jews are called to be a distinct people, set apart for the worship of Yahweh, the one true God.

The giving of the Law, including the Ten Commandments, further solidifies the Jews' unique role in worship. The Law, as recorded in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, provides the framework for how the Israelites are to live and worship God. Deuteronomy 6:4-5 encapsulates the essence of Jewish worship: "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One. And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength."

Monotheism and Distinctiveness

The Jews are distinct in their monotheistic worship, a belief in one God, which sets them apart from the polytheistic cultures surrounding them. This belief is central to their identity and is emphasized throughout the Hebrew Scriptures. The Shema, found in Deuteronomy 6:4, is a daily declaration of this monotheistic faith.

Prophets and the Call to Faithfulness

Throughout their history, the Jews are called to remain faithful to God amidst challenges and temptations to adopt the idolatrous practices of neighboring nations. The prophets play a crucial role in calling the people back to the worship of Yahweh. For instance, the prophet Isaiah reminds the Israelites of their unique relationship with God, saying in Isaiah 43:10 , "You are My witnesses, declares the LORD, and My servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe Me and understand that I am He. Before Me no god was formed, and after Me none will come."

The Temple and Worship Practices

The construction of the Temple in Jerusalem under King Solomon marks a significant development in Jewish worship. The Temple becomes the central place of worship, sacrifice, and pilgrimage for the Jewish people. It is here that the presence of God dwells among His people, as described in 1 Kings 8:10-11 , when the glory of the LORD fills the Temple.

Exile and Return

The Babylonian exile is a pivotal moment in Jewish history, challenging their worship and identity. Despite the destruction of the Temple and the displacement of the people, the Jews maintain their distinct worship practices. The return from exile and the rebuilding of the Temple under leaders like Ezra and Nehemiah signify a renewal of commitment to God and His covenant.

Messianic Hope

The Jewish Scriptures also contain the promise of a Messiah, a future anointed leader who would restore Israel and bring about God's kingdom. This hope is a central theme in the prophetic writings and is anticipated by the Jewish people as part of their worship and expectation of God's faithfulness to His promises.

In summary, the Jews are uniquely identified as the people who worship the one true God, Yahweh. Their history, covenant relationship, and monotheistic faith set them apart as a distinct people chosen to reveal God's character and purposes to the world.Exodus 5:17
But he said, You are idle, you are idle: therefore you say, Let us go and do sacrifice to the LORD.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 96:5
For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 115:3,4
But our God is in the heavens: he has done whatever he has pleased.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

John 4:22
You worship you know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Of the Fact that the God of the Jews, after the Subjugation of ...
... the Fact that the God of the Jews, After the ... they made their attack or when they
reduced the people. ... this Deity, whose commandment was that He only should be ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter xii of the fact that.htm

Of the Question Why the Heathen Should Refuse to Worship the God ...
... Israel; for He is the God of that people from whom ... Why is He the only deity excluded
from worship by those ... other, the statement that, from what the Jews did in ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter xxix of the question why.htm

Deuteronomy
... What a thought it must have been for the Jews"all these people have their gods,
but they are all wrong. We have the RIGHT God; the only true God. ...
/.../kingsley/the gospel of the pentateuch/sermon xv deuteronomy.htm

Of the Advent of Jesus; of the Fortunes of the Jews, and their ...
... again, softened by the repentance of the people, He freed ... having succeeded to the
privileges of the Jews, are, as ... Lacantius, that it was the head only, and not ...
/.../lactantius/the divine institutes/chap x of the advent of.htm

Peter and the Roman Officer
... God and is well spoken of by all the Jews, was told ... But Peter said, "Stand up, I
am only a man, like you ... talked with him, he went in, and found many people there ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/peter and the roman officer.htm

Of the Fact that the False Gods do not Forbid Others to be ...
... any explanation upon these things which in their wisdom they think fit: only, in
spite ... And from him were descended the people called the Jews, who, with ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter xxv of the fact that.htm

The Woman of Samaria
... Now these people are the Samaritans, of whom you read so often in ... them, eat with
them, trade with them, because they were only half-blooded Jews, and did ...
/.../kingsley/town and country sermons/sermon xxvi the woman of.htm

Faustus Asserts that Even if the Old Testament could be Shown to ...
... If any among this people fell into idolatry or demon-worship ... not by the wish of the
Jews themselves, who were in ignorance through unbelief, but only on the ...
/.../faustus asserts that even if.htm

Of the Co-Existence of Good and Evil in the Church, and their ...
... of the birth of the Lord, not only their speech ... holy patriarchs and prophets this
carnal people of Israel ... at a later period were also called Jews, had ministered ...
/.../on the catechising of the uninstructed/chapter 19 of the co-existence of.htm

Treatise vi. On the Vanity of Idols: Showing that the Idols are ...
... the first advent which preceded, as being hidden in His passion, but believe in
the one only which will be ... [3465] But that the people of the Jews could not ...
/.../cyprian/the treatises of cyprian/treatise vi on the vanity.htm

Why do most Jews reject Jesus as the Messiah? | GotQuestions.org

What are Khazar Jews / Khazars? | GotQuestions.org

Are Jews saved because they are God's chosen people? Will Jews go to Heaven even if they do not trust in Jesus? | GotQuestions.org

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