What a blessing!

I have read Deuteronomy enough times now to know the flow of the book. It isn't one of my favorites. However, I know that God definitely has a message for me in it. But tonight, as I read through the early chapters, I felt like I was reading a completely different book. Words seemed to dance on the page for me. And one passage in particular struck me.

For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.
-Deuteronomy 7:6

Context
Here, Moses is reminding the Israelites as they prepare to (finally) cross over the Jordan river into the promised land, that God will deliver them from any and all nations possessing the land. Moses tells them that there are idol worshippers and sorcerers in the land, and that the Israelites need to show them no mercy, but instead destroy them and their idols, for the Israelites are God's chosen people. By illustrating the value of the Israelites to God, Moses is hoping they will listen to the commands and instructions God is giving so that they will prosper - which, Moses explains to the Israelites, cannot happen if the Israelites fall victim to the allure of witchcraft and idol worship.

Holiness
We think of the word "holy" as meaning pure and clean, and perhaps it often does. But here, the word "holy" really means set apart, or ordained for a special purpose. God needed the nation of Israel to be a special people, because from it we would eventually receive our Savior and sacrificial lamb. Truly, the Israelites were holy, or set apart for a special purpose - they would form the bloodline for Jesus Christ, who would come to save all of God's people.

Chosen
I think this verse stuck out to me tonight because, though I know the context in which it was written, it still applies so very much to us today. Read it to yourself, like this: "Dana, you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you, Dana, out of all the peoples on the earth to be his people, his treasured possession." How does it feel to hear God speak directly to you? I never thought of myself as being holy. And to be chosen out of everyone to be special and treasured by God... that feels incredible. And though it might seem a little cheesy to read it that way, I still know in my heart that it's true. God hand-picked me to be valued in his eyes. I think back to my days on the playground, and how incredibly proud I felt to be the first one picked for a dodgeball team. How much more amazing is it to know that God, the Creator of everything, picked me for his team!

Treasured
I never really thought of myself as treasured. I mean, my parents loved me dearly. My kids admire me (sometimes). My friends enjoy my company. My husband adores me. But all of that combined can't compare to what it is to be treasured by the God of the universe. Is there even a verb for that? His love and adoration for his chosen people is so great that they need to invent a word to describe it. It's too big! He doesn't just love his people, he values them above all else. He lets the grass die in the field. He lets the seas churn and create storms that stir them into confusion. He allows the earth to shift and move and crumble. But his chosen people... for them, he sacrificed himself in flesh so that our relationship didn't cease to exist when the fires came, when storms roared, when earthquakes shook, when famine took over. For us, he literally gave his body and soul. He didn't just die for us, he died for us. We can't possibly fathom in our mortal minds the depth of his love for us... the best word they could come up with is treasured, one considered especially precious or valuable (freedictionary.com).

Now what?
Now that I know that I am holy, chosen, and treasured, what do I do with that? Well, in the context of the Israelites, Moses was giving a spiritual peptalk. He needed the Israelites to be strong and keep themselves from getting sucked in to the wicked ways of the nations they would encounter on their way to the Promised Land. And in order for them to understand by what authority they were to do this, they needed to understand God's motivation - he treasured them dearly, and he chose them to go forward and do the task for which they were set apart. For us, there aren't any Amorites or Canaanites to slay. But we know that for each of us, God has established a purpose and plan for which we are set apart. He chose us, specially and purposefully, to do something fantastic in his name. And he did so because we are treasured, precious and valuable.

I am holy, set apart to do something wonderful in his name. I was specially chosen to do it. And I am treasured for it. And you are, too.

Now, doesn't that make you feel a little better?