In Psalm 135:4, the Bible mentions a specific reason to give praise to God. God is worthy of praise because He has chosen the nation of Israel for Himself, “For the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure.” The nation of Israel is very special to God. They are a chosen people whom God has blessed. Many people today think that God has turned His back on Israel because they did not accept Jesus as their Messiah. They think He has lifted off His hand of protection. But does the Bible teach that?
It is true that Israel is not blessed today the way it was in its beginning, but God has not lifted His hand of graciousness or protection from them. “20) Thus saith the LORD; If ye can break my covenant of the day, and my covenant of the night, and that there should not be day and night in their season; 21) Then may also my covenant be broken with David my servant, that he should not have a son to reign upon his throne; and with the Levites the priests, my ministers. 22) As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured: so will I multiply the seed of David my servant, and the Levites that minister unto me.” (Jeremiah 33:20-22) These words were spoken to Jeremiah while he was shut up in the court of the prison. Jeremiah had to preach to a nation he knew would not listen. Israel had disobeyed God and turned their backs on him and gone their own way. Conditions in Israel were becoming worse and worse. Jeremiah was in prison because he had preached the truth. Things must have looked dismal and nearly hopeless, yet God assured Jeremiah that He still loved Israel and would not break His covenant with them. Israel is his peculiar treasure. God had told Moses, “5) Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: 6) And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.” (Exodus 19:5,6)
Some people believe that God has cast off Israel and that the church replaces Israel today. But the Bible does not teach that. The Bible says, “1) I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I [Paul] also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2) God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew.” (Romans 11:1,2a) So far man has not been able to break God’s covenant with day or His covenant with night. If we look all around us, we will see that day and night come regularly as they always have. Therefore, we should expect that God is still loving Israel and keeping His covenant with them.
God has blessed the church in a special way in that He grafted us into His olive tree. Some branches of His olive tree (Israel) were broken off because of unbelief, and He grafted us in those places where the branches were broken. This is something we should be grateful for. “17) And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; 18) Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. 19) Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. 20) Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: 21) For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.” (Romans 11:17-21) God has done something special. God broke down the middle wall of partition between us and that allows the Gentiles to approach unto Him, “…at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13) But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 14) For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us.” (Ephesians 2:12-14) Now everyone who believes in Jesus – both Jews and Gentiles – are made one and brought nigh by the blood of Christ.
We, as believers in Jesus, also receive another blessing which God had given to Israel, the blessing that had been mentioned in Exodus 19:5,6. God says of those who believe in Jesus and have been brought nigh by the blood of the cross, “Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.” (I Peter 2:9,10)
Thank God that Israel is His peculiar treasure and His chosen people. He loves Israel and will never cast them off or break His covenant with them. Thank God that He has extended His love to the Gentiles and broken down the middle wall of partition so that we might be brought nigh and made one by the blood of Christ. This is a special privilege, not to be taken lightly, but to be received with joy and humble thanksgiving.