EXODUS 19:5
A PECULIAR TREASURE
I. POSSESSION: *
A. Peculiar.
B. Priceless.
C. Procured.
II. PRECAUTIONS: **
A. Protected.
B. Polished.
C. Presentable.
III. PLACE: ***
A. Proximity.
B. Prosperity.
C. Perpetual.
The old word, “peculiar” here is not what it used to mean. Today the meaning is, “odd, weird” or something to be looked at with askance. However, in the old King James version, the word, “Peculiar” meant, “something special.” And this was exactly what God wanted Israel to be-something special, set apart, only claimed by God and no one else. That is why God said to Israel, you are to be my special treasure.
Taking this thought a bit further, the concept of a treasure is one that yields great peace and calmness when viewed from a Biblical viewpoint.
I see three things about a Special Treasure in this verse as it applies to Israel and to we who are called of God to follow Him today. The first thing about a Special Treasure regards the POSSESSION of it. The next thing I note is that special PRECAUTION has to be taken with any Special Treasure. Finally, I see the PLACE of that Special Treasure in one’s possession.
* POSSESION: For any treasure to be special and to be called a “treasure” it has to be possessed. This is exactly what Israel was to God; it was His POSSESSION.
First I see that this Treasure was a Peculiar treasure. It was unlike any other Treasure that God had-it was an entire nation. Treasures are usually called a treasure due to the fact that they are one of a kind or they are one of a very limited thing. In the instance of Israel, it was a nation that stood all by itself as being called “God’s Treasure-His Peculiar Treasure.”
Next, I see that a treasure is usually Priceless. There might be a monetary value to it but the owner would not take any amount of money for his Possession-it is beyond monetary value. Such was the case with this “Peculiar Treasure” of God: it was Priceless.
Then for a treasure to be held in the Possession of the owner, it had to be Procured in some manner or other. The treasure could have been purchased, it could have been passed on from generation to another and/or it could have been found. In this instance, God’s Peculiar Treasure was Procured by the direct intervention of Himself. Likewise, all who come to believe in Him are Procured through the shedding of the Blood of Christ. He has Procured us, He has Purchased us by His death. Today, even though Israel is still God’s Peculiar Treasure, we who are redeemed by the Blood of Christ are His Priceless, Peculiar Treasure, Procured by the redemption of Jesus.
** PRECUATION: For any treasure to be of value it has to be protected; several PRECAUTIONS have to be taken to insure the safety of such a priceless item.
The first Precaution I note is that all treasures have to be Protected. If the item is priceless-it has to have Protection from any one who would attempt to steal it. This is exactly what God did for His Peculiar Treasure-He Protected it. He brought it out of Egypt; He gave it Protection from the Egyptians; He gave it Protection from the heat of the day, and from the cool of the evening. He also Protected if from dying of hunger by giving it food; He Protected if from dying of thirst by giving it water; He Protected it from annihilation by defeating the Amalikites and now He is Protecting it for Himself from all those who would snatch it from His hand. Likewise, He still Protects His Church by keeping us safe in the hallow of His hand. We are His Peculiar treasure and He takes great pains to protect His treasure.
Another point of interest in one taking great Precaution of one’s treasure is the fact that often the treasure has to be Polished to keep it presentable. If the item does not need to be Polished, it still needs to be cleaned and made presentable for its continued value sake. God had a way of “polishing” His Peculiar Treasure with the nation of Israel. He still does have ways of “Polishing” His Peculiar Treasure-those whom He calls His “Peculiar Treasure.” Sometimes He Polishes us by trials, griefs, and troubles. Other times He Polishes us by blessings-undeserved blessings. But, for the sake of the treasure-it has to have regular “maintenance” to keep its value. Some times the method God uses can be harsh, but He needs to rub and to cleanse away the dirt of the world and make us a fit vessel for His House.
Likewise, another valuable part of the Precaution of a valued treasure is that it has to be Presentable for certain situations. What good is a treasure if it is always hidden? No, the owner must keep the treasure in “tip-top” shape so that he can bring it out for display to the world. Such was the case here. Israel was God’s Peculiar Treasure and He was Polishing it because He wanted it to look nice for its Presentation in the Promise Land. God still does the same with his Church. He Protects it, He Polishes it and He is getting ready to Present it to the world always as His Peculiar Treasure.
*** PLACE: Ah, all treasures have a certain Place for their abode. Some may be on the mantle in a house. Some may be in a vault of a bank. Other places might be of hanging on a wall or being worn on the body, but all treasures-have their particular Place. Such was the case of Israel.
Usually, the Place for most treasures is marked by the Proximity to it owner. One does not usually have a treasure and then have it placed in some far away place where no one knows to whom it belongs or its importance to the owner. Usually, the Place of the treasure is noted because it is near the owner. Such was the case with Israel and now with the Church. God keeps His treasure, His Peculiar Treasure, near Him. By being near unto Him, He could hear His people when they called to Him. Now, we the Church can be near to Him, we can hear Him when He speaks to His Peculiar Treasure-the Church, and we can hear Him when He calls us. Such was the case for old Israel and such is the case of His Church. We are His treasure due to the fact that our Place is marked by Our Proximity to Him.
Next, the place of a treasure is noted by its ability to generate Prosperity for its owner. A treasure of value earns it place in the owner’s wallet because as the years come and go, it generally increases in its value and thus helping to make its owner more prosperous. The Place for Israel was to grow in value for God, but it failed the test. Now, we the Church have a golden opportunity to increase in value for Him by being the best we can always thus increasing our value as a good treasure. Where ever we are, we are still God’s Peculiar Treasure and we are to increase in value for Him as we grow in grace and godliness. Our Place, Our Proximity to Him must be noted by our ability to increase the value of His Peculiar Treasure.
Lastly, our Place in His house of valuables is marked by the fact that our value is to be Perpetual. Such was to be the instance with Israel, but they lost their place and their Perpetual value to be Priceless for Him. May we, the Church, the Peculiar Treasure that he Possess by His Redemption of us through the Blood of His Son, be ever earning more value for Him in this darken world. May we continue the growth of the Church making it a Perpetual treasure for Him until He calls His treasure Home. And, when He has to Polish us, may we remember it is for our betterment and for the increase in value that we can bring to his Kingdom.
