Text:
Genesis 17:8:
And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.
Leviticus 26:12:
And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.
Theme:
God’s Chosen People
Introduction:
- The Book of Genesis is the first book of the Bible and the first book of the Old Testament which is why it is nominally known as the Book of Beginnings.
- Creation
- The beginning of mankind
- The beginnings of God’s chosen people.
- The Book of Leviticus is the third book of the Pentateuch because it treats chiefly of the Levitical service.
- No book contains more of the very words of God.
- He is almost throughout the whole of it the direct speaker.
- The principles on which it is to be interpreted are laid down in the Epistle to the Hebrews.
- It contains in its complicated ceremonial the gospel of the grace of God.
- He is almost throughout the whole of it the direct speaker.
- Five major sections of The Book of Leviticus:
- The detailed order of worship (1-17)
- Laws marking the separation between Israel and the heathen (17-20)
- Laws about the personal purity of the priests, and their eating of the holy things (20-21)
- The offerings of Israel, that they were to be without blemish (22:17-33)
- The due celebration of the great festivals (23-25)
- This study arises out of how both texts interestingly give direct reference to the establishment of the covenant between Abraham and God. Between the two we get these elements of God’s covenant with Abraham.
- “I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee”
- Given to Abraham and all of his descendents
- “the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan”
- All the land of Canaan is promised
- “for an everlasting possession”
- The land is theirs forever
- “I will walk among you”
- God will dwell among His people
- “I will be their God”
- God gives himself to them in possession
- “ye shall be my people”
- They are GOD’S CHOSEN PEOPLE!!!
- “I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee”
- No book contains more of the very words of God.
Body:
- Who are God’s Chosen People?
- The Old Testament components of our text bring to remembrance the familiar construct of “The Chosen People” being those referred to in the covenant between God and Abraham.
- The “Twelve Tribes” who are named after the twelve “sons” of Jacob are commonly known as “The Chosen People”
- In his love for Joseph, Jacob adopted his grandsons, Ephraim and Manasseh, as his own to be “half tribes”. Joseph is therefore not listed as a tribe and his sons, Ephraim and Manasseh are listed as “half tribes” in Joseph’s stead
- There are actually 13 families.
- However, since the Levites are not given land due to their be taken care of by God, there are 12 inheritances given out. A lot of folks did not know.
- Various names are attributed to “The Chosen People” in the Old (and New) Testament(s)
- HEBREW
- Some think that the name is derived from Eber, the ancestor of Abraham
- The more accepted origin of this name is its root word, abhar, which means “to pass over”
- Therefore, the designation is given to Abraham coming among the Canaanites as a man from beyond the Euphrates (Land of Uz)
- This name is used in the Old Testament until the Exile when speaking to those who were not of “The Chosen People”
- This name has been attributed to the Language and Education “The Chosen People”
- ISRAELITE
- Israel is the name given to Jacob after his “bout” with the angel
- Jacob says in Genesis 32:26, “I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.”
- The angel replies in Genesis 32:28, “Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.”
- Therefore, the descendents of the children of Jacob came to be known as the “Israelites”, the “Children of Israel” or the “House of Israel”, as a whole.
- However, after the death of Saul, ten of the twelve tribes banded together to make the Kingdom of Israel with its own King, Saul’s son, and theocratic governmental structure.
- After the Exile, the name “Israelite” was generally used to denote the entire nation Abrahamic descendents.
- Israel has been attributed currently to the geographic region inherited by “The Chosen People”.
- This name has been attributed to those who have the privileges of being God’s Chosen People
- Israel is the name given to Jacob after his “bout” with the angel
- JEW
- A Jew is derived from the patriarch, Judah.
- Judah is the name of the son of Jacob and Leah and later labeled the Tribe of Judah of the “Twelve Tribes” à “The Chosen People”
- After the death of Saul, the tribe of Judah (and later Benjamin) become the Kingdom of Judah.
- David reigned as king initially even though the Israelites clung to Saul’s son.
- Later, during the Captivity and after the Restoration, all of the Hebrew nation were known as Jews.
- This name has been attributed to the term Judaism, the original religious system of God’s Chosen People.
- A Jew is derived from the patriarch, Judah.
- IN SUMMARY, here’s the breakdown. “God’s Chosen People” are known as:
- Hebrews, with regard to their language and education, to distinguish them from Hellenists, i.e., Jews who spoke the Greek language.
- Israelites, as respects their sacred privileges as the chosen people of God.
- Jews, as regards their nationality, to distinguish them from Gentiles.
- HEBREW
- The “Twelve Tribes” who are named after the twelve “sons” of Jacob are commonly known as “The Chosen People”
- The Old Testament components of our text bring to remembrance the familiar construct of “The Chosen People” being those referred to in the covenant between God and Abraham.
- Through the life, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, the Christ, others who are not Jewish, Israelite, or Hebrew can also be “God’s Chosen People”!
- As Paul relayed the words of the Lord to King Agrippa:
- Acts 26:18, “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.”
- As Paul explains our adoption to being in the family of “The Chosen People”:
- Galatians 4:4, “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.”
- Romans 8:16-17, “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”
- Romans 8:23, “And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.”
- One’s relationship with God denotes one being “Chosen”.
- Ephesians 2:19-22, “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”
- Faithful Servant:
- Faith-Full:
- Be careful because, Romans 14:23, “for whatsoever is not of faith is sin”
- Faithful Servant:
- Psalm 101:6, “Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me.”
- Friend:
- John 15:15, “Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.”
- Exodus 33:11, “And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend.”
- John 15:14, “Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.”
- Brother/sister:
- Mark 3:35, “For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.”
- Romans 8:16-17, “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”
- Bride (husband/wife):
- Revelation 21:2, “And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”
- Faith-Full:
- As Paul relayed the words of the Lord to King Agrippa:
Conclusion:
- John, in Revelations, gives his account of “God’s Chosen People”:
- The “original” Chosen People:
- Revelation 7:4, “And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.”
- The “adopted” Chosen People:
- Revelation 7:9, “After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;”
- As the old Negro Spiritual says,
- The “original” Chosen People:
When the saints go marching in
When the saints go marching in
Oh Lord, I want to be in that number
When the saints go marching in!!!!
- As the other Spiritual says,
Oh I want to see Him look upon His face
There to sing forever of His saving Grace
On the streets of Glory let me lift my voice
Cares all passed…Home at last…EVER to rejoice!
- I am one of “God’s Chosen People”
#242
