“For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.” (Deuteronomy 7:6)

The word “special” means “not common or ordinary.” Webster defines it as “particularly favored” and “readily distinguishable from others of the same category.” Luke records, “And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul” (Acts 19:11). Why is your bride special to you? To answer this question, look first at the answer to the companion question, “Why was Israel special to God?”

In Exodus 19, the LORD told Moses to tell the children of Israel:

“Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself.” (Exodus 19:4)

“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:” (Exodus 19:5)

And in verse 6 of our text verses, Moses tells them:

“For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.” (Deuteronomy 7:6)

The Children of Israel were “not common or ordinary” people. They were “an holy people”; they were “a special people”; they were “a peculiar treasure.” That is, they had been “chosen… above all the people” of the earth. They had been “particularly favored”; they were “readily distinguishable from others of the same category.”

Moses continues by reminding them in verse 7:

“The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people:”

Therefore, the Lord did not choose them because of their great number, for they “were the fewest of all people.” Throughout the Bible, we see the chosen ones are the “few,” the “remnant.” (See Matthew 7:14; Romans 9:27; 11:5.)

“Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” (Matthew 7:14)

If not because they were many – then why did the Lord choose them? To answer this, we continue with our text verses, Deuteronomy 7:8-9:

“But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.”  (Deuteronomy 7:8)

“Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;” (Deuteronomy 7:9)

He chose them because He is faithful; because He is a Covenant-Keeping God. It is not on any merit of the Children of Israel. And He does not choose us on any merit of our own. It is because He made a Covenant, a Promise; and He always keeps His Promises.

So, on what basis are His People special? Itis purely based on the Sovereign Purpose of God:

It is because, “…he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy…” (Ephesians 1:4; read verses 3-14).

It is because, it is “…the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand” (Proverbs 19:21; also see Psalms 110:3).

And the Apostle John records the words of Christ, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you…” (John 15:16). (Read John 10:11-30; 6:44-45, 63, 65.)

Read the Apostle Paul’s words in Romans 3:23, 24-25; 5:1-12; 2 Timothy 1:7-10; Galatians 4:1-7. And especially Ephesians 2:8-9:

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

God went to Adam, Noah, Paul, etc. This is true with all the Elect of God. It is never the other way around. Man never seeks God; it is always God seeking His People, His Bride. (See John 4:1-41; 6:37, 44.)

Why are God’s people special to Him? Or our earlier question: “Why was Israel special to God?” It is very simple, because God made them special.

The Children of Israel were not “common” people; they were not “ordinary” people. Why? It was only because God made them special.

And now to the very first question: “Why is your bride special to you?” The answer is: Because God made her Special in Christ:

“But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:” (1 Corinthians 1:30)

“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)