Peculiar Treasure - Bible Baptist Church

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Because language changes over time, there are words in the KJ Bible that people don’t know that they don’t know. They think they know because the word is a common word. But the word has changed its meaning over time. Peculiar is one of those words.

The word peculiar is not archaic, but the common meaning is a little different these days. It doesn’t help that we think we know what it means. I’ve heard and probably even taught entire lessons based on the contemporary meaning of the word peculiar. When you hear that God’s people are peculiar people, you probably think of weird people.

The best example of the meaning in the KJV is in Ecclesiastes 2:8, I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts. Peculiar means characterized by. It’s not peculiar in the sense of weird or odd. It’s peculiar in the sense that a certain smell is peculiar to a BBQ place. Like the smell belongs to a BBQ place. Or a certain look is peculiar to the Chinese people. Or a certain sound is peculiar to American country music in the 1940s. These smells, looks, and sounds all belong to these other things. Like the way a bagpipe is peculiar to Irish music.

Conditions of peculiarity

Exodus 19:1-6 – Peculiar to God if you obey
You learn within three months of the children of Israel leaving Egypt that God’s chief desire is obedience to His words.
- These people who meet these conditions will be God’s valuable treasure. And his heart will be with these people.
- Where your treasure is there will your heart be also. That’s true of men and of God.
- Sacrifice and offering wasn’t God’s goal, it was always obedience. All the prophets understood this; 1 Samuel 15:22-23, Hebrews 10:5-10 (quoting David in the Psalms)
What makes the people a treasure to God? That they’re related to Jacob or that they’re obedient to God?
In Moses’ last words to the nation of Israel (Deuteronomy 14:1-2, 26:16-19), he explains this idea twice.
- Avouch (Deuteronomy 26:17-18) is an archaic word that means to affirm or confirm something.
- Moses says the people of this generation entering the promised land have confirmed that the LORD is their God. God confirms to this generation that they are to be his peculiar people.
- Keep in mind there were Jews, an entire generation in Moses’ day, who were not peculiar in the sense the LORD wanted them to be. That generation failed to see the promise.

The peculiarity is illustrated before the law in Jacob

Psalm 135:4 For the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure. Jacob and Israel were the same person. Jacob becomes Israel when his name is changed by God. Jacob becomes Israel after he has power with God according to Genesis 32:28.
Jacob is physically related to Abraham, but Israel is related to God. There must be a spiritual birth, not just a physical birth. As Jesus said to the Jewish teacher, Nicodemus. You must be related to God, not physically related to Abraham.

The peculiarity extends beyond the Jewish people

Paul relates this spiritual relationship with God to all people, not just Jews
Titus 2:11-15 – The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men after it appeared to the Jews first.
If you spiritualize it, there is Jacob wrestling with God in verse 12. Interestingly enough it was grace that teaches man holiness and righteous living. So if your idea of grace is that you’re now entitled to God’s forgiveness and immune from judgment, that’s not the grace of God. Why? Because the grace that is of God teaches sinners righteousness and holiness.
Paul says the peculiar people have learned the grace of God in Jesus Christ and tend toward good works; they have a deep desire to promote God’s goodness and to overcome evil with good.

The peculiarity is grounded in Jesus Christ

Peter relates these truths to strangers scattered abroad, but elect according to the sanctification of the Spirit.
1 Peter 2:1-10 – Notice again the graciousness of God in Jesus Christ (vs 3) that instructs people to lay aside these carnal ways in verse 1.
What is a spiritual sacrifice in verse 5? How about laying aside malice and choosing kindness? How about setting aside envy and choosing joy and hope in Jesus Christ?
Notice the obedience in verses 7-8 that hearken back to Exodus when this thought was introduced. As the words of God were written in stone, the Word was made flesh, and a living testimony, and a lively stone.
The Stone – Jesus Christ – from which God’s peculiar people would be fashioned and built upon!