for thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.
porque eres pueblo santo al SEÑOR tu Dios, y el SEÑOR te ha escogido para que le seas un pueblo único de entre todos los pueblos que están sobre la faz de la tierra.
Ver. 2. For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God , etc.] Set apart by him from all other people, and devoted to his worship and service, and many of them were sanctified and made holy in a special and spiritual sense; and therefore should not conform to the customs of Gentiles, whether in their extravagant mourning for the dead, or in their religious services; (see Deuteronomy 7:6), and the Lord hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people, above all the nations that [are] upon the earth ; to be his peculiartreasure, to be his peculiarservants and worshippers, to enjoypeculiar blessings and privileges, and behave in a peculiar manner different from all other people; and have no connection with them, especially in things sacred; and, in order to keep them a distinct peculiar people from all others, a peculiar diet was appointed them, that so being prohibited to eat such things as others did, they might be kept out of their company and conversation, and so from being drawn into their idolatrous practices; the rules concerning which follow; (see Deuteronomy 7:6).
Verses 1-21 - Moses tells the people of Israel how God had given them thre distinguishing privileges, which were their honour, and figures of those spiritual blessings in heavenly things, with which God has in Christblessed us. Here is election; "The Lord hath chosen thee." He did not choose them because they were by their own acts a peculia people to him above other nations, but he chose them that they might be so by his grace; and thus were believers chosen, Eph 1:4. Here i adoption; "Ye are the children of the Lord your God;" not because God needed children, but because they were orphans, and needed a father Every spiritual Israelite is indeed a child of God, a partaker of his nature and favour. Here is sanctification; "Thou art a holy people. God's people are required to be holy, and if they are holy, they ar indebted to the graceGod which makes them so. Those whom God choose to be his children, he will form to be a holy people, and zealous of good works. They must be careful to avoid every thing which migh disgrace their profession, in the sight of those who watch for their halting. Our heavenly Father forbids nothing but for our welfare. D thyself no harm; do not ruin thy health, thy reputation, thy domesti comforts, thy peace of mind. Especially do not murder thy soul. Do no be the vileslave of thy appetites and passions. Do not render all around thee miserable, and thyself wretched; but aim at that which i most excellent and useful. The laws which regarded many sorts of fles as unclean, were to keep them from mingling with their idolatrou neighbours. It is plain in the gospel, that these laws are now don away. But let us ask our own hearts, Are we of the children of the Lor our God? Are we separate from the ungodlyworld, in being set apart to God's glory, the purchase of Christ's blood? Are we subjects of the work of the Holy Ghost? Lord, teach us from these precepts how pure an holy all thy people ought to live!
