Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit · Sermon No. 2600
“For the LORD has chosen Jacob unto Himself, and Israel for His peculiar treasure.” Psalm 135:4.
This is a Psalm of praise all through. It is to be sung to the high-sounding cymbals. There is not a low note anywhere—it is all robust, exhilarating, joyful! It is “Hallelujah!” from beginning to end and it did not seem possible to the Psalmist that he could omit from it the high jubilant note of election, for if there is anything that makes Believers’ hearts sing unto the Lord, it is the recollection that He has chosen them and fixed His love upon them! “You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you,” is one of the best reasons in the world why we should adore the Lord with all our heart and mind and soul and strength! If the Lord has made us to be His people, we will, indeed, with joy and gladness declare Him to be our God! If He has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus, we will make such return to Him as we can, and bless Him with our loudest and sweetest music. Blessed be the Lord because He “has chosen Jacob unto Himself, and Israel for His peculiar treasure.”
It may be said that this verse relates to the seed of Abraham. So it does, but please remember that everything which belonged to the seed of Abraham after the flesh belongs yet more to those who are the seed of Abraham according to the spirit! Indeed, there always was a peculiar blessing which never came to those who were only born according to the flesh, for Ishmael received it not, neither did Esau enter into it. The line of inheritance is the line of promise, the line of the Divine choice, and if you and I have believed in Jesus Christ, we are in that spiritual line! The mark of that line is faith— they that believe are of the seed of believing Abraham. His very name is “the father of the faithful” and those that are full of faith—the faithful—are the true seed of Abraham. The Covenant in its highest and best meaning is theirs—it was made with Abraham on their account. Therefore we shall take all there is in this verse to ourselves if we are, indeed, God’s covenanted ones! If He has brought us into the bond of the Covenant by a work of Grace upon our hearts, and we are now one with that glorious promised Seed, the Lord Jesus Christ, then it is true of us and of all who are like us in this respect—“The Lord has chosen Jacob unto Himself, and Israel for His peculiar treasure.”
I. The first thing which lies upon the very surface of our text is THE CHOICE—“The Lord has chosen Jacob unto Himself.”
This choice is a Divine one. It is the Lord that has chosen Jacob, that very Lord who made the heavens and the earth! Jehovah, in whose hands are all things. He has made the choice and it is a very wonderful thing, though we speak of it as if it were a commonplace Truth of God. Yet, if we dive into its depths, we shall see that it is truly marvelous that God should ever have chosen any of the fallen race of mankind! He once regretted that He had made men upon the face of the earth, so sinful had they become, yet, knowing beforehand all about their wickedness, the Lord was pleased to make a choice of men. He might have chosen angels, but let it always stand as a wonderful instance of His mysterious Sovereignty that He did not choose the fallen angels—no, not even one of them! Our Lord Jesus Christ “took not on Him the nature of angels; but He took on Him the seed of Abraham.”
Why was it that all the hosts of spiritual beings that fell with Lucifer are left in their fallen state without any hope of salvation, while God’s eternal election has fallen upon the sons of men? Why, indeed! We can never understand it and can give no answer but this, “Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.” The choice, however, was Divine, and let us not get away from that glorious Truth of God. It will give you, Believer, the highest joy to know that the Lord has chosen you—and that knowledge will be to you a source of great strength. It will also be one of the best rebukes to the devil. You remember how, when Joshua, the High Priest, was standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan was standing at his right hand to resist him, the Lord said to the accuser, “The Lord rebuke you, O Satan; even the Lord that has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you!” There is no slap in the face for the devil that is so painful to him as that declaration, “The Lord has chosen Jerusalem; He has elected His people and you, O Satan, may do what you will, but you cannot change the choice of God! If He has chosen anyone, that man is of the conquering Seed before whom you have begun to fall, as Haman fell before Mordecai. But you shall fall yet lower, for the Lord has promised to the godly that He will bruise Satan under their feet shortly.” God has chosen them! It is He that says it and, therefore, let the full force of the blessed Truth of God come to each believing heart, “I have loved you with an everlasting love, therefore with loving kindness have I drawn you.” There is an infinite sweetness in that thought!