Paul writing to Titus in Titus 2:14 said this, “Who gave Himself for us, that He (Jesus Christ) might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” The New King James Version has a special people, which I like better: but both translations obscure the original meaning. Some assume from the word peculiar that it intimates some strange or oddball people. This is not at all what is intended. The word is translated from a Greek word which is actually made up of two words, one that means ‘around’ as a circle, and the other which means ‘to be’. Putting them together ‘to be around’ we have the sense of the text. Those people that Christ gave Himself for, that He redeemed and purified, are an ‘encircled people’. David, in the Psalms understands this when he says, “The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them.” He speaks also of the Lord having hedged or enclosed him, being ‘behind and before’ him, and on his right hand and his left hand. The original word in Titus 2:14, which is literally ‘to be around’ can be understood as a circle is around a dot. As that circle is around the dot so God is around His saints. These are His own special and private possession, His Peculiar Treasure. He has reserved them for Himself. In 1 Thessalonians 1:1, we are enabled to see the idea. “The Church of the Thessalonians in God”; the Greek case is locative of sphere. The Church of the Thessalonians is in the sphere of God, circumscribed by God and surrounded by Him. Also we see the sense in the case of Job in the Old Testament. Satan complained to God that He couldn’t get to the old patriarch because God had Job ‘hedged around’. What a position to be in! To be surrounded by the Sovereign God, to be preserved and protected by Him who governs all things, whether in heaven, earth or hell! What a high privilege, to be inside the circle means that nothing outside the circle can enter the circle without God’s permission. God only permits this for the good of His peculiar people and His glory. Right now, January 2021, our minds are taken up with politics and what will happen if one certain party is elected to lead our country. We’re concerned for our freedom, especially that of being able to worship our God; and for the freedom of our children and our grandchildren. We’re asking God that we may be able to lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. And it would be so much easier if the right President were in office; but knowing that ALL things will work together for good for God’s Peculiar People, to those who love Him, and for His glory. His glory will be in how we react to the world in His Sovereign Will. Will we protest and fight against what He has so designed; not if we’re His peculiar people. We’ll bow to His will, knowing we’re in the sphere of God, circumscribed by God and surrounded by Him. He has us ‘hedged around’ whatever takes place.
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