A Peculiar Treasure—Segulah

October 26, 2008

by: Charleeda Sprinkle, Assistant Editor

In ancient times, it referred to the special treasure that a conquering king chose for himself among all the spoils of war. This is implied in Ecclesiastes 2:8, where King Solomon records, “I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the special treasures of kings and of the provinces…”. David also used segulah to describe the gold and silver that he gave to build the Temple (1 Chron. 29:3).

Israel—A “Different” People

The first time segulah is used is in Exodus 19:5: “Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine.” God had just delivered the Hebrews from Egypt; at Mount Sinai, He made them a proposal: if you choose to obey Me, I will make you a special people. They responded, “All that the Lord has spoken, we will do…” (19:8).

Thus, the Jewish people and the God of the universe entered into a marriage contract, or ketubah, as it is called in Hebrew. His bride would have a special purpose: that the pagan world would know the One true God through them. However, with privilege comes responsibility. This would require them to be different from the rest of the world. They were not to make a covenant with the pagan nations and not to intermarry; they were to tear down their altars and burn their idols, “For you are a holy people to the LORD your God…” (Deut. 7:6).

In Deuteronomy 14, God stipulates: “You are the children of the LORD your God; you shall not cut yourselves nor shave the front of your head for the dead [pagan practices]. For you are a holy people to the LORD your God, and the LORD has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples who are on the face of the earth” (vv.1–2). He goes on to tell them what they can and cannot eat, and the tithes they are required to give. TheTorah (Gen.–Deut.), given on Mount Sinai, lists much more. Their “differences” would get the attention of the pagan world around them.

Why Did God Choose Israel?

Why were they chosen? The Lord makes it clear: “The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; but because the LORD loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers…” (Deut. 7:7–8a). God is not partial; He loves everyone the same. But He had a special task for Israel that no other nation would be given. And, He had a promise to keep with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Gen. 12:1–3).

This was not conditional. Though they would be unfaithful and even bring God to a point of “divorcing” his “bride” (Jer. 3:1–8), He would never annul His covenant (Jer. 31:35–36). They would always be His special treasure. And told them that His desire was to make them “…high above all nations…in praise, in name, and in honor, and that you may be a holy people to the LORD your God…” (Deut. 26:19). At times, when they didn’t obey, they lost the blessings…but never the calling. In spite of their backsliding, God would fulfill His purpose for them and the nations would know Him (see Ezekiel 36).

Rabbi Marder shares a great story that illustrates God’s faithfulness: “He was a seventeen-year old boy. The radiation had taken his hair, the surgeons had taken his right arm, and the cancer was taking his life. He drifted in and out of a coma. His father and mother sat by his bedside day after day. Suddenly his eyes opened, he saw his dad, and said, ‘I’m scared. Sometimes I don’t know who I am.’ His father asked, ‘Do you know who I am?’ ‘Why, yes, you’re Dad.’ ‘OK, then,’ his father replied, ‘don’t worry because I know who you are.’” Marder then comments: “With the word segulah…God speaks directly to the soul of the Israelite and reassures the person adrift, an ex-slave, a person ignored, devalued, and bereft of identity. ‘I know who you are,’ says God. ‘You are am segulah, My treasure.’”

Photo Credit: Photo by Johan Schutte