God’s own possession
July 8, 2023 - Saturday, 13th Week in Ordinary Time
Psalm 135:1b-6
Psalm 135 wants to bring two themes to our attention. The first theme stresses the election of Israel as God’s possession. The second one proclaims the God of Israel to be the only true God. Let us look briefly at both of them.
The theme of the election brings an interesting question: “Why Israel?” There is no doubt that the Bible makes it clear that Israel was chosen by God out of all the nations of the world. But why them? Why not chose one of those great ancient civilisations like China or India? Were the people of Israel chosen because they were better than others? The answer is “no”. The Old Testament makes it clear that Israel was a “stiff-necked” and rebellious people (see Deut 9:4-6). And yet, no other nation can claim the statues of Israel: to be God’s treasured possession. Why?
There is no answer to this question because it is impossible to explain love. The Bible tells us that the reason for their election is God’s love for them and the fact that they are the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. By choosing them out of all the nations, God kept his promise to their ancestors. Thus, their election has its explanation only in an unmerited love of God for them. But, to be chosen by God is not only a privilege but also a responsibility. Israel was supposed to be a light of the nations, an example set for others to emulate. Like their ancestor Abraham, they were chosen “to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice” (Gen 18:19). They were called to be a righteous nation among the nations of the world.
When the Jewish apostles of Christ began to proclaim the Gospel, they extended the idea of election to all those Gentiles who put their trust in Jesus. And so, we read in the letter of Saint Peter that the Church is also God’s treasured possession (see 1 Peter 2:9). Our election is also rooted in an unmerited love of God for us and it carries with itself a responsibility captured in Jesus’ memorable saying: “You are the light of the world. . . . let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 5:14-15).
The second theme of Psalm 135 proclaims the God of Israel to be the only true God. He is above all other gods and he does whatever he wills (see Ps 135:5-6). Prophet Isaiah would carry this idea even further proclaiming that there are no other gods - there is only the God of Israel (see Is 44:6). What about the gods of other nations, then? They are made by humans, there is no life in them, and they cannot do anything neither good nor bad (see Ps 135:15-17; Is 41:21-24; 44:9-20). Again, the Jewish apostles of Jesus Christ carried this idea to the Gentile nations. In one of the letters of Paul, we read “that “an idol has no real existence,” and that “there is no God but one” (1 Cor 8:4).
Together with the psalmist, let us praise our God who is good and has chosen us for his possession.