God’s Treasured Possession
October 9, 2022

God’s Treasured Possession

Passage: Exodus 19:3-7
Service Type:

Precious in His Sight
Exodus 19:3-7

Jesus loves the little children,
All the children of the world.
Red and yellow, black, and white,
They are precious in his sight.
Jesus loves the little children of the world.

This beloved children’s song was written in the late 1800s and has been a staple of Sunday School singing and instruction ever since. I was surprised to learn that the song has been deemed by some as politically incorrect, exclusionary, and even racist! The use of insensitive labels, the omission of “brown” people, and the division of people into racial groups based on skin color has become suspect in our “woke” culture. Yet, the song has not been discarded by the church. Instead, the lyrics have been edited to reflect modern sensibilities. There are a variety of versions circulating on the internet. For instance,

Jesus loves the little children,
All the children of the world.
Every color, shape, and size,
They are precious in his eyes.
Jesus loves the little children of the world.

What all the versions of the song retain is the affirmation, in one form or another, that “they are precious in his sight.” This is a rather remarkable affirmation given the condition of the human race. After Adam and Eve fell from their state of innocence in Eden, the world devolved into a very dark place. Cain killed his brother, Abel, because of jealousy that grew into malice aforethought. In the generation before the great deluge, Genesis records that “God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. […] The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. And God looked upon the earth, and behold it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted its ways upon earth” (Gen. 6:5, 11-12).

Despite the corruption, wickedness, and violence of humanity, the human race remained precious in God’s sight. God’s continuing favor towards the sons of Adam and the daughters of Eve is truly amazing. The Psalmist mused about this fact with the following words: “When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon, and the stars that you have established; what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them? Yet you have made them a little lower than God and crowned them with glory and honor” (Psalm 9:3-5).

The preciousness of humanity in God’s sight is evidenced by God's choosing individuals and groups to restore fallen humanity. God chose Noah and his family. He rescued them from the wrath of the great flood. In subsequent generations, God chose Abram and Sarai, and, in them, God chose their descendants. God promised that through them all the families of the earth would find blessing (see Gen. 12:1-3).

In this morning’s reading from Exodus, God says, “You shall be my treasured possession (precious in my sight) out of all peoples. You shall be for me a priestly kingdom and a holy nation. Noah and his family, Abraham and Sarah, and the nation of Israel were precious in God’s sight.

The nation of Israel was to play a key role in God’s plan to rescue the human race from the corruption, wickedness, and violence that have come to characterize our species. In due time, or as Paul puts it, “When the fulness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children” (Gal. 4:4-5). Jesus was precious in God’s sight; he was and is God’s beloved Son. Through him, God set in motion his ancient plan to rescue us from sin, evil, and death.

Despite Jesus’ advent, the human condition remains largely unchanged. Planet Earth is still corrupt and filled with violence. The wickedness of mankind is still very great. The inclination of the thoughts of the human heart is still continually evil. Just look at the corruption of some of our politicians. Look at the violence in Jackson and in all of our nation’s urban centers. Look at the wickedness that passes for entertainment on social media platforms like TikTok or Instagram. Look at the horrendous tragedy that is unfolding in Ukraine. Consider the threat of the use of nuclear weapons in that conflict that could end in a global disaster.

Despite the malice aforethought that continues to characterize the sons of Adam and the daughters of Eve, we are still precious in God’s sight. God’s plan of salvation is not complete yet. God is still patient, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). God still desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Tim. 2:4).

This is where our role in God’s rescue plan comes into play. The Church is God’s new Israel. We are God’s treasured possession out of all people. We are a priestly kingdom and a holy nation. We are precious in God’s sight. We are to proclaim the mighty acts of him who called us out of darkness into his marvelous light (1 Pet. 2:9). We are to let our light shine before others so that they may see our good works and give glory to our Father in heaven (Mt. 5:16).

One of the symbols of the Church is a boat. This symbolism is reflected in the architecture of our sanctuary. The great wooden beams, visible in our ceiling, are evocative of the timbers of a ship. The Church is God’s new ark. Our church and all the churches of Jesus Christ are sanctuaries from the corruption, wickedness, and violence of this present evil age. Together, we are a flotilla of salvation where souls battered by the flood waters of this life can find peace and safety.

Most important of all, in and through the Church, people can find the one who is most precious in God’s sight: Jesus Christ the beloved Son of God. Jesus is the source of all the blessings promised to the families of the earth so long ago when God spoke to Abraham and Sarah. In him we find forgiveness for all our corruption, wickedness, and violence. In him we find life that has no end. In him we become part of God’s treasured possession, God’s holy nation, and we join in the work of God’s priestly kingdom, calling this broken world back to God.

Brothers and sisters, friends, Jesus still loves all the little children of the world. They are still precious in his sight. He would have us love them too and bring them in, so that they may be counted as part of God’s treasured possession and join us in the priestly work of proclaiming and embodying the kingdom of God.

The hour is hastening on. The day is far spent. Let us tell anyone who will listen of God’s remarkable love. God is not willing that any should perish. God wants everyone to repent and come to the knowledge of the truth. Let us do our small part, to the very best of our ability. Let us tell this broken world, by our words and by our deeds, that Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world. Everyone is precious in God’s sight.

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

N. B. This sermon was delivered when the Handbells of Faith offered up a wonderful variety of hymns and songs during worship. The group is part of The Mustard Seed, a community for adults with developmental disabilities.