People of God, in OT

The OT relates how God called Israel to be his people.

Chosen by God

Deuteronomy 7:6 See also Deuteronomy 4:37; 1 Kings 3:8; Isaiah 41:8–9, Isaiah 43:1, Isaiah 44:1–2; Ezekiel 20:5

For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His prized possession out of all peoples on the face of the earth.

Loved by God

Deuteronomy 7:7–8 See also Deuteronomy 4:37, Deuteronomy 23:5; 1 Kings 10:9; Psalm 44:3

The LORD did not set His affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than the other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But because the LORD loved you and kept the oath He swore to your fathers, He brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

Sanctified by God

Deuteronomy 28:9 See also Exodus 19:6, Exodus 22:31; Leviticus 11:44–45; Deuteronomy 14:2; Isaiah 62:12

The LORD will establish you as His holy people, just as He has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the LORD your God and walk in His ways.

God's possession

Exodus 19:5 See also Deuteronomy 14:2, Deuteronomy 26:18; Psalm 135:4; Isaiah 43:1; Malachi 3:17

Now if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, you will be My treasured possession out of all the nations — for the whole earth is Mine.

God's inheritance

Deuteronomy 4:20 See also Deuteronomy 9:26, Deuteronomy 9:29; Psalm 28:9, Psalm 33:12, Psalm 68:9, Psalm 74:2; Jeremiah 10:16; Joel 3:2; Micah 7:14

Yet the LORD has taken you and brought you out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt, to be the people of His inheritance, as you are today.

God's servants

Deuteronomy 32:36 See also Nehemiah 1:6, Nehemiah 1:11; Psalm 135:14; Isaiah 41:8–9

For the LORD will vindicate His people and have compassion on His servants when He sees that their strength is gone and no one remains, slave or free.

God's children

Exodus 4:22 See also Deuteronomy 32:6; Isaiah 63:16, Isaiah 64:8; Jeremiah 3:19, Jeremiah 31:9; Hosea 11:1

Then tell Pharaoh that this is what the LORD says: ‘Israel is My firstborn son,

God's sheep

Psalm 95:6–7; Ezekiel 34:11–16 See also Psalm 28:9, Psalm 74:1, Psalm 79:13, Psalm 80:1, Psalm 100:3; Isaiah 40:11; Jeremiah 23:1, Jeremiah 31:10

O come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD our Maker. For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, the sheep under His care. Today, if you hear His voice,

For this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Behold, I Myself will search for My flock and seek them out. As a shepherd looks for his scattered sheep when he is among the flock, so I will look for My flock. I will rescue them from all the places to which they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. I will bring them out from the peoples, gather them from the countries, and bring them into their own land. I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines, and in all the settlements of the land. I will feed them in good pasture, and the lofty mountains of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in a good grazing land; they will feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I will tend My flock and make them lie down, declares the Lord GOD. I will seek the lost, bring back the strays, bind up the broken, and strengthen the weak; but the sleek and strong I will destroy. I will shepherd them with justice.’