God had made of this people His own (Deut. vit. 6ff.). There
(v) He keepeth "'mercy for thousands". This speaks mercy extended to thousands of persons. When He gives to some, still he keeps for others and is never exhausted. He has mercy enough for all the thousands of Israel, when they shall 'multiply as the sand"'.
(vi) He ''forgiveth iniquity, transgression, and sin", Pardoning mercy is instanced, because in that divine grace is most magnified, and because that is what opens the door to all other gifts of the divine grace. He had lately given a very pregnant proof of this. He forgives offences of all sorts, "iniquity, transgression, and sin'', multiplies His pardons, and with Him is "'plenteous redemption"'.
2. THE CHARACTER OF THE COVENANT God had made of this people His own (Deut. vit. 6ff.). There was such a covenant and communion established between God and Israel as was not between Him and any other people in the world. Shall they by their idolatries dishonour Him who had thus honoured them? Shall they slight Him who had thus testified His kindness for them? Shall they put themselves upon the level with other people, when God had thus dignified and advanced them above all people? Had God taken them to be a special people to Him, and no other but them; and will not they take God to be a special God to them, and no other but Him?
(a) There was nothing in them to recommend or entitle them to this favour. 'In the multitude of the people is the king's honour"' (Prov. xiv. 28), but their number was inconsiderable. They were only seventy souls when they went down into Egypt; and though greatly increased there, yet there were many other nations more numerous: "Ye were the fewest of all people'' (verse 7). The author of the Ferusalem Targum passes too great a compliment upon his nation in his reading this: ''Ye were humble in spirit, and meek above all people"'; quite contrary, they were rather stiff-necked and ill-natured above all people.
(b) God fetched the reason of it purely from himself (verse 8). He loved you, because He would love you—'' Even so, Father, because it seemed good in thine eyes.'' All that God loves, He loves freely (Hos. xiv. 4). Those that perish, perish by their own merits; but all that are saved are saved by prerogative. He has done His work, because He would keep His word. He has