"Let the student note that the promises in the old covenant were really all on the part of the people. God said, "If ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant [the ten commandments], then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people. . . . and ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation." (Ex.19:5,6).
God did not say that
He would make them such,
but that they would be such a people if they obeyed His commandments.
It could not be otherwise.
The keeping of God's holy law would
--constitute them a holy people;
--and as such they would indeed be a peculiar treasure,
--even as are all who are zealous of good works."
A.T. Jones