Ancient empires did not only keep records; they kept treasure. When a city was conquered, its wealth was carried into the royal storehouses and absorbed into the general fund. But now and then something caught the emperor’s eye, and he set it aside for his personal collection. That object became a treasured possession. God says that those who fear him have caught his eye. They are not lost in the general fund of humanity. They are hand picked, set apart, his crown jewels.
The phrase reaches back to Sinai, where God told Israel, “you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples” (Exodus 19:5), and it reaches forward to the church, “a people for his own possession” (1 Peter 2:9). The remnant thought God had stopped caring. In fact he was gathering his treasure the whole time.
Then comes the tender line: “I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him.” A father has compassion on a son who loves and serves him. But that promise raises a question the gospel alone answers. How can a holy God spare sinners? Paul tells us: “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32). God spares his people because he did not spare his Son. The obedient Son was given up so that rebellious sons and daughters could be treasured.
Verse 18 answers the remnant’s earlier charge that righteousness and wickedness make no difference to God. They do. “Once more” you will see the distinction. God has always preserved a remnant, a humble and lowly people who take refuge in his name (Zephaniah 3:12-13), and one day the line between those who serve him and those who do not will be undeniable. Until then, he is still collecting his jewels.