John Calvin Commentary Deuteronomy 7:6

"For thou art a holy people unto Jehovah thy God: Jehovah thy God hath chosen thee to be a people for his own possession, above all peoples that are upon the face of the earth." — Deuteronomy 7:6 (ASV)

For you are a holy people. He explains more distinctly what we have recently seen concerning God’s gratuitous love. The comparison of the small number of the people with the whole world and all nations significantly illustrates the greatness of God’s grace, and this subject is considerably expanded upon.

Almost the same expressions will very soon be repeated, and also in the Song of Moses. However, there it is by way of reproof, while here it is directed to a different object, as is plain from the context: namely, that by so great a blessing, they might be obligated to devote themselves and their services to God.

He begins by declaring the purpose of their election: namely, that God had seen fit to bestow this peculiar honor upon them so that He might acquire for Himself a holy people, pure from all pollutions. Then, by adding the circumstance I have referred to, he magnifies the excellence of the benefit.

From his argument drawn from their dignity—that they should therefore strive for holiness—we gather that in proportion to the abundance of grace with which anyone is endowed, they are solemnly bound to live piously and justly. For God does not wish the gifts He bestows upon us to lie idle, but to produce their appropriate fruits. We must especially remember that when He adopts us and gathers us into His Church, we are not called to uncleanness, but to purity of life, and to shew forth the praises of him who hath called us out of darkness into his marvellous light (1 Thessalonians 4:7; 1 Peter 2:9).

The Hebrew word סגלה (segullah), which we translate as “peculiaris,” special, some understand to mean a “treasure,” or a precious and desirable thing, as was stated in the commentary on Exodus 19. Undoubtedly, it appears from many passages that gold, silver, pearls, and the like are designated by this word. Substantially, however, it is agreed that this title is given to the elect people because God delights in them. In this, His incomparable goodness shines forth: that He so highly esteems such miserable and worthless creatures (homunciones).

Thus, it also appears that by His holy calling He, as it were, creates out of nothing “things which are not,” so that they may excel every earthly being.