Deuteronomy — Chapter 7

Thou art a holy people to the Lord thy God; the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be his peculiar people. Hebrew: a 'segullah' people, that is, like a precious treasure or jewel. Lapide: Israel was chosen not for their multitude (v. 7) but from God's free love and His oath to the patriarchs—a model of gratuitous election.

Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is a strong and faithful God, keeping his covenant and mercy to them that love him. God is faithful to thousands of generations toward those who love Him, but punishes the haters of God swiftly and in their own lifetime. This proves God's retributive Providence in history.