Paul writing to Titus in the second chapter of Titus, verse fourteen said, “Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a PECULIAR PEOPLE, zealous of good works.” The New King James Version has, “A SPEICAL PEOPLE.” Both translations obscure the original meaning. Some by the word peculiar assume that it implies strange or oddball people. This is not at all intended. The word is translated from a Greek word made up of two words, one, which means ‘around’ as a circle, the other which means, ‘to be.’ Putting them together ‘to be around’ we have the sense of the text. Those people that Christ gave Himself for, redeemed and purified, are an ‘encircled people.’ David, in the Psalms, understands this when he says, “The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear (reverence) Him, and delivers them.” He speaks also of the Lord having hedged or enclosed him, being ‘behind and before’ him, and on his right hand and his left hand. The original word in Titus 2:14, which is literally ‘to be around’ can be understood as a circle around a dot. As that circle is around the dot so God is around His saints. They are His own special and private possession, HIS PECULRIAR TREASURE. He has reserved them for Himself. In First Thessalonians, chapter one and verse one, we are enabled to see this idea: “The Church of the Thessalonians IN God.” The Greek case is locative of sphere. The Church of the Thessalonians is in the sphere of God, circumscribed by God and surrounded by Him. We see also in the case of Job in the Old Testament. Satan complained to God that He could not get to the old patriarch because God had Job “hedged around.” What a position to be in! We are surrounded by the Sovereign God, to be preserved and protected by Him who governs all things, whether in heaven, in earth, or in hell! What a high privilege. To be inside the circle means that nothing outside the circle can enter the circle without God’s permission. God only permits this for the good of His people and His glory. King David, the sweet singer of Israel, writes in the 139th Psalm, verses 1-3 and 5, “O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways. You have hedged me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me.” “There is a family on earth, / Whose Father fills a throne! But though a seed of heavenly birth, / To men they’re little known. Whene’er they meet the public eye, / They feel the public scorn; For men their fairest claims deny, / And count them basely born. ‘Tis the King who reigns above, / That claims them for his own; The favoured objects of His love, / And destined to a throne.”