In Ezra, chapter nine, verse two, Israel’s high calling was to be “holy seed,” as in Exodus nineteen, verse six, Isaiah six, verse thirteen, and Malachi two, verse fifteen, respectively. They were to be God’s possession, reflecting His person and holiness while separating themselves from the immoral ways of those who did not belong to Him, as in Deuteronomy seven, verses one through eleven.
The holy seed is the “seed of Israel.” However, much of it polluted itself by transgressions, yet still “holy” by profession, call, obligation, and prophetic announcement. They were “a kingdom of priests, a holy nation,” bound to be “separated from all the people that were on the face of the earth,” as in Exodus thirty-three, verse sixteen, and to keep themselves a “peculiar people.” When they mingled with the people of the lands, they not only broke a positive command as in Deuteronomy seven, verse three but did their best to frustrate God’s entire purpose in respect of them and to render all that he had done for them of no effect. The hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in the trespass. “Princes and rulers” oppose people of the middle and lower ranks, while the upper classes, clerical or lay, had been the chief offenders.
New Testament believers are also called to be separate from the world, as in Second Corinthians six, verses fourteen through eighteen. Those who confess Jesus as their Lord must be a “holy nation,” as in First Peter two, verses nine through twelve, consecrated to doing the will and the work of the Father. The instruction implies that a spirit-filled believer will live a righteous and separated life in fellowship with God, as in First Corinthians six, verse eleven, living in a way different from this evil generation.