I’ve never undertaken the exercise, but I wonder how many different ways the people of God are described in Scripture, other than as the people of God. What comes to mind immediately are the metaphors of a flock and a bride. Then there’s a family, a body, and a building. I noodle a bit more and that we’re God’s inheritance comes to mind. And I think if I spent some more time trying to search the archives of my memory, I might come up with a few more. But I doubt I would retrieve from memory the image which every year stirs my soul when I encounter it in Zechariah’s prophecy.

The LORD their God will save them on that day
as the flock of His people;
for they are like jewels in a crown,
sparkling over His land.
How lovely and beautiful!

(Zechariah 9:16-17a CSB)

They are like jewels in a crown. I know the strict interpretation points to a specific subset of God’s people who are rescued on the day God judge’s Zion’s enemies, saving His own, and establishing them in His holy city under His personal rule. But I think there’s reason to think of ourselves too as part of that crown, as one of those jewels, a different type of “living stone” than perhaps we usually think of.

For just as the crown points to a victor’s crown, with the jewels as the demonstrable glory and beauty of that crown, we too, like those precious gems, are the tangible evidence of Christ’s triumph over sin and death. Trophies of grace, we are the spoils of His conquest on display for all heaven and earth to behold. Just like jewels in a crown . . . how lovely and beautiful.

Our loveliness not in ourselves, our beauty the imputed splendor of Another. Not intended to draw attention to the crown but to the One who alone is worthy to wear the crown.

One reason this verse so stirs my heart is because it always triggers a hymn I learned well before I knew what the hymn was referring to. A hymn learned as a young Christian with limited knowledge of the written word, but one which evoked a sense of well-being and wonder, of awe and adoration, because of the Living Word. You can listen to it by clicking here.

When He cometh, when He cometh
to make up His jewels,
all His jewels, precious jewels,
His loved and His own.

Like the stars of the morning,
His bright crown adorning,
they shall shine in their beauty,
bright gems for His crown.

He will gather, He will gather
the gems for His kingdom,
all the pure ones, all the bright ones,
His loved and His own.

Like the stars of the morning,
His bright crown adorning,
they shall shine in their beauty,
bright gems for His crown.

Little children, little children
who love their Redeemer,
are the jewels, precious jewels,
His loved and His own.

Like the stars of the morning,
His bright crown adorning,
they shall shine in their beauty,
bright gems for His crown.

William Cushing (1856), Public Domain

Like jewels in a crown . . .

The evidence of God’s amazing grace. A declaration for God’s all-deserving glory.