My people and their God

Abounasarecool

What is the significance behind this phrase that God continually repeated in the Old Testament:
"They shall be My people and I shall be their God."

What is the spirituality behind it?

thanks

Maryilftpd

Hey,
St John Cassian' s book of his conferences gives a good commentary.

"The prophet Jeremiah, speaking in the place of God, tells us that from above there comes the very fear of God by which we may cling to Him. `I shall give them one heart and one way so that they may fear me during all their days, so that all will be well for them and for their sons after them. And I will make an everlasting covenant with them and I shall not cease to do good things for them and, as a gift, I shall put fear of Me in their hearts so that they may never go away from Me' (Jer. 32:39-40). Ezekiel speaks in similar terms: `And I shall give them a single heart and and I will put a new spirit in them and I will remove the strong heart from their bodies and I will give them a heart of flesh instead. And I shall do this so that they may walk as I command and respect my decisions and carry them out. Then they shall be my people and I shall be their God' (Ez. 11:19-20)." St. John Cassian, Conferences.

The rest can be read here: http://books.google.com.au/books?id=Uxaow-3qnRQC&pg=PA97&lpg=PA97&dq="They+shall+be+My+people+and+I+shall+be+their+God."&source=bl&ots=EV-F5brqYR&sig=aG4hZq4bMrPs2rsyaj-LRIsjGAw&hl=en&ei=dVapS5HGPI34sQPYk9GCAw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CBkQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q="They shall be My people and I shall be their God."&f=false