The Mekhilta preserves a beautiful declaration attributed to King David, addressed directly to God: "You are a trust, a help, and a support to all who enter the world — but to me more than to all."
David's claim is audacious. God helps everyone — every creature, every nation, every person who draws breath. But David insists that his relationship with God is unique, more intimate and more mutual than any other. And he offers proof from a remarkable pair of verses in Deuteronomy that reveal a striking reciprocity.
First, God made Israel distinct: "And the Lord made you distinct unto Him this day, to be unto Him His chosen people" (Deuteronomy 26:18). God singled out Israel from among all nations, elevating them to a unique status. This is the more expected direction — God choosing a people.
But then the second verse reverses the direction entirely: "You have made the Lord distinct this day to be unto you a God" (Deuteronomy 26:17). Israel also chose God. Israel declared, from among all the powers and deities that the ancient world worshipped, that only the Lord would be their God. The choosing went both ways.
David's point is profound. The relationship between God and Israel is not one of mere obedience or servitude. It is mutual distinction — mutual choosing. God set Israel apart, and Israel set God apart. David sees himself as the embodiment of this reciprocal bond: "He made me distinct and I made Him distinct." The Mekhilta presents this as the deepest expression of covenant — not a contract imposed from above, but a partnership chosen from both sides.