Kingdom of Priests

Exo 19:3 And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel

Exo 19:4 Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself.
Exo 19:5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:

Exo 19:6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation.


A kingdom of priests.


The children of Israel knew what a priest was- their enslavers had many priests, many temples, many false gods to worship. After 400 years of enslavement they knew all there was to know about Egyptian life. Telling the children of Israel they would be a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation they knew instantly that their lives were going to be changed from the historic life they'd led as followers of the One True God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph- the God they were born to follow. Abraham was the father of this nation, the father of Israel. History passed down from one generation to the next kept the knowledge of Abraham alive. The people of Israel knew their place, the Egyptians would not let them forget it- they enslaved the whole race of God's children so that they would not come to power and over take them. Obviously, for as much as Joseph had helped in ruling Egypt, his people -God's people- remained a separate people. They might have dwelled in the land of Egypt but they did not become a part of it, they stayed separated by their very lives, by the fact they worshipped only ONE God, the true God. They didn't take part in the customs and worship of the Egyptians.


As a separate group it was wise for the Egyptians to fear the quickly multiplying race of unbelievers, of non-Egyptians living in their land. Ruling over them was the only way (in their thinking) to keep them from overtaking them. Once subdued the separating line between the children of Israel and the Egyptians was even more defined. The Egyptians had their way of life and it greatly differed from the life of the Israelites. As worshippers of God, the children of Israel had been taught to honor and worship God, just as Abraham, just as Isaac, just as Jacob, just as Joseph had and in those times there was no one line of priesthood, rather the fathers of the family were the head, the priest over the family, responsible for their families. It's most likely a great grandfather would be the head of the family, or the grandfather and their families were very large. There would be patriarchs that would act as priests just as Abraham, just as Isaac, just as Jacob- these men were God-fearing men who offered honor, glory, and sacrifice to the Lord as needed.


Now Moses delivered the children of Israel from their enslavement to the Egyptians and God said- they will be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation if they obey Him and keep His covenant.


A kingdom of priests.


The Egyptians had priests- they were among the elite of the Egyptians, they were the ones pharaohs, rulers of Egypt looked to. Priests were important, they held a prestigious role in the scheme of things and to go from being a slave to being a priest would be unheard of. Slaves didn't become priests they served priests.


A kingdom of priests.


However the unruly children of Israel didn't keep their part of the covenant and God set up a priesthood from the family of Levi, one of the 12 son's of Jacob because they of all the 12 families remained utterly true to God as they left Egypt and entered upon their journey to the land of promise.


God set up a priesthood that would minister to all of His children though rituals that would point solely to salvation found only in sacrifice to God- pointing towards the promised redeemer, the Messiah who would be sacrificed for all mankind.


God's plan from the beginning would be written down leaving no doubt as to how God would redeem His children from all evil. That redemption process was revealed fully in the Sanctuary services, the priesthood God set up.


Because of their disobedience there couldn't be an entire kingdom of priests, right?
And yet the plan was for us to be a kingdom of priests.


Christ is our great High Priest and we are Christ's.


Christ is the Son of God and we are to be the adopted heirs of God, sons and daughters of God.


Joh 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name


Our future is for us to be kings and priests to God just as God told His chosen children as He freed them from slavery. When we are finally freed from the slavery of Satan, of sin, we will truly be a kingdom of priests.


Rev 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
Rev 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.


Rev 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
Rev 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.


Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.


A kingdom of priests, this was the promise.


Exo 19:6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation.


Ye shall be IF…

…IF ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine


If ye OBEY God.
If ye KEEP God's covenant.


Did they obey? No.
Did they keep God's covenant? No.


Did they become a kingdom of priests? Some would say yes, because the tribe of Levi became the priests of the children of Israel, but does one tribe make a kingdom of priests? Remember other people had their own priesthoods for their false gods. Were they kingdoms of priests, or did they have priests in their kingdoms? There is a difference, honestly isn't there a great difference?


Christ our great High Priest offers us His kingdom through His sacrifice which we must accept in a very personal way- understanding that there is no other way to God's kingdom. We are heirs of a promise.


Gal 3:29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.


May God help us to be His fully, His completely- His in love as we seek the kingdom of God- as we seek the kingdom of Heaven- as we seek salvation through our Savior. The kingdom of heaven is truly at hand for us all, just as it was when Jesus walked the earth, just as it was when His disciples preached upon earth. The kingdom of God.


Amen.