You Will Be To Me a Kingdom of Priests

[The Lord said] “ ‘You shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel” (Exodus 19:3-8).

One of God’s original intentions for Israel—subject to their obedience—was that they should be, “a kingdom of priests.” However, they soon sinned, and forfeited that national privilege. This was one of the things that, “the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh” (Romans 8:3). Priesthood then became the exclusive domain of Aaron’s family, (see Numbers 3:3). Hence, we read that, “the priests who minister to the LORD are the sons of Aaron” (2 Chronicles 13:10). Although the people could gather at the door of the tabernacle, they could proceed no further, and the priests did all the service inside the tabernacle.

Even though they had lost the national priesthood, Israel was, still, a “special treasure” and “a holy nation” (Deuteronomy 14:2; 26:18; Psalm 135:4), and hence of great value to the Lord. The word “holy” means set apart, and saints (holy ones) are set-apart people, and the Lord made Israel a holy people, and all Israelites were saints (Deuteronomy 33:3; Psalm 85:8, etc.).

Christians today enjoy the pledges that Israel were originally promised, “a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people” (1 Peter 2:9), with the priesthood not lost because of our sin, for “Jesus Christ . . . has made us kings and priests” (Revelation 1:5-6; 5:10). As to the phrase “holy nation,” all believers today are “saints” (1 Corinthians 1:2), “holy brethren” (1 Thessalonians 5:27), “with a holy calling” (2 Timothy 1:9), and who are, “a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices” (1 Peter 2:5).

In our natural state, we were impure and hence unsuitable to be specially His, so in order that we should be for His own special possession, the Lord Jesus, “gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us . . . and purify for Himself His own special people” (Titus 2:14). The practical outcome of us being His special people is that we are instructed to be, “zealous for good works” (again, Titus 2:14), and that we should “proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (again, 1 Peter 2:9).

Adapted and modified excerpts from Day by Day: Bible Promises
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the New King James Version®, NKJV © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.
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