Good Morning.

Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. (Exodus 19:5-6)

There is something that is very important to take note of, and that is, initially, the entire nation of Israel was to be a “kingdom of priests. ” In other words, the original idea — Plan A, if you will — was that the priests of Israel would come every tribe in the nation, not just the tribe of Levi. You see, this statement concerning the priesthood was made to Israel BEFORE the Golden Calf incident. In fact, it seems that, at this point in the history of Israel, the priesthood was comprised of those who had been consecrated to God from birth, the firstborn of Israel (Exodus 13:2). There are several passages that confirm this notion, such as Exodus 24:5 and the following:

And the LORD said unto Moses, “Go down, charge the people, lest they break through unto the LORD to gaze, and many of them perish. And let the priests also, which come near to the LORD, sanctify themselves, lest the LORD break forth upon them.” (Exodus 19:21-22) 

The point is this: God intended that the entire nation be a kingdom of priests, which in turn means that they were teach other nations of the one true God. His Presence among them consecrated them for His service. Consequently, His Presence would resonate throughout the entire nation through their obedience, continuing outwardly to all the nations on the earth. Thus, it is prophesied through the prophet Isaiah:

“You shall be called the priests of the LORD; they shall speak of you as the ministers of our God; you shall eat the wealth of the nations, and in their glory you shall boast.” (Isaiah 61:6) 

Later, Peter made the connection between the call pronounced upon Israel and that pronounced upon the Body of Messiah. We are, indeed, a chosen generation and are called to be a kingdom of priests that we may “show forth the praises of Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9). In effect, what He started so many years ago, He intends to complete in and through us. Let us, then, be about our Father’s business that others may also come out from the darkness into the light.

Blessings and Shalom,  

Bill  

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