Kingdom of Priests

Exodus 19:5-6
God spoke through Moses to the children of Israel, “out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” NIV

God created the Levitical priesthood to serve the nation of Israel, God’s chosen people, but he chose the nation of Israel to be a kingdom of priests before the world. A priest represents people to God and God to people.

Examples of working people whom God used:

Abraham was a traveling farmer, a businessman, a landowner, a cattle rancher and an investor in silver and gold. Because of Abraham’s faith, obedience and integrity, God prospered him and he gained the respect of all the kings in Canaan, as well as the king of Egypt.

Joseph began as a shepherd boy, became a slave, then the manager of a military man’s home, then was a prisoner and became the manager of the king’s prison. Finally the second in charge of all of Egypt.

Daniel was a Jewish boy, who became a politician, and God used him to impact an empire.
Daniel refused to compromise himself with the Babylonian culture. Daniel 1:8
Daniel prayed three times a day. Daniel 6:10
In the midst of a Babylonian world, Daniel never compromised or lost his identity.

David was a shepherd, a poet, musician, military strategist, and a king. He was used of God in each of these fields of work. No matter what his work, he was identified as a man after God’s own heart.

Each of these men, no matter their role in life, operated in their role of priesthood whether, in the field, the prison, or the court of the king.

Jesus, our ultimate example, served as an apprentice and then senior partner in the family carpentry business. Here he learned to deal with cash flow, pricing, quality, delivery and purchasing. Was he any less the Son of God as a carpenter and businessman? Do you think his relationship with God influenced and impacted his business?

1 Peter 2:5
“You, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”

1 Peter 2:9
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”

Like Abraham, Joseph, Daniel, David and Jesus, no matter what our role is in this world, we need to begin to find our full identity in God and His kingdom. Like them, we need to become His royal priesthood and holy nation in the world where we live in and that is rapidly deteriorating because it has no representation of God in their midst. We need to get beyond ourselves and our needs and desires and as priests begin to intercede for the lost and represent our King before a world that has little knowledge of God. The world needs to become the place where we worship, sacrifice, and serve.

Andy