A KINGDOM OF PRIESTS

So much had happened since Moses stood on the side of this mountain. Months prior, God had appeared to him in the Burning Bush… that happened at this very place. From the unconsumed bush, God had promised, “I will certainly be with you, and this will be the sign to you that I am the one who sent you: when you bring the people out of Egypt, you will all worship God at this mountain” (Exodus 3:12).

It must have been encouraging for Moses. It had happened just as God had promised! The emancipated Hebrews, free at last, worshipped thee Living God “at this mountain.”

Beckoned by God, “Moses went up the mountain to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain: ‘This is what you must say to the house of Jacob and explain to the Israelites: “You have seen what I did to the Egyptians and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you will carefully listen to me and keep my covenant, you will be my own possession out of all the peoples, although the whole earth is mine, and you will be my kingdom of priests and my holy nation” ’ ” (Exodus 19:3–6).

In God’s gracious sovereignty He chose Israel to bring Light to a dark world. He called them His “kingdom of priests!”As priests, they were to represent God to all the nations, and represent all the nations before God.

“You are a holy people belonging to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be his own possession out of all the peoples on the face of the earth. The Lord had his heart set on you and chose you, not because you were more numerous than all peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But because the Lord loved you and kept the oath he swore to your ancestors, he brought you out with a strong hand and redeemed you from the place of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt” (Deuteronomy 7:6–8).

God has that same claim upon your life. In the New Testament, the church, consisting of every born-again Christian, is called “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9–10).

“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).