Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”
In the book “Multiply: disciples making disciples”, Francis Chan makes the following statement:
In Exodus 19:5-6, God told Israel that they were to be a “kingdom of priest” and a “holy nation.” These two titles are extremely important for understanding Israel’s calling. A priest has two responsibilities: to represent a holy God to sinful people, and to represent a sinful people to a holy God. As a kingdom of priests, Israel was meant to represent their God to the nations around them. Collectively, they were to show the world who their God was and what He demanded of the world. On the other side, God meant Israel to represent these nations to Himself.
Chan went on to say,
These concepts are also present in the title “holy nation.” They were meant to stand out, to be clearly different from other nations. They were set apart for God’s purposes. They were to minister on God’s behalf, to show the holy character of God to the world around them and be a light to the nations.
Before you begin to say that these verses were for the nation of Israel let me say, you would be correct. We can see, as we continue through the Old Testament, that the nation of Israel did not fulfill their responsibility as a “kingdom of priest” or a “holy nation”.
So how is this relevant to us today? I Peter 2:5, 9 explains,
You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. – I Peter 2:5
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. – I Peter 2:9
If we know Christ as our Savior, we are a royal priesthood and a holy nation! We have a responsibility, just as the nation of Israel had. We are to represent a holy God to sinful people, and to represent a sinful people to a holy God!
Points to Ponder:
- Are you a Christian? If not, please contact me because I would like to talk with you more.
- If you are a Christian, are you doing what we were saved to do?
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