Kingdom of Priests מַמְלֶ֥כֶת כֹּהֲנִ֖ים

We are in chapter nineteen of Exodus with our word for today, which is a phrase. מַמְלֶ֥כֶת כֹּהֲנִ֖ים kingdom of priests. It is used just this one time in our chapter in the Old Testament. Our phrase is the second part of the many benefits God’s lists from obeying his voice and keeping his covenant that we have looked at over the last couple of days. If we remember agreements are entered into because it benefits both groups. This second benefit listed sounds like it is just for God. The reality is the best thing that can happen to any one of us is that we are priests for God. Exodus 19:5-6 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 מַמְלֶ֥כֶת כֹּהֲנִ֖ים kingdom of priests and a holy nation. Yesterday we saw that God gets us out of this agreement in that we are his treasured possession today he gets a kingdom of priests. This is interesting in that this is the only time in the Bible that God calls his people this. Let’s look at both of these words to help better understand this phrase. מַמְלָכָה dominion, kingdom, kingship, royal sovereignty, reign, king. It is used 116 times in the Old Testament. This word is used the most in the sense of a nation that has a king ruling over it. 1 Kings 2:46 וְהַמַּמְלָכָ֥ה So the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon. This is the sense of how our word is used in our phrase so that a kingdom of priest is a nation of them serving under God himself because God is the one who we all belong to. And notice how our word is used in 1 Kings 4:21. Just like Solomon was king over many kingdoms God is king over us who are a kingdom of priest or a nation of priests. This nation idea fits our phrase for tomorrow that we will look at holy nation. So God calls his people a kingdom of what? כֹּהֵן priest. It is used 750 times in the Old Testament. The basic idea of a priest is to serve God by helping others connect to God. The first time our word is used is in the Bible is a good example because he helps Abraham thank God for his success in battle. Genesis 14:18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He כֹהֵ֖ן was priest of God Most High. And the priest God set up to serve him and the people in their offering of sacrifices and worship. Numbers 3:3 Those were the names of Aaron’s sons, the anointed הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים priests, who were ordained לְכַהֵֽן to serve as priests. This word is used 190 times in the book of Leviticus which explains in detail this role of priest. So what I find interesting is that even though God set up a special group of priests to help his people connect with him he also uses this word to describe all of his people in another sense with our phrase in our chapter today. We will talk more about this tomorrow when we look at holy nation but for today let’s at least conclude that God’s people both back then and today belong to God to be used to help other people connect with him. This is hinted at in the same verse as our phrase. In Exodus 19:6 we have this, “for all the earth is mine” that is interesting. God cares about all of his creation and wants to bring all of the people in it to himself. How will he do it? Through those who are already connected to him through his covenant or agreement. I’ll close with this prediction of Christ who would come and make it possible for everyone to be connected to God through his saving work on the cross. Psalm 110:1-4 The Lord says to my lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” The Lord will extend your mighty scepter from Zion, saying, “Rule in the midst of your enemies!” Your troops will be willing on your day of battle. Arrayed in holy splendor, your young men will come to you like dew from the morning’s womb. The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: “You are a כֹהֵ֥ן priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”