How to Be God’s Royal Priest
I’m sure you are aware the Catholic Church has a new pope. Since I didn’t grow up catholic, nor had close catholic friends, my perception of Catholicism basically comes from TV and movies. Consequently, my sweet Pastor husband and I watched the movie Conclave to better understand how the Catholic church selects a new pope.
What is a Priest?
I learned some things from the movie, but I still don’t fully understand all about priests and cardinals and popes. To me, a priest is a man who wears a clerical collar, chooses not to marry, and is always at the church or monastery. In addition, he listens to confessions and then assigns penance to the confessor. He most likely ministers to the poor, orphans, and/or at-risk teens. At least that’s how all the movies portray his role.
I looked up the definition of priest. According to Dictionary.com, “a priest is a person whose office is to perform religious rites, and especially to make sacrificial offerings; clergy.” Merriam-Webster stated, “someone authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion especially as a mediatory agent between humans and God.”
Priests in the Bible
As someone who has grown up in the church and attended years of Sunday school, I find the term priest familiar. I’ve heard and read the Bible stories where the priests in the Old Testament offered sacrifices for the people. I have always enjoyed the story where Elijah calls down fire from heaven to burn up his offering to God. God responded and proved to the priests of Baal that their god wasn’t a god at all. However, Elijah wasn’t a priest, he was a prophet. I wonder how different the two terms are.
God told the nation of Israel two months after they left Egypt, they would be his “kingdom of priests, [his] holy nation.” (Exodus 19:6) Hence, God instructed the twelve tribes to obey Him and keep His covenant. The people responded with a hearty, “We will do everything the LORD has commanded.” (verse 8)
Israel: A Kingdom of Priests
Allow me to give this exchange some context. First, God delivered the Israelites from the Egyptians. He then provided manna, quail, and water from the rock. Next, God assigned Aaron and his sons to be Israel’s priests. The Israelites are now at Mount Sinai, and God gives the ten commandments to Moses.
As you may recall, Moses is on the mountain with God a long time. The Israelites begin to think Moses is not coming back. They convince Aaron to craft a golden calf they can worship. When Moses does come back down, he sees Israel breaking their covenant with God.
Priests and the Tribe of Levi
“[Moses] stood at the entrance to the camp and shouted, ‘All of you who are on the LORD’s side, come here and join me.’ And all the Levites gathered around him.”
Exodus 32:26, NLT
Moses then instructed the Levites to take their swords and go through the camp killing those who disobeyed. The Levites killed about three thousand people that day according to Exodus 32:28. Then Moses declared the Levites had ordained themselves for the service of the LORD, “for you obeyed even though it meant killing your own sons and brothers.” God then selected the Levites as His priests.
Adam and Eve as Priests
According to the Bible Project, and their video “The Royal Priests of Eden,” the concept of priesthood was not an afterthought. Tim Mackie and John Collins state Adam and Eve were like priests because they represented God in a holy space.
“God tells them to rule creation on His behalf. They’re like priests who embody God’s heavenly wisdom and rule here on earth. You could call them Royal priests.”
Tim Mackie and John Collins
Created to be Priests
Mackie and Collins go on to say God is continually restoring humanity to their role as priests. The New Testament supports this idea. For example1 Peter 2:9 says, “… you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for He called you out of the darkness into His wonderful light.” In addition, Revelation 1:6 declares, “…All glory to Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding His blood for us. He has made us a Kingdom of priests for God His Father. All glory and power to Him forever and ever! Amen.”
Allow God’s truth to sink in. He calls you, His priest. I think our definitions of priest are limiting. As priests, we are more than a go-between. Instead, we are servants of the Most High God. Our calling is to always stand on the LORD’s side, to set ourselves apart from everyone else if necessary, and do whatever He asks.
Living Out our Role as Priests
God assigned Biblical priests specific tasks. We can learn how to live out our role as priests by examining six different assignments given to priests in God’s Word.
Assignment 1: Sacrifices
Allow me to begin by identifying one assignment we no longer have to fulfill. Priests throughout Biblical times offered sacrifices for the people. The people would slaughter an animal without defect in the Lord’s presence; the priests would splatter the blood on the altar of God and sacrifice the animal. God would then accept the animal’s death in the people’s place, and they would be purified in His sight.
We no longer need a blood sacrifice because Jesus offered His perfect blood in our place. When we accept His gift of grace and salvation, His blood covers us, and God declares us purified. God welcomes us into His presence because Jesus’ righteousness has become our righteousness.
Assignment 2: Set Apart
Our second assignment as priests is we must allow God to consecrate us or set us apart. As you read Exodus and Leviticus, you discover the priests had to go through a series of steps to be purified. Specifically, God gave them the role of being distinctly different; they lived lives of complete commitment and obedience to God, His temple, and His Law.
We also must commit to a life of obedience and holiness. Jesus tells us clearly in John 14:15 that if we love Him, we will obey Him. In addition, Jesus discusses living a life of holiness, a life surrendered to the will and mission of God Himself when He preaches His Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5).
The Apostle John tells us in 1 John 3:24, “Those who obey God’s commandments remain in fellowship with Him, and He with them. And we know He lives in us because the Spirit He gave us lives in us.” (NLT) As we live obediently, God blesses us with HIs continual presence.
Assignment 3: Teach the Law
Third, Priests were assigned the role of teaching the Law and helping the community follow the Law. I know many people think this is currently the role of the Pastor and not theirs. However, we must remember we are members of the Royal Priesthood, and it is our role as well.
As priests, we don’t have to be the final authority on every Biblical topic. However, we must know God’s Word and encourage others to discover its wisdom and power. We can participate in Bible study discussion. We can also disciple someone who is newer in the faith than we are by listening, encouraging, reading the Word with them, and sharing what God is teaching us. In addition, we can participate in service projects, teaching and leading by example.
Assignment 4: Pray
Fourth, Priests prayed for the people. In the book of Numbers, chapter 16, we read a story about an insurrection. A group of Israelites opposed Moses and Aaron because they thought Moses and Aaron had set themselves above everyone else. In the story both Moses and Aaron fall on their faces before God and plead with Him to not destroy the whole nation for the disobedience of a few.
God destroyed those who fought against His chosen leaders. However, the Israelite community then grumbled against Moses and Aaron, saying it was their fault the others had died. God was not happy and sent a plague. Aaron ran into the midst of the assembly and offered incense, making atonement for the people and ending the plague.
When we pray for others, we are interceding, or in other words standing in the gap for someone just as Aaron stood in the gap for the Israelites. James tells us we are to pray for each other. He also states, “The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” (James 5:16, NLT) Plus, Jesus gave us the example to pray for others. He prayed for healing, and He prayed for God to provide food. In John 17, Jesus prays for God to protect His disciples, for their unity, that they be holy, and for all those who would hear the message of Christ.
Assignment 5: Have Faith
Fifth, Priests were to be pillars of faith. Did you realize the priests, carrying the Ark of the Covenant, were the first to enter the water of the Jordan? As they entered, God stopped the water flowing. They stood in the center to keep the river dry so that the Israelite nation could cross to the Promised Land. The Priests led the way around Jericho, and in the book of Nehemiah, they joined with everyone else and rebuilt a section of Jerusalem’s wall. They lived out their faith with action.
All of us have moments when our faith feels weak. We need others who strengthen our faith through their solid belief. Since we are a Kingdom of Priests, we work as a team, holding each other up, being strong when another is struggling. We must cling to the wisdom found in Proverbs 3:5,6. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.” (NLT)
Assignment 6: God is Priority Number One
Lastly, Priests declare God is their number one priority and they rely on His provision. God did not give any portion of the Promised Land to the tribe of Levi. Scripture tells us God was their inheritance (Deuteronomy 18:2). They were given a portion of certain offerings to eat, and they relied on the other eleven tribes.
I know I like to maintain control of my circumstances. Sometimes, relying on God feels difficult. We know He has an unlimited supply of anything and everything we need. Yet, we struggle to believe He will provide, especially when we want a specific provision.
As Paul closes his letter to the Philippians, he reminds us of pertinent truth. In Philippians 4:6, Paul tells us to not worry but pray about everything. He then encourages us to give thanks for all God has done. Next Paul gives one final thought: fix your thoughts on what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, and admirable (Philippians 4:8).
When we continually lay all our concerns at Jesus’ feet, then focus on what God has already given, we are choosing God as our priority. We release our grip on what we think is best. Then, as we fix our thoughts on Godly ideas and characteristics, God reminds our heart He is trustworthy and He always has our best in mind.
Designed to Serve God
I am thankful we aren’t required to wear a specific outfit or cloak as a Royal Priest. However, we should still be distinct from the world around us. The people in our circle of influence should identify us as people who worship God. We must live holy lives, be obedient to God’s Word, and express concern for others. Our family, friends, neighbors, and peers should witness our steadfast faith. We must live in the peace that comes from believing God has everything under His control so that others can see.
You may feel overwhelmed by the responsibility of being a Royal Priest. As I look at the requirements, I feel a bit of trepidation. However, allow me to remind us all, we serve a God of grace. He isn’t demanding perfection; He is calling us to obey and live in His presence. God Himself offers us the life He created us to enjoy.
“And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are His holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God.”
1 Peter 2:5, NLT
God is in the process of building us. He builds us individually and corporately. He desires that we experience Him in all His glory, as well as share the gospel to others. Each and every step of obedience we offer pleases God. He chose us, He calls us His Royal Priests, and He claims us as His very own treasure. Hallelujah!
Inside Church Photo by Rafael Hoyos Weht on Unsplash
