1) The High honour of being Kings and Priests to God
Perhaps nearly everyone wants to rule the world and tell others what to do. It's very likely that you are, as I am, of no status or great honour and aren't asserting power and telling others what to think and do. But what if reading the Bible changes us to be kings and priests?
The great envy some have had for the people of Israel has a basis in their elevation by God,
Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.(Exodus 19:5-6)
Holy speaks of consecration in the honour of a separation of a superior quality. Likewise if we know and keep the covenant, we too are elevated in character. More so, as in repenting in Christ and serving him by following his commandments, we are made kings and priests.
From Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead,
and the prince of the kings of the earth.
Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father;
to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. (Revelation 1:5-6)
Lest we doubt the promise, the promise is repeated, indicating that it is established, sure and without revocation.
And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. (Revelation 5:9-10)
There are very few kings left and there is very little respect for priests, but what does it mean we shall reign on the earth? It was written as future nearly two thousand years ago. Since then very few servants of Christ have any power over events at all on earth, let alone reigned as monarchs. It follows there must be a time when people, even those who have died, are raised to rulership over the people of the earth. How can we know this? Twelve men, including some fisherman and a despised former tax collecter with no power were promised this by Christ.
“Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” (Matt. 19:28)
To the privileged rich of Laodicea, Christ offered the same reward, if they overcame.
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. (Rev 3:20-21)
The promise is found in a book of symbol, but both the rebuke and promise are consistent with Christ's plain words to his Apostles. If we have any doubt that this is future, we are told it will be when those beheaded for the witness of Christ also reign.
And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (Revelation 20:4)
In context there are those who are immortal and reign on earth and those who are mortal and die, indicating that the immortal rule over the mortal on earth.
But did you notice something? Read again the song!
They sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. (Revelation 5:9-10)
Whereas reigning on earth was promised as a future gift, the elevation to be kings and priests to God is not future, but the present! In separating the natural sons of Jacob, due to the character of Abraham Isaac and Jacob, the God of Israel wished that these people shine before all nations as wise priests: people of truth, mercy and law. For this reason their successes were blessed and their failures were punished.
Peter says all servants of Christ are now collectively already a holy nation, but as in the case of Israel it is only on certain conditions of persisting in good works that Glorify God,
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. (1Peter 2:9-12)
Good works that glorify ourselves and do not prepare others for the day of the visitation of judgment may not be useful. We must show the praises of God. When we honour the ways of the glory of God we show his light to all. God declares. “Hearken unto me, my people; and give ear unto me, O my nation: for a law shall proceed from me, and I will make my judgment to rest for a light of the people.” (Isaiah 51:4)
But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. (Proverbs 4:18)
We might think of priests as people of power bossing others about and laying down religious law, but the light of Israel as the kingdom of priests was as labouring servants of God!
Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified. Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with the LORD, and my work with my God. And now, saith the LORD that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the LORD, and my God shall be my strength. And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth. (Isaiah 49:3-6)
Israel as a priestly nation is only a light when they work and labour with God. Let us reassess nobility, priestliness and kingship. My ancestry is from a noble so great in wealth and power that he established a town and ruled over the king. Modern re-assessment of his character as a bully and murderer led to the removal his plaque from the town hall, but they could not erase his legacy. What then is nobility of character? Nobility was meant to be about a generous honorable character that gives to others (nobless oblige). Yet consider that in general historically the nobles of every place seemed to have taken far more than they gave! I am descended from a Bishop and a number of priests, including an illigitimate son of a priest. If we think of priests now we may think more of scandal, but even at the height of their respect as teachers, we might feel that in general they imposed their will on their congregations and their divisive pride filled arguments still echo until today. When we consider kings today we think of ceremonial pomp, but famously we know the emergence of the Magna Carta was because English leaders sought more equitable justice than King John gave. The Bible itself is replete with the history of the failures of both kings and priests from Aaron and Eli, to King Saul, to Ananias who falsely accused Paul. With such terrible examples what does it mean for us to be kings and priests to God?
Thankfully we have a great example; a truly extraordinary example.
Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, “Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:42-45)
Luke records that even as Christ was facing betrayal and death, he had to correct the Apostles faulty understanding of rulership.
He said unto them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. (Luke 22:25)
In this we see how we are to be kings and priests unto God in Christ, a light to the world showing forth the glory of God to the best of our ability by loving mercy and doing justly.
He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? (Micah 6:8)
Our example in regards to the kind of king and priest we should be is a King of kings, who is also a high-priest having the twofold task of both delivering justice and teaching. As a king entering Jerusalem he chose not to ride high on the full grown donkey as a great royal would, but lowly on the young colt walking obediently behind the parent donkey. Zechariah said the king coming to Jerusalem would be just, which must also be our highest aim.
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. (Zechariah 9:9)
Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. (Matthew 21:5)
Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written, Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt. (John 12:14-15)
