Kingdom of Priests

A kingdom of priests describes a nation whose entire calling is priestly mediation, standing between Yahweh and the surrounding nations rather than existing only for itself. This was Israel’s vocation from the moment Yahweh brought them out of Egypt.

What did Yahweh promise Israel at Sinai?

At Sinai, Yahweh sets the terms of this calling before giving the law: “if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:5-6). Israel’s priestly identity was conditioned on covenant obedience and was never meant to be hoarded privately; a kingdom of priests exists to represent God to others.

How does the church inherit this vocation?

Peter applies this same vocation to the church, describing believers as “A CHOSEN RACE, A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR GOD’S OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9). What Israel was called to be at Sinai, the church is now called to live out, mediating God’s presence and character to a watching world. The articles below trace this theme through several key passages.