Ezekiel 44:1-45:12 / 1 Peter 1:1-12 / Psalm 119:17-32 / Proverbs 28:8-10
In reading about the priesthood in the Temple being restored in Ezekiel a mixture of emotions was swirling around in my heart. When Ezekiel, who was born as one in line for the priesthood but was serving as a prophet in Israel, describes these events, he is living with God’s people in exile in Babylon. The temple described in this book is a temple that was experienced in a vision and was never built.
As God’s people suffered in captivity, I’m sure they were tempted to give in to despair, but it was Ezekiel’s job as a prophet to give them the word of the Lord and to encourage them that they had not been forgotten. God instructed Ezekiel to pay specific attention to the details of the heavenly vision of the Temple and to instruct the people regarding what he saw.
Instead of writing about all the history and details of what happened in this vision, I want to explore what it means for us to be kings and priests to God today. Yes, there is a description of who a priest was, along with all his duties in the Old Covenant. However, now that we are in the New Covenant, what does it mean for us to operate as priests in God’s Kingdom?
Let’s begin with a few verses stating we are priests. 1 Peter 2:5-9 NLT 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… 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.
Let me pull out two phrases for us to look at further. “You are His holy priests”. “You are royal priests”. These two phrases are speaking to all of those who belong to God through Jesus Christ. All nationalities, along with both male and female are included in this priesthood. This is not a physical priesthood and not like either the ancient priesthood we read about in Israel or the current priesthood we see in some churches.
We no longer must wear all the priestly garments of linen, but we do have a biblical counterpart and we have the white robes of salvation which the blood of Jesus bought for us. Revelation 19:7-8 NLT Let us be glad and rejoice and let us give honor to him. For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself. She has been given the finest of pure white linen to wear.” For the fine linen represents the good deeds of God’s holy people.
We no longer must offer blood sacrifices to pay for our sin For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:21 NLT)
That said, we can offer spiritual sacrifices that please God according to 1 Peter 2. What are these spiritual sacrifices? Anything we freely offer to God would be considered a sacrifice – our praise, time, resources, or anything of value to us. When we choose to live a consecrated life, that is also a spiritual sacrifice. Any time we give up our will for His, we are offering God a sacrifice.
Spiritual sacrifices do not replace relationship with God, rather they are born out of our love for Him as He pours His love on us. He does not demand the sacrifice, but it pleases Him. We do not offer sacrifices instead of spending time with Him; they are in addition.
Our priesthood is one who wears the white garments of salvation and one who offers back to God everything He has given us. I’m thankful to be this kind of priest; I’m thankful for the sacrifice on the cross of our High Priest Jesus Christ.
