Priest Excursus

What is a priest? In simple terms, the represent God to the people, and they represent the people before God.

This is why holiness is so important for priests.

Beginning with Adam and Eve

Briefly make notes on the Adam and Eve “priesthood”

The call to abad and shemar — priestly duties, “worship and obey.”

They are also commanded to be fruitful and multiply, and the implication is that they will pass on the duties of abad and shemar.

Chief among the Edenic blessings = God’s presence among His creation.

When Adam and Eve are exiled, it is clear mankind needs a priest who will come and restore the blessings of the garden. Let’s now think about other priestly motifs we find in Scripture before winding around to Peter’s teaching in 1 Pet.2:9 “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

Melchizedek and Abraham

Adam is portrayed as performing priestly duties, but Melchizedek is the first person explicitly called a priest.

He is the “King of Righteousness.”

He rules Shalem, and this place will later be identified as the place where God’s tent and holy dwelling are (Ps.76:1-2 “God is known in Judah; his name is great in Israel. His tent is in Salem, his dwelling place in Zion.”)

What is interesting is that he has no genealogical record!

But, Melchizedek was a priest of El-Elyon, God Most High, and this is the name he invokes when he blesses Abraham (Gen.14:18-19 “Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine; he was a priest to God Most High. He blessed him and said: Abram is blessed by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth,”).

Now, Abraham follows that up when talking with the king of Sodom by attaching El-Elyon to YHWH even before God has revealed Himself as YHWH (Ex.3:12-15 “He answered, “I will certainly be with you, and this will be the sign to you that I am the one who sent you: when you bring the people out of Egypt, you will all worship God at this mountain.” Then Moses asked God, “If I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what should I tell them?” God replied to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you.” God also said to Moses, “Say this to the Israelites: The Lord, the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is my name forever; this is how I am to be remembered in every generation.”)

Scholars then argue that it’s safe to attach Melchizedek, to trace his line that we know absolutely nothing about (and, btw, I think that’s theological), to Gen.4:26 “A son was born to Seth also, and he named him Enosh. At that time people began to call on the name of the Lord.”

Melchizedek, at least so far, is introduced as a royal priest attached to Jerusalem long before the line of David ever arrives.

But, let’s also consider for a moment Abraham.

He’s first called in Gen.12:1-3 “The Lord said to Abram: Go from your land, your relatives, and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, I will bless you, I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, I will curse anyone who treats you with contempt, and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

We mentioned last week Gen.12:6 “Abram passed through the land to the site of Shechem, at the oak of Moreh. (At that time the Canaanites were in the land.)” which is followed by a promise concerning the land of Canaan.

Fast forward to the episode of Gen.22.

God tests Abraham, asking him to sacrifice his only son.

We see that beautiful picture of a substitutionary death, of extreme faith and commitment to the LORD. Just before Abraham plunges the knife…a ram caught in the thicket.

So Abraham declares — Gen.22:13-14 “Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught in the thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram and offered it as a burnt offering in place of his son. And Abraham named that place The Lord Will Provide, so today it is said, “It will be provided on the Lord’s mountain.””

Where is the Lord’s mountain you might ask? In the mountains of Moriah (Gen.22:2 ““Take your son,” he said, “your only son Isaac, whom you love, go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.””)

Is this significant? You bet! It’s the place where the temple will eventually be built.

Moses and Aaron

Some of last week, and some of this week, they intertwine because of how priestly duties and temples interact.

Moses is called to be God’s representative in Ex.3.

Presented as a type of “anti-hero,” even though there will never be another in Israel (obviously outside of Christ) that compares to Moses the Magnificent.

He’s called in Ex.3, and by the time Ex.4 rolls around, after his fifth disagreement with God, YHWH’s anger burns against him as a matter of divine concession, because of Moses’ disbelief and stubbornness, Aaron is appointed priest (Ex.4:14 “Then the Lord’s anger burned against Moses, and he said, “Isn’t Aaron the Levite your brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, he is on his way now to meet you. He will rejoice when he sees you.”)

Throughout the next few chapters:

Moses is to gather the elders of Israel, which he does, but...

He is supposed to go to Pharaoh with the elders, but he only takes Aaron.

Moses and Aaron do not repeat to Pharaoh verbatim what YHWH has said.

Moses and Aaron perform no signs and wonders during their first visit to Pharaoh, which results in and increased burden on the Israelites because of Pharaoh’s unbelief.

Through this, one scholar notes that Aaron’s place is the Exodus narrative, particularly his priesthood, is purposefully portrayed as less than ideal. Rather, these are but concessions…“accommodations necessitated by Moses’ disobedience and lack of faith.”

However, it seems the only time Aaron gets it right is when Moses is directing him!

Exodus 32-34 records the failure of Israel’s priest and Moses’ intercession. It’s similar to Abraham in that there is the offer of a life, but this time, the stakes are higher because Moses offers his own life in order to maintain Israel’s covenant with YHWH (Ex.32:30-32 “The following day Moses said to the people, “You have committed a grave sin. Now I will go up to the Lord; perhaps I will be able to atone for your sin.” So Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Oh, these people have committed a grave sin; they have made a god of gold for themselves. Now if you would only forgive their sin. But if not, please erase me from the book you have written.””)

This is what the high priest is supposed to do in the tabernacle. However, Aaron’s priesthood is compromised and idolatrous from the beginning. Moses provides a truer portrait of the priestly and prophetic roles. Moses intercedes on behalf of sinners, offering his own life in the place of others.

David, the Priestly King

From the beginning, David’s kingship is different (1 Sam.16:13 “...the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully on David from that day forward.”) Priestly imagery abounds when David brings the ark into Jerusalem:

David is portrayed as a priest:

He is dressed like a priest, wearing a “linen ephod.”

And, he is functioning like a priest, officiating over the ceremony and offering sacrifices.

2 Sam.6:13 “When those carrying the ark of the Lord advanced six steps, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened calf.”

He sets up the tabernacle (2 Sam.6:17 “They brought the ark of the Lord and set it in its place inside the tent David had pitched for it. Then David offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings in the Lord’s presence.”)

Right after these actions, the climax of Davids narrative happens: he’s promised a seed that will reign in perpetuity. David wants to build a place of “rest” for God in Jerusalem, and God responds with a covenant promise to David. (2 Sam.7:15-16 “But my faithful love will never leave him as it did when I removed it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. Your house and kingdom will endure before me forever, and your throne will be established forever.’ ””)

However, we know David, just like all OT “heroes,” fails. He trusts in his own might, takes a census of his military power, and God judges his actions. This gives rise to a final priestly picture from David in 2 Sam.24:17 “When David saw the angel striking the people, he said to the Lord, “Look, I am the one who has sinned; I am the one who has done wrong. But these sheep, what have they done? Please, let your hand be against me and my father’s family.”” He offers Himself.

Jesus, THE Royal Priest

Sin has led to the failure of and exposed the shortcomings of all human priests. Man is in need of a new priest, a better priest, to restore them to God and to their original role as royal priests who reign with God and represent Him to the world. This final priest will be the ultimate priest who serves not only as a priest, but finally as the sacrifice as well.

I’ll hit a few highlights, but seriously, read Hebrews 6-8 or so...

Heb.5:1-6 “For every high priest taken from among men is appointed in matters pertaining to God for the people, to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he is also clothed with weakness. Because of this, he must make an offering for his own sins as well as for the people. No one takes this honor on himself; instead, a person is called by God, just as Aaron was. In the same way, Christ did not exalt himself to become a high priest, but God who said to him, You are my Son; today I have become your Father, also says in another place, You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”

Heb.7:1-3 “For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, met Abraham and blessed him as he returned from defeating the kings, and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, his name means king of righteousness, then also, king of Salem, meaning king of peace. Without father, mother, or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.”

Heb.7:15-16 “And this becomes clearer if another priest like Melchizedek appears, who did not become a priest based on a legal regulation about physical descent but based on the power of an indestructible life.”

Heb.7:23-25 “Now many have become Levitical priests, since they are prevented by death from remaining in office. But because he remains forever, he holds his priesthood permanently. Therefore, he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, since he always lives to intercede for them.”

The Royal Priesthood

In Acts 2, God’s presence filled His new temples and carved out a holy and royal priesthood for Himself. Paul paints the picture for us in Romans 12:1-10, noting how believers are collectively the body, and that all of us are to collectively offer one living sacrifice to God: self, just like Moses, just like David, and just like King Jesus.

Further, as a royal priesthood, in a right relationship with God, walking with Him again in His creation, we are called to serve as priests as well. We represent God to the world, and we represent the world to our God. Like we studied last week, we continually expand His temple and restore humanity to its original calling as ruling priests in God’s creation.

We represent God to the world through holy living, set apart, modeling the character we find in Christ, bearing the fruit of the Spirit, being known by our love for one another, so that all will know that we are followers of Christ.

We represent the world to God through petitioning the Lord on their behalf, pleading for their salvation and restoration, knowing this is the only way the world’s sin will truly be defeated.

And, we bring the sacrifice of obedience and burn the incense of prayer, remaining vigilant in our duties as priests who are themselves the temple.

Restore the Edenic blessing, God’s presence among man. Should it not be said of us when unbelievers are around that surely they were in the presence of God?

Live lives of self-denial, possible only through the strengthening of the Holy Spirit.

Maintain a manner of living that declares to the world around us Jesus is ultimate.