Josheb
Well-known member
The Kingdom of God – Part 2
The first explicit mention by God of a kingdom He institutes is found in Exodus 19.
Exodus 19:1-6
In the third month after the sons of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that very day they came into the wilderness of Sinai. When they set out from Rephidim, they came to the wilderness of Sinai and camped in the wilderness; and there Israel camped in front of the mountain. Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain, saying, "Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob and tell the sons of Israel: 'You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings, and brought you to Myself. Now then, 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.' These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel."
Prior to this, none of God’s people had a king other than God Himself. The only king related to the worship of the God of the Bible prior to Exodus is that of Melchizedek (and on this we will attend more in a separate thread). Melchizedek is a king AND a priest and he is a priest of God to whom Abraham pays tribute, not an idol-worshiping pagan priest having nothing to do with God.
Note that this kingdom God is going to make will be a kingdom of priests. At this time in history all nations had priests and priests, or the leaders of the religious order, in those nations invariably held significant authority and political power, often being advisors to monarchs. At this time in the history of the Hebrews there is no monarchy and no monarch (other than God Himself).
Note also that this is a promise made to the house of Jacob and the sons of Israel, neither of which is a nation-state or kingdom at this point.
Note also that this kingdom of priests is a prophetic promise, and it is a prophetic promise that occurs absent any mention of a king and absent any mention of a monarchy. At this point it is a kingdom without a king. This is how God first asserted His own kingdom. He will make a kingdom and the kingdom He will make will be one of priests. This was His promise, a promise stated as a matter of prophesy.
Note also that this promise of a kingdom of priests is conditional. It is predicated upon obeying God’s voice and keeping His covenant. The implication being there would be no kingdom of priests or holy nation if disobedience and covenant-breaking ensued.
Note also that at the time of this promise of a priestly kingdom God is their sole Ruler. While it is not a specific part of the Exodus 19 text the form of governance God established among the wandering Hebrews was a theocratic state in which Moses was the liaison between God and the Hebrews and he appointed godly men of virtue to govern lesser matters. These appointees were representatives of the people who would decide lesser matters based on the Law that had recently been given and bring only the most important matters to Moses for decision, who was ultimately responsible to either decide based on the same Law, or take the matter directly to God.
What I would like to do in this discussion is, first, stick to this passage, and consider it for itself regardless of what additions God adds to this promise of a kingdom and whatever else later scripture states about this kingdom of priests. Prior scripture can be applied because it would have been understood by the original audience receiving God’s word this day in Exodus 19.
The thesis for discussion is this: Based solely on God’s first promise of a kingdom, the kingdom God promised was conditional; and being conditional all future readings of any kingdom of God should begin with this in mind.
The first explicit mention by God of a kingdom He institutes is found in Exodus 19.
Exodus 19:1-6
In the third month after the sons of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that very day they came into the wilderness of Sinai. When they set out from Rephidim, they came to the wilderness of Sinai and camped in the wilderness; and there Israel camped in front of the mountain. Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain, saying, "Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob and tell the sons of Israel: 'You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings, and brought you to Myself. Now then, 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.' These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel."
Prior to this, none of God’s people had a king other than God Himself. The only king related to the worship of the God of the Bible prior to Exodus is that of Melchizedek (and on this we will attend more in a separate thread). Melchizedek is a king AND a priest and he is a priest of God to whom Abraham pays tribute, not an idol-worshiping pagan priest having nothing to do with God.
Note that this kingdom God is going to make will be a kingdom of priests. At this time in history all nations had priests and priests, or the leaders of the religious order, in those nations invariably held significant authority and political power, often being advisors to monarchs. At this time in the history of the Hebrews there is no monarchy and no monarch (other than God Himself).
Note also that this is a promise made to the house of Jacob and the sons of Israel, neither of which is a nation-state or kingdom at this point.
Note also that this kingdom of priests is a prophetic promise, and it is a prophetic promise that occurs absent any mention of a king and absent any mention of a monarchy. At this point it is a kingdom without a king. This is how God first asserted His own kingdom. He will make a kingdom and the kingdom He will make will be one of priests. This was His promise, a promise stated as a matter of prophesy.
Note also that this promise of a kingdom of priests is conditional. It is predicated upon obeying God’s voice and keeping His covenant. The implication being there would be no kingdom of priests or holy nation if disobedience and covenant-breaking ensued.
Note also that at the time of this promise of a priestly kingdom God is their sole Ruler. While it is not a specific part of the Exodus 19 text the form of governance God established among the wandering Hebrews was a theocratic state in which Moses was the liaison between God and the Hebrews and he appointed godly men of virtue to govern lesser matters. These appointees were representatives of the people who would decide lesser matters based on the Law that had recently been given and bring only the most important matters to Moses for decision, who was ultimately responsible to either decide based on the same Law, or take the matter directly to God.
What I would like to do in this discussion is, first, stick to this passage, and consider it for itself regardless of what additions God adds to this promise of a kingdom and whatever else later scripture states about this kingdom of priests. Prior scripture can be applied because it would have been understood by the original audience receiving God’s word this day in Exodus 19.
The thesis for discussion is this: Based solely on God’s first promise of a kingdom, the kingdom God promised was conditional; and being conditional all future readings of any kingdom of God should begin with this in mind.
