A Royal Priesthood

 A Royal Priesthood

In the United States, we may not have much appreciation for with of the terms in the title, things royalty, or priestly. 

In the Bible, the Old Testament priesthood and the kingship were kept separate from each other. Remember the first king, Saul, who stepped into the priest’s role and performed a sacrifice (a priestly function) just before he was to lead the troops into battle (a kingly function). As a result, God removed him and his family from the throne. Less well-known is the case of the king, Uzziah, who stubbornly offered incense despite the protests of the priests, and was immediately stricken with leprosy. The two don’t go together.

Except with Melchizedek, the mysterious king who appears to Abram after the battle with the kings to recover kidnapped Lot. There is no doubt that Mel- is a king (melech is Hebrew for king). He is king of the city that would later be called Jerusalem. And he brings Abram bread and wine, a priestly function.

Samuel is an interesting figure, his tribal identity a bit conflicted, “donated” to the tabernacle after his miraculous birth (not virgin, but barren). He continues to serve after Eli, the priest’s household is removed from service due to corruption. He rules in the days when Israel has no king. There is a strong flavor or “royal priesthood” in this character who, like Melchizedek, prefigures Christ.

And then there is Jesus, who is Prophet, Priest, and King. He is the One who fulfills all three functions, fully integrated, and in a deeper way than every before. He is the One who speaks the Word, but He Himself is the Word; He functions as priest, but He Himself is the sacrifice. He rules as king for the good of the people, so much so that He gives His life for the people. 

And then, followers of Jesus step into this train. We are called by Peter “a royal priesthood.” We are kings and priests. Now let’s be a bit careful here. Everything we do, we do is in submission to Christ. I am a pastor, a shepherd of the flock, but I must always remember (and you should too) that I am an undershepherd, under the Overshepherd. And so we all, who are followers of Jesus, are kings and priests, under His ministry and rule. We are under-priests and under-kings, and we have no authority apart from Him. But yet, the church is called “a royal priesthood.” He has invested us with this privilege that we might be witnesses/doers of justice and peace; of compassion and truth in a world that has so little of any of these things - a little like Melchizedek, and prayerfully, a lot like Jesus.