A KINGDOM OF PRIESTS
Key verse: 6a
NIV
At Mount Sinai
19 On the first day of the third month after the Israelites left Egypt(A)—on that very day—they came to the Desert of Sinai.(B) 2 After they set out from Rephidim,(C) they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain.(D)
3 Then Moses went up to God,(E) and the Lord called(F) to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: 4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt,(G) and how I carried you on eagles’ wings(H) and brought you to myself.(I) 5 Now if you obey me fully(J) and keep my covenant,(K) then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession.(L) Although the whole earth(M) is mine, 6 you[a] will be for me a kingdom of priests(N) and a holy nation.’(O) These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”
7 So Moses went back and summoned the elders(P) of the people and set before them all the words the Lord had commanded him to speak.(Q) 8 The people all responded together, “We will do everything the Lord has said.”(R) So Moses brought their answer back to the Lord.
Footnotes
- Exodus 19:6 Or possession, for the whole earth is mine. 6 You
Cross references
- Exodus 19:1 : S Ex 6:6
- Exodus 19:1 : Nu 1:1; 3:14; 33:15
- Exodus 19:2 : S Ex 17:1
- Exodus 19:2 : S ver 17; S Ex 3:1; Dt 5:2-4
- Exodus 19:3 : Ex 20:21
- Exodus 19:3 : S Ex 3:4; S 25:22; Ac 7:38
- Exodus 19:4 : Dt 29:2; Jos 24:7
- Exodus 19:4 : Dt 32:11; Ps 103:5; Isa 40:31; Jer 4:13; 48:40; Rev 12:14
- Exodus 19:4 : Dt 33:12; Isa 31:5; Eze 16:6
- Exodus 19:5 : Ex 15:26; Dt 6:3; Ps 78:10; Jer 7:23
- Exodus 19:5 : S Ge 17:9; S Ex 3:1
- Exodus 19:5 : S Ex 8:22; S 34:9; S Dt 8:1; S Tit 2:14
- Exodus 19:5 : S Ex 9:29; 1Co 10:26
- Exodus 19:6 : Isa 61:6; 66:21; S 1Pe 2:5
- Exodus 19:6 : Ge 18:19; Lev 11:44-45; Dt 4:37; 7:6; 26:19; 28:9; 29:13; 33:3; Isa 4:3; 62:12; Jer 2:3; Am 3:2
- Exodus 19:7 : Ex 18:12; Lev 4:15; 9:1; Nu 16:25
- Exodus 19:7 : Ex 4:30; 1Sa 8:10
- Exodus 19:8 : Ex 24:3, 7; Dt 5:27; 26:17
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
Israel at Mount Sinai
19 On the third new moon after the people of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that day they (A)came into the wilderness of Sinai. 2 They set out from (B)Rephidim and came into the wilderness of Sinai, and they encamped in the wilderness. There Israel encamped before (C)the mountain, 3 while (D)Moses went up to God. (E)The Lord called to him out of the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel: 4 (F)‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how (G)I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be (H)my treasured possession among all peoples, for (I)all the earth is mine; 6 and you shall be to me a (J)kingdom of priests and (K)a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”
7 So Moses came and called the elders of the people and set before them all these words that the Lord had commanded him. 8 (L)All the people answered together and said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do.” And Moses reported the words of the people to the Lord.
Read full chapterCross references
- Exodus 19:1 : Num. 33:15
- Exodus 19:2 : ch. 17:1, 8
- Exodus 19:2 : See ch. 3:1
- Exodus 19:3 : ch. 20:21; [Acts 7:38]
- Exodus 19:3 : ch. 3:4
- Exodus 19:4 : Deut. 29:2
- Exodus 19:4 : Deut. 32:11, 12; Isa. 63:9; Rev. 12:14
- Exodus 19:5 : Deut. 7:6; 14:2; 26:18; Ps. 135:4; Mal. 3:17; Titus 2:14
- Exodus 19:5 : ch. 9:29; Deut. 10:14; Job 41:11; Ps. 24:1; 50:12; 1 Cor. 10:26
- Exodus 19:6 : 1 Pet. 2:5, 9; Rev. 1:6; 5:10; 20:6
- Exodus 19:6 : Lev. 20:26; Deut. 7:6; 14:21; 26:19; 28:9; Isa. 62:12; 1 Pet. 2:9
- Exodus 19:8 : ch. 24:3, 7; Deut. 5:27; 26:17
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. On eagles' wings (1-4)
The Israelites were deeply infected by a slave mentality. They were childish--thoughtless, quarrelsome, irresponsible and demanding. They needed God's discipline. An eagle trains the young eaglet to fly by dropping him and catching him (Dt 32:11). God brought his people out of Egypt and led them through the desert to Mount Sinai on eagles' wings. In the desert they faced hunger, thirst and enemies; God taught them his power and his love. Now he was ready to give them his word.
2. A kingdom of priests (5-8)
There were many nations in the world, but God chose Israel. He wanted to give them his word, and make a covenant with them--an extension of his promise to Abraham. He wanted to bless them and train them to live by his word so that they could become a holy nation. He wanted to use them as a kingdom of priests--his missionaries to bring the rest of the world back to himself.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for your word and your calling. Help us to become a kingdom of priests to serve you in our time.
One Word: Holy nation; kingdom of priests
