A KINGDOM OF PRIESTS AND A HOLY NATION
Key verse: 5,6a
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.”
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
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.”
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
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
It was exactly three months after the Lord had brought the Israelites out of their bondage in Egypt. On that very day, the whole Israelite camp came to the desert of Sinai and came up to the base of Mount Sinai. There, Moses met with the Lord on the mountain. What did the Lord tell Moses?
First, the Lord told Moses to remind the people of Israel what he had done for them. They had not left Egypt under their own strength or cunning. They had been carried out on eagles’ wings and brought to the Lord. The Lord himself led and protected the Israelites on their journey and were being led to the Lord himself.
Secondly, the Lord told Moses to tell the Israelites of the Lord’s hope for them. The Lord wanted his people to be his treasured possession. Out of all the earth, they would be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. All he asked of them was for them to obey him and keep his covenant. This is the Lord’s hope for us today—that we will be his treasured possession.
Prayer: Father, thank you for blessing us this past year. May 2024 bring an exodus from our lives of slavery to sin, to you. Help us to obey you and your covenant. Make us a kingdom of priests and a holy nation in 2024.
One Word: You will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation
