1 Peter 2:9
You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
Studying Leviticus we have seen that all Israel was called to live according to certain rules of holiness. We have also seen that priests and High-Priests were called to an even higher standard. The reason for this was that it was the priest’s job to process the offerings of the people and splash the blood on the altar so in a way, the priest came closer to the Presence of the Lord than any other person. It is like no one would ask me anything if I were to come to Washington D.C. or even if I stood in front of the White House perimeter, but I would need special permissions to come inside the White House and even more the closer I came to the President’s quarters. Believers have also been called to a royal priesthood and live nearer to the Master. We are therefore liable to live in higher standards of holiness.
We remember also from the Texts that once Aaron and his sons were anointed for the priesthood, Aaron was not allowed to care for his deceased two sons or to mourn for them. The reason was because Aaron was on duty and High-priests are not allowed to mourn nor bear the signs of mourning while performing their duties in the presence of God (Leviticus 21:10). It makes sense when you realize that approaching God is approaching life itself, the One who swallows death in victory and prepares for us a world where death no longer will be (Isaiah 25:8; Revelations 21:3-40).
This understanding od not showing sadness before high dignitaries was very common in the East in those days. It is recorded that no matter what were his personal problems, Nehemiah never showed sadness in front of his kingly master (Nehemiah 2:1). His onetime display of sorrow was so out of character for the king’s butler that it engendered a discussion that changed the fate of the Jewish nation in exile.
One may suppose these practices archaic and bordering on hypocrisy, but let’s take a second look at them. Once we have given our lives to the Master; once we have yielded control of every aspect of our lives to the Mighty Creator in Whom is life and Light with no shadow of darkness or death; once we have affirmed to be called according to His purpose, how can we deny that all do things do come for good (Romans 8:28). How do we dare come to Him complaining and murmuring about our poor sorry fate in life? Isn’t that a contradiction?
All things do come for good to those called according to His purpose and if things seem to go bad, it is probably because we do not live within the healthy and safe boundaries He prescribed, living a life according to the purpose he called for. Godly living may not keep us from all problems but I can affirm that it serves as a good protection against most social and health issues. We have enough to battle with the enemy, but it seems that Satan can rest at ease; we are creating our own hell though our disobediences to His commandments!
May God help us to obey Him, even now even in our days!
You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
Studying Leviticus we have seen that all Israel was called to live according to certain rules of holiness. We have also seen that priests and High-Priests were called to an even higher standard. The reason for this was that it was the priest’s job to process the offerings of the people and splash the blood on the altar so in a way, the priest came closer to the Presence of the Lord than any other person. It is like no one would ask me anything if I were to come to Washington D.C. or even if I stood in front of the White House perimeter, but I would need special permissions to come inside the White House and even more the closer I came to the President’s quarters. Believers have also been called to a royal priesthood and live nearer to the Master. We are therefore liable to live in higher standards of holiness.
We remember also from the Texts that once Aaron and his sons were anointed for the priesthood, Aaron was not allowed to care for his deceased two sons or to mourn for them. The reason was because Aaron was on duty and High-priests are not allowed to mourn nor bear the signs of mourning while performing their duties in the presence of God (Leviticus 21:10). It makes sense when you realize that approaching God is approaching life itself, the One who swallows death in victory and prepares for us a world where death no longer will be (Isaiah 25:8; Revelations 21:3-40).
This understanding od not showing sadness before high dignitaries was very common in the East in those days. It is recorded that no matter what were his personal problems, Nehemiah never showed sadness in front of his kingly master (Nehemiah 2:1). His onetime display of sorrow was so out of character for the king’s butler that it engendered a discussion that changed the fate of the Jewish nation in exile.
One may suppose these practices archaic and bordering on hypocrisy, but let’s take a second look at them. Once we have given our lives to the Master; once we have yielded control of every aspect of our lives to the Mighty Creator in Whom is life and Light with no shadow of darkness or death; once we have affirmed to be called according to His purpose, how can we deny that all do things do come for good (Romans 8:28). How do we dare come to Him complaining and murmuring about our poor sorry fate in life? Isn’t that a contradiction?
All things do come for good to those called according to His purpose and if things seem to go bad, it is probably because we do not live within the healthy and safe boundaries He prescribed, living a life according to the purpose he called for. Godly living may not keep us from all problems but I can affirm that it serves as a good protection against most social and health issues. We have enough to battle with the enemy, but it seems that Satan can rest at ease; we are creating our own hell though our disobediences to His commandments!
May God help us to obey Him, even now even in our days!
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