What role would every Jew have in Israel's national priesthood?
Every Jew would function as a priest in Israel’s national priesthood, serving as a go-between between the Gentiles and God. Rather than mediating for themselves, they would be positioned to lead Gentiles to a knowledge of Israel’s God, fulfilling the prospect of a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.
Les explains that when God called Israel a kingdom of priests and a holy nation, He was describing a national priesthood. A priest is a go-between. Israel already had its own priesthood, so this did not mean each Jew would mediate between himself and God, but rather between the Gentiles and God. This was the prospect of the nation as God began dealing with them as a nation. All through the Old Testament, Les teaches, this was the format by which God was getting the nation ready. He was preparing them for this national priesthood, where every Jew would be in a position to lead Gentiles to a knowledge of their God. In Acts chapter 2, at Pentecost, Peter addressed a huge crowd of Jews gathered from all over the Roman Empire and continued this frame of reference: Christ came to Israel to fulfill the Old Testament promises and covenants, and Peter made this claim on the nation even after Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection.
And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
More Questions
What kingdom is meant by Israel being a kingdom of priests?
The kingdom God promised Israel as "a kingdom of priests" is the kingdom that is coming on earth over which Christ will one day rule, not merely the nation of Israel.
Who was Israel supposed to be a priestly go-between for — themselves or the Gentiles?
Israel's national priesthood was not meant to be a go-between between the Israelites and God, since they already had their own priesthood, but between the Gentiles and God.