God set Israel apart as a kingdom of priests so the nation would stand as go-betweens between the Gentile world and Himself.
In Exodus 19:6 God told Israel, 'ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation.' Les Feldick explains that a priest is a go-between, and since Israel already had priests for their own worship, the nation's calling was outward—every Jew was intended to bring pagan Gentiles to a knowledge of their God.
Exodus 19:6 — This is the specific verse in which God declares that Israel shall be 'a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation.'
Exodus 19:5–6 records God's words to Israel at Mount Sinai: 'Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: 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.' The words are directed to the entire nation of Israel, and the promise depends on obedience to God's voice and covenant. God calls Israel 'a peculiar treasure' and says the whole earth is His before declaring they will be 'a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation.'
Les Feldick explains that a priest is a go-between. Since Israel already had its own priesthood for tabernacle worship, the title 'kingdom of priests' did not mean Israel was to be a go-between between themselves and God. Instead, the nation was to be a go-between between the pagan Gentile world and Israel's God. Every Jew, he says, was intended to become a priest of God to bring pagan Gentiles to a knowledge of their God.
For Les, a priest's role is to stand as a go-between between God and man. The nation of Israel was promised that they would be 'a kingdom of priests'—the whole nation, not just the Levitical priesthood. Because Israel already had Levitical priests for tabernacle worship, the role of the kingdom of priests was outward-facing: it was to stand between the pagan Gentiles and God.
According to Les, Israel's calling was to reach the pagan world that was steeped in idolatry. The nation was to be a particular people of value that God could use to bring all those pagans to a knowledge of their God. As Les puts it, every Jew was intended at some future day to become a priest of God to bring these pagan Gentiles to a knowledge of their God.
Les says that God put Israel under the Law as a preparation process. They were given the temple worship, the priesthood, and the Old Testament. God also told Israel they would be a peculiar treasure to Him above all people (Exodus 19:5) and called them a holy—that is, separated—nation (Exodus 19:6). The whole point was to get the nation ready to serve as go-betweens.
Peculiar Treasure and Covenant Relationship
Les explains that God lifted Israel out of the mainstream of idolatrous humanity and intended this small nation to be a particular people of value He could use to reach all pagans.
Priest Means Go-Between
Les explains that Israel being a kingdom of priests did not mean they were go-betweens between themselves and God, but between the Gentiles and God.
A Nation of Go-Betweens
Les shows the promise required obedience and that holy means separated; the whole idea was that Israel was to become a nation of go-betweens.
Every Jew Was to Become a Priest
Les states that every Jew was intended at some future day to become a priest of God to bring pagan Gentiles to a knowledge of their God.
Law as Preparation
Les explains that God put Israel under the Law and gave them temple worship, the priesthood, and the Old Testament as the preparation process for their priestly role.
The Role of a Priest
Les defines priest as a go-between between God and man, comparing it to how Catholic friends understand their priest.
Not Just the Levites
Les stresses that though Levites handled tabernacle worship, every Jew was to have been a priest when it came to reaching out to Gentiles.
Israel as Light to the Gentiles
Les points to Isaiah 42 to show Israel's long-standing prospect was to be a nation of priests bringing salvation and knowledge of their God to the Gentile world.
Exodus 19:5: Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:
This is the verse Les points to to show Israel was God's favored, chosen people and peculiar treasure above all people.
Exodus 19:6: 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.
This is the central promise that Israel would be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.
Isaiah 42:6: I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;
Les cites this verse to show Israel was intended to be a light to the Gentiles and a nation of priests.
A priest is a go-between. Les says Israel was to be a kingdom of priests, meaning the nation was to stand between the Gentile world and God, not merely between Israel and God.
Les teaches that every Jew in God's Old Testament program was to have been a priest. This did not mean every Jew served in the tabernacle like the Levites; it meant every Jew was to be a go-between to bring Gentiles to a knowledge of God.
According to Les, God put Israel under the Law and gave them the temple worship, the priesthood, and the Old Testament as a preparation process. He called them out of the mainstream of humanity to be His peculiar treasure and a holy, set-apart nation.
Watch the Teaching: Why God Chose Abraham: Israel's Purpose Finally Explained