The Mosaic Covenant: The Priesthood
The concept of priests is introduced early in Scripture with the creation of Adam and his commission to work and guard the garden in Eden (Gen. 2:15). The garden is the first sanctuary where we see God dwelling with humans. We see further examples of priestly actions in the stories of Noah and Abraham and, most curiously, in the figure of Melchizedek, who is recognized as both a priest and a king. Melchizedek was the king of Salem (Jerusalem) and also a priest of God Most High. His role as a priest-king foreshadows the identity of Israel as a kingdom of priests and a royal nation (Ex. 19:6), which later includes all believers (1 Pet. 2:9). The key element of the priesthood in these examples is that they are image bearers who are meant to reflect God's image to the rest of the world. The Abrahamic covenant even infers this role when God says, “…and all the people on earth will be blessed through you” (Gen. 12:3b). Priests are to reflect God to the people and help them draw near to Him.
Therefore, an essential feature of the Mosaic Covenant is the priesthood. God chose the priests to be the mediators between God and the people. He assigned the priesthood to the specific family line of Aaron, Moses' brother. Aaron and Moses were of the tribe of Levi, so the priesthood is often referred to as the Levitical priesthood. There could be more than one priest at any given time, but there was only ever one high priest who would serve for life. Every priest was responsible for sanctifying the house of God (the tabernacle and later the temple) through the sacrifices offered at the altar. They were also responsible for teaching the people God's law. The high priest was unique in that he alone could enter the Holy of Holies, the most holy place in the tabernacle and the temple. The only day the high priest was allowed to enter the Holy of Holies was on the yearly Day of Atonement, when he offered sacrifices for the forgiveness of his sins and the sins of the people.
The priesthood stood throughout the history of Israel and would ultimately find fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Throughout that time, the priests, along with the prophets and kings, were meant to lead the people with justice and righteousness by following the law of God and worshiping Him alone. In The Royal Priesthood and the Glory of God, David Schrock writes, “In between Moses and Jesus, the Levitical priesthood serves as Israel’s thermostat for worship. For as it goes with the priests so goes the spiritual climate of the nation” (22). We already know that Israel failed to stay obedient and faithful to God. We see evidence of that soon after God officially made the covenant with Israel.
In Exodus 24, God officiates the covenant ceremony with Israel. The sacrifices, blood sprinkling, and covenant meal with the elders all solidified the covenant. Immediately after, Moses went back up to Mount Sinai to receive further instructions, specifically on the design of the tabernacle. Aaron and the Israelites are left to their own devices and quickly forget their promise to remain faithful to God. Aaron takes gold jewelry from the people to make a gold calf idol for them to worship. God tells Moses that he needs to go back down the mountain to intervene. God says, "'They have quickly turned from the way I commanded them; they have made for themselves an image of a calf. They have bowed down to it, sacrificed to it, and said, 'Israel, these are your gods, who brought you up from the land of Egypt’” (Ex. 32:8). Moses intervenes, and the story goes on. The faithfulness of the people, though, can often be traced back to their leadership, and Aaron just proved how easily swayed he could be.
Unfortunately, things do not improve tremendously over time. Israel falls into the sin cycle during the time of the judges, leading them to request a king for themselves. At this time, the priest is a man named Eli. Eli meets a woman named Hannah, who is barren and praying for God's intervention. When Hannah does conceive a son, she names him Samuel and dedicates him to the Lord (1 Sam 1). Samuel grows up in Eli's household, a household that God has condemned to die because Eli's sons were "wicked men" (1 Sam. 2:12) who held God in contempt. They did not treat the sacrifices to God with respect and took advantage of the temple servants, particularly the women. When Eli learns of their behavior, he says, "'If one person sins against another, God can intercede for him, but if a person sins against the Lord, who can intercede for him?'" But they would not listen to their father, since the Lord intended to kill them” (1 Sam. 2:25). In complete opposition to them, Samuel “grew in stature and in favor with the LORD” (1 Sam. 2:26).
Under the leadership of Eli and his sons, Israel continues in their idolatry and rebellion against God. Despite being raised in the same environment, Samuel is both a prophet and a judge who helps steer the people in the appropriate direction as they transition to the leadership of a human king. Like the priests, the kings are held responsible for guiding God’s people in His ways. It is difficult to do so, though, when they themselves do not know God’s ways.
The prophet (and priest) Ezekiel prophesied during Israel's years of exile. As with all the prophets, he chastised the people for their rebellion and disobedience against God. In one part of the book of Ezekiel, he directs his comments to the leaders (priests and kings) of Israel. He says:
“You have not strengthened the weak, healed the sick, bandaged the injured, brought back the strays, or sought the lost. Instead, you have ruled them with violence and cruelty. They were scattered for lack of a shepherd; they became food for all the wild animals when they were scattered. My flock went astray on all the mountains and every high hill. My flock was scattered over the whole face of the earth, and there was no one searching or seeking for them.” (Ezekiel 34:4-6)
The priests had failed in their sacred duty of guiding the people and helping them be a light to the nations, a light that was to reflect the Lord God.
While the priesthood of the Mosaic Covenant was an integral part of the covenant, God never meant for it to last. He always meant for it to foreshadow something greater. GotQuestions.org writes:
“The Levitical priesthood was never intended to be permanent (Hebrews 7:11). The death of Christ put an end to the Old Covenant and the Levitical priesthood, as evidenced by the rending of the temple veil (Matthew 27:51). Now Jesus Himself serves as the believer's Great High Priest (Hebrews 4:14), called according to the order of Melchizedek, not of Levi (Hebrews 7:11–17). Through His death and resurrection, we have access to God's presence, where we can freely enjoy Him forever (Hebrews 6:19–20).”
The Levitical priesthood would find its fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Hebrews 7 is an excellent chapter that delineates Christ’s role as our great high priest. Christ becomes our high priest through the order of Melchizedek. Jesus came through the family line of Judah, not the line of Levi, so He would have been automatically banned from the priesthood. The author of Hebrews explains,
“Now if perfection came through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the law), what further need was there for another priest to appear, said to be according to the order of Melchizedek and not according to the order of Aaron? For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must be a change of law as well.” (7:11-12)
The Levitical priesthood could not perfect the people, but Christ made them righteous through His atoning sacrifice on the cross. Thus, the change in priesthood also indicates a change in the law. Christ fulfilled the law, as evidenced by the tearing of the veil that separated the Holy of Holies from the rest of the temple (Luke 23:45). Through Christ's sacrifice, He instituted a new covenant; the Old Covenant is no longer needed or in effect.
The main thing that Christ can do that the Levitical priests could not—He can live forever. The author of Hebrews tells us that “because he remains forever, he holds his priesthood permanently. Therefore, he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, since he always lives to intercede for them” (7:24-25). The Levitical priesthood was a necessary element of the Mosaic Covenant, but God never meant for it to be a permanent institution. Instead, the priesthood pointed forward to the One who could be our priest forever, thereby saving us from our sins eternally.
Go Deeper
Theme by the Bible Project: The Royal Priesthood
Podcast Series by the Bible Project:
4) David, the Leaping Priest-King
Author’s Note:
Please realize that the resource list is a work in progress, and not all the sources listed are ones that I necessarily used or heavily considered in the development of this series. A variety of schools of thought may be represented. I am not intentionally promoting one theological system over another. I also recognize that there are multiple approaches to studying covenants, and I am not here to promote one over another. My goal is to present a basic understanding of the various covenants and how they progressively reveal God's overarching plan of salvation for humanity.
