Our Heavenly Destiny - A Royal Priesthood Without Sin and Death

The King and His Priests

(1 Chronicles 24, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, April 8, 2018)

[1] The divisions of the sons of Aaron were these. The sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. [2] But Nadab and Abihu died before their father and had no children, so Eleazar and Ithamar became the priests. [3] With the help of Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, David organized them according to the appointed duties in their service. [4] Since more chief men were found among the sons of Eleazar than among the sons of Ithamar, they organized them under sixteen heads of fathers' houses of the sons of Eleazar, and eight of the sons of Ithamar. [5] They divided them by lot, all alike, for there were sacred officers and officers of God among both the sons of Eleazar and the sons of Ithamar. [6] And the scribe Shemaiah, the son of Nethanel, a Levite, recorded them in the presence of the king and the princes and Zadok the priest and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar and the heads of the fathers' houses of the priests and of the Levites, one father's house being chosen for Eleazar and one chosen for Ithamar.

[7] The first lot fell to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah, [8] the third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim, [9] the fifth to Malchijah, the sixth to Mijamin, [10] the seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah, [11] the ninth to Jeshua, the tenth to Shecaniah, [12] the eleventh to Eliashib, the twelfth to Jakim, [13] the thirteenth to Huppah, the fourteenth to Jeshebeab, [14] the fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer, [15] the seventeenth to Hezir, the eighteenth to Happizzez, [16] the nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezkel, [17] the twenty-first to Jachin, the twenty-second to Gamul, [18] the twenty-third to Delaiah, the twenty-fourth to Maaziah. [19] These had as their appointed duty in their service to come into the house of the LORD according to the procedure established for them by Aaron their father, as the LORD God of Israel had commanded him.

[20] And of the rest of the sons of Levi: of the sons of Amram, Shubael; of the sons of Shubael, Jehdeiah. [21] Of Rehabiah: of the sons of Rehabiah, Isshiah the chief. [22] Of the Izharites, Shelomoth; of the sons of Shelomoth, Jahath. [23] The sons of Hebron: Jeriah the chief, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, Jekameam the fourth. [24] The sons of Uzziel, Micah; of the sons of Micah, Shamir. [25] The brother of Micah, Isshiah; of the sons of Isshiah, Zechariah. [26] The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Jaaziah: Beno. [27] The sons of Merari: of Jaaziah, Beno, Shoham, Zaccur, and Ibri. [28] Of Mahli: Eleazar, who had no sons. [29] Of Kish, the sons of Kish: Jerahmeel. [30] The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the sons of the Levites according to their fathers' houses. [31] These also, the head of each father's house and his younger brother alike, cast lots, just as their brothers the sons of Aaron, in the presence of King David, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of fathers' houses of the priests and of the Levites.

The Sons of Aaron—The Priests, their Duties According to the Word of God, and the Support of Leading Chosen Levites – (Numbers 4:16, Luke 1:8-9)

Did the Jews need priests? It is clear from the Bible that they did, but what exactly was a priest back in those days? The priests came before the Lord (Leviticus 24:1-8) and offered up animal and grain sacrifices to God on behalf of the people for their sins (Hebrews 5:1) since the people had no ritual access to God without a priestly mediator.

What was the relationship between King David and the priests in 1000 BC? David knew that sacrifices were very important to the plan of God, so he organized the priests and their helpers, the Levites, in order to make sure that these special Israelites did their jobs. Using a system of casting lots, David made sure that there was a chief man from the priesthood leading all the priestly duties at his appointed times during the year.

What was the agenda of the Chronicler concerning any future king in the line of David and the priests and Levites 500-600 years later? The only change was that there was no king descended from David on the throne, which was a sad fact because they were all subjects of a foreign power. Aside from that, the Chronicler's definition of good order would have been just like David's. He wanted to get the entire Old Testament sacrificial system up and running again and in good order.

A New Resurrection Priesthood – The King/Priest and His Servants

What about us? Do we still need a priest today? Will we need a priest in heaven? The Bible tells us that Jesus is our priest “forever” according to God's solemn oath (Psalm 110:4, Psalm 141:1-2, Hebrews 5:7-10). Jesus became not only our priest but also our King through His resurrection and ascension to the right hand of the Father in heaven.

Let's first appreciate the contrast between the Old Testament kings and priests and Jesus. 1. In the time of David and for the next 1000 years, the kings and potential kings were multiple. So were the priests. They were all subject to death, and none of them rose from the grave, so there were plenty of them. 2. The priests offered up sacrifices to God that were unable to do away with sin. They had their purpose, preparing Israel and the world for a new era to come, but the fact that the system of sacrifices had to be repeated year after year told anyone paying attention that they could not take away sin. 3. Finally all the kings and potential kings were sinners. David had very serious sin and he was one of the best. All who sat on his throne in future centuries and all the priests who served in the temple had plenty of there own sin, and they ministered in the midst of a sinful people. In hope, the king and all Israel cried out in prayer.

What about Jesus and the New Testament system that He established? 1. Jesus is our singular priest and king forever. He is “a forerunner on our behalf” (Hebrews 6:20) and “always lives to make intercession for us” (Hebrews 7:25). 2. The sacrifice that Jesus made of Himself was effectual. There is no better proof of this than the resurrection, but we are also assured that His sacrifice worked because it would never have to be repeated. 3. Jesus was and is sinless. He is a secure hope for all who come to Him, for His Father was well-pleased with Him (Malachi 1:11).

What about our eternal heavenly existence? Do we have a priest even there? Since we are told that Jesus is our priest “forever” we have the continual assurance that comes from knowing that the One who is on our side now will be with us above. The big difference is that we will one day be entirely freed from sin and death ourselves. We talk a lot about sin and grace now, and so we should, but can you imagine what it will be like then in our heavenly home, when all our sin and death are gone forever and the loving plan of our Father in heaven is perfectly established. We “will be priests of God and of Christ, and ... will reign with him” (Revelation 1:6, 5:10, 20:6, 1 Peter 2:5, 9).

Sermon Point: Let us draw near to God and hold fast our confession of faith in Jesus as our royal priest (Hebrews 4:14, 10:21-25, 13:15, Ephesians 2:18, Romans 12:1).

We have someone before the throne of God who intercedes for us. He is like us in our humanity, but He has no sin. We could never find a more merciful, faithful, and holy mediator for our relationship with God than Jesus the Messiah (Hebrews 2:17). He is the secret to a life of worship and service.

Old Testament Reading—Psalm 52 – David, Doeg, and the Priests at Nob

Gospel Reading—John 20:1-10

[1] Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. [2] So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” [3] So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. [4] Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. [5] And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. [6] Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, [7] and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. [8] Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; [9] for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. [10] Then the disciples went back to their homes.