KINGDOM TEAMWORK

“…God’s wisdom in the structure of Israel is something that can help us in the New Testament Church. Revelation 1:6 says that we will be kings and priests unto our God. In Israel, kings and priests were two distinct and different offices… 

Even though priests were from time to time involved in government as advisors, they didn’t stir the people to overthrow bad kings. Rather, they spoke the word of the Lord over the situation and eventually judgement came. While kings at times gave directly to the needs of the people, they were not permitted to interfere with the priest’s office. In fact, if a king tried to do a priest’s job, he suffered judgment from the Lord.

Once when Saul was impatient to go into battle, he stepped over the line when Samuel was delayed. The priest was to offer sacrifice and pronounce blessing over the people before battle (Deuteronomy 20:1-4). When Samuel was late, Saul made the sacrifice himself and invalidated his office of king. Samuel said to Saul, What have you done? (1 Samuel 13:11). The event was so out of place for a king that Samuel pronounced this word of judgment against Saul: but now your kingdom shall not continue (1 Samuel 13:14).

While some minor common ground was permitted, the lines of separation were pretty firm. Some things were simply not permitted. This separation brought great respect for both offices. The king wouldn’t go to war without the priest’s blessing. The priest wouldn’t have anything to distribute to bless the nation without the king’s success in battle.

A divine teamwork coexisted for centuries in Israel. Mutual respect born out of mutual need. The priests spoke blessing or judgment to the kings, and the kings dared not harm the priests.

…the call of God to the king’s side of the Kingdom is just as real and necessary as the call to the priest’s side…divine teamwork would create more powerful, more effective churches that could minister in a more relevant way to their communities and eventually to the world.”