I really enjoyed reading Richard P. Belcher's Prophet, Priest, and King. I loved how it covered both the Old and New Testaments. I loved the spin they put on the subject. This isn't the first book that took time to elaborate on how Jesus Christ is our prophet, priest, and king all-in-one. But it was the first book that I've read that then argued that the church body--the bride of Christ--is to continue on in these three roles. Believers are called to be--set apart to be--prophets, priests, and kings.
The book first shows how the roles of prophet, priest, and king were created and established in the Old Testament. With the creation of Adam and Eve, God set in place these three roles for humanity. Adam was not the perfect priest, the perfect prophet, or the perfect king. None of the Old Testament prophets, priests, or kings were perfect. But even imperfectly, even with much brokenness, these roles continued on: in some cases revealing the need for the perfect one to come, and in other cases, establishing a type, prophesying of the greater one to come. The book then shows how Jesus Christ perfectly fulfilled--ultimately fulfilled in a way no other human could--the three roles of prophet, priest, and king. Last, the book then shows how our union to Christ enables us to continue on serving each other, serving the world as prophets, priests, and kings.
I loved the organization of this one. The first chapter serves as introduction and brings up creation and God's design. The last chapter serves as conclusion and brings up the church's role as creation order has been restored by Christ. The other (six) chapters look at the roles individually. First, the role is studied in detail from the Old Testament. Second, the role is studied in detail from the New Testament.
I appreciated the clarity. The author clearly defines and explains the roles of prophets, priests, and kings. And more importantly defines them based on usage in the Bible throughout both testaments.
© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible
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