10. The Royal Priesthood and the Glory of God

The Royal Priesthood and the Glory of God. David Schrock. Edited by Miles Van Pelt and Dane C. Ortlund. 2022. [February] 144 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: In the beginning God created a priest. And not just any priest, but a royal priest--a man made in God's likeness, a son fashioned to reflect God's beauty, an image-bearer commissioned to rule God's world with holy affections. God commissioned the first family--Adam and his fellow image bearer, Eve--to be fruitful and multiply and fill the world with God's glory. 

The Royal Priesthood and the Glory of God is one of the books in Crossway's series Short Studies in Biblical Theology. This book traces the theme of the royal priesthood through the entire Bible--Genesis to Revelation. 

Early on it defines (explains) the terms priest and priesthood. Schrock makes clear the importance (significance) of the concept of the priesthood in Scripture. He writes, 

"The aim of this book is to study the priesthood so that we might delight more fully in the glory of God's Son, our great high priest. Moreover, by learning the history and purpose of priesthood in the Bible, we will better understand God's work in redemption."

Schrock defines priesthood in this way, "Priests are consecrated mediators between God and his covenant people, who stand to serve at God's altar 1) sanctifying God's Holy Place, 2) sacrificing God's offerings, and 3) speaking God's covenant."

He then unpacks how the books of the Bible fit together (work together) to portray this image, this concept of the Royal Priesthood. He traces everything out as is made clear in the table of contents:

1. In the Beginning: The Royal Priesthood Patterned
2. The Law: The Levitical Priesthood Legislated
3. The Prophets: The Priesthood Promised, Compromised, and Promised Again
4. The Writings: The Royal Priesthood Anticipated
5. The Gospels: The Royal Priesthood Arrives
6. Acts through Revelation: The Royal Priesthood Multiplies

I love that he uses the Jewish ordering of the Old Testament! I think it makes his argument stronger/more coherent. 

You might suppose that this one would be "dry" or "boring" or too scholarly to be appealing/engaging. But I found it a good, solid read. I didn't find it confusing or too weighty/heavy. I thought it offered much food for thought. 

I agree with the author when he writes, 

"In a world of competing glories, therefore studying the priesthood is basic for Christian discipleship. When secular priests entice Christians to worship in their temples, we need the true priest-king interceding for us and applying his blood to atone for our sins. We need a biblical vision of Christ's priestly glory to empower us to reject all substitutes and worship him alone. In short we need a biblical theology of royal priesthood that leads us to Christ. For to be made in God's image and created for God's glory means Christ's disciples are called to be a family of royal priests--sons and daughters who serve in the presence of the Lord by means of the finished work of Christ, our great high priest."

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible