Called to be a Holy Nation

Leviticus 19:1-4, 11-18, 32-34

GOLDEN TEXT: “Be ye holy, for I am holy.”—I Peter 1:16

THERE is only one way in which any member of the fallen race can be holy as God is holy, and that is in undivided heart devotion to Him. “Blessed are they that keeps His testimonies, and that seek Him with the whole heart.”—Psalm 119:2

It was not, possible for Israel to measure up perfectly to all the details of God’s requirements, but it was within their reach not to divide their worship and devotion with other gods. Their hearts could be perfect toward the Lord, and so can ours today. Our hearts must indeed be pure, for out of them are the issues of life.—Proverbs 4:23

During the Jewish age God’s devotion and care were exclusively on behalf of Israel. He was in no sense the God of any other nation—“You only have I known,” He declared to Israel through the prophet. (Amos 3:2) God was interested in other nations, and was working out His plans to enlighten and bless there during the Messianic Kingdom period, but during the Jewish age His covenant dealings were exclusively with that one little nation of Israel. Surely the least they could do was to give Him their undivided devotion.

While our lesson points out a number of details of what was involved in Israel’s holiness, yet it all adds up to the point of loving God supremely, and one’s neighbor as one’s self, in principle God’s requirements of His people today are the same. The Prophet Micah says, “What doth the Lord require of thee but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”—Micah 6:8

God had a purpose in making Israel a holy nation. It was that they might also be a royal nation, anal a Kingdom of priests. As the natural seed of Abraham, God would have used the Israelites to be a channel for the blessings which He had promised for all nations. His standards for those who could be so wondrously used were high, and Israel did not qualify, hence failed to obtain the coveted prize. See Romans 11.

Nevertheless, as we saw in last week’s lesson, God was very patient and longsuffering with Israel. He gave there every possible opportunity, but finally the time came when iniquity should have an end., and the command was given to “take off the diadem,” as then worn by King Zedekiah, and to “remove the crown,” for it was to be no more until He came whose right it was.—Ezekiel 21:26

This was in 606 B.C., but even after that, and until the first advent of Jesus, divine favors continued to be shown to this stiffnecked people. The covenant was confirmed with them until the end of the seventy weeks. (Daniel 9:24) Shortly before the full time of their national favor had expired Jesus explained that the Kingdom would be taken from them and given to a nation bringing forth the fruit thereof; that is, a nation which would actually qualify upon the basis of full heart loyalty to God. (Matt. 21:43) Just before Jesus died He said to Israel, “Your house is left unto you desolate.”—Matt. 23:38

Peter, who gives us our Golden Text, “Be ye holy, for I am holy,” also identifies the holy nation to whom the Kingdom was given when its privileges were taken from Israel. Addressing the church, made up of the footstep followers of Jesus, he says, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal: priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light”—I Peter 2:9

The Lord had said to natural Israel that if they would obey His voice and keep His commandments; that is, be truly a holy nation, they would be to Him “a peculiar treasure … a Kingdom of priests and an holy nation.” (Exodus 19:5,6) Israel failed to maintain this standing of high favor before the Lord, so the opportunity was passed on to the church, as Peter shows.

The “Kingdom of priests” mentioned in Exodus 19:6 Peter designates a “royal priesthood” when identifying the church as the inheritors of the promise. God’s “peculiar treasure” in Israel, the apostle describes as a “peculiar people,” when transferring the promise to the followers of Jesus.

Peter explains that God’s purpose in thus separating a people unto Himself, to be His special people, is that they might show forth His praises. This is not because God is proud and wants to be praised, but because Fie knows that only by full obedience to His laws, and by enthusiastic appreciation of His glorious character as the Lawgiver, can any of His intelligent creatures enjoy lasting happiness and peace.

The Kingdom of priests will be the royal blessers of all nations during the Messianic Kingdom reign. (Rev. 5:10) They will have qualified for this upon the basis of their holiness unto the Lord. And because they are holy—that is, undivided in their devotion to the Lord—they are a very special treasure unto Him, which He protects and upon which He lavishes His blessings even now, and will use to His glory throughout the endless ages of the future.

While natural Israel lost this chief favor of being God’s royal nation they are, nevertheless, still to be richly blessed by Him. Paul explains that when the true Zion of this age is complete, the fullness of the Gentiles having come in, then, “There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob, for this is My covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.” (Rom. 11:25-29) Then, at long last, Israel will be a holy nation, but not a Kingdom of priests to live and reign with Christ.

QUESTIONS:

How is it possible for members of the fallen race to be holy as God is holy?

Who constitutes the “holy nation” to whom the Kingdom privileges were transferred following the failure of Israel to qualify for them?

Will natural Israel ever become a holy nation?

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