1 DecemberDeuteronomy 21

God’s priests are called upon to be peacemakers.

Deuteronomy 21:5 (AMP) “Then the priests, the sons of Levi, shall approach, for the Lord your God has chosen them to serve Him and to bless in the Name (Presence) of the Lord; and every dispute and every assault (violent crime) shall be settled by them”. The Levite priests were responsible not only for overseeing animal sacrifices, offering cities of refuge, holding trials for the accused, and serving as judges, but also for working together to help settle any disagreements that might arise between the tribes. Jesus is the fulfilment of these verses. He is our High Priest:

Hebrews 3:1 (NIV) Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest.

Hebrews 4:14 (NIV) Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.

Hebrews 6:20 (NIV) where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.

These verses were directed to the Levites because they served as God’s priests then. Today, any believer in Christ assumes this duty as part of His. 1 Peter 2:9 (NIV) But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

As followers of Christ, we are called to act as peacemakers in the world, reflecting the role that the Levite priests held in the Old Testament. We see how God chose the Levite priests to resolve disputes and bring blessings in God’s Name. They were more than caretakers of sacrifices; they acted as judges, mediators, and protectors, standing between people to uphold justice and peace.

Jesus perfectly fulfils this role as our eternal High Priest. Jesus is the ultimate High Priest, who intercedes for us and has gone before us as our advocate and guide. As believers, we share in His priestly calling. We are encouraged to hold onto our faith and focus on Jesus, recognising that He has taken on this role for us.

Now, through Christ, we are also made priests. Like the Levites, we are called to bring God’s light into the world and actively work to bring peace and unity.

As God’s “royal priesthood,” our calling is to be peacemakers, to seek and create harmony among others, promote justice, and be agents of reconciliation, just as the Levites and Christ exemplify for us. Matthew 5:9 (NIV) “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” Paul on the other hand calls for reconciliation in 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 (NIV) “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation”. Then Paul writes to the Ephesians clarifying the importance of unity: Ephesians 4:3 (NIV) “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” As God’s people, we are called to bring peace, justice, and reconciliation into the world, fulfilling our role as His royal priesthood.

In conclusion, as God’s chosen people and his “royal priesthood,” we inherit a sacred calling to be agents of peace, justice, and reconciliation in the world. Just as the Levite priests once stood as mediators and advocates for peace, we are entrusted with the same mission through Christ, our eternal High Priest. He has perfectly fulfilled the role of mediator and peacemaker, allowing us to be reconciled to God and enabling us to carry His light to others. As followers of Christ, we are called to actively seek harmony, promote unity, and be instruments of His peace, making every effort to uphold the bond of love and reconciliation. In fulfilling this role, we reflect God’s heart for His people, working together to bring His blessings, justice, and peace to the world around us.