As we know, in the Old Testament times there was first the tabernacle and then the holy temple. In the latter there was a place set aside for the priests to dwell in. In the Psalms can be found seven or eight passages where dwelling in the house of the Lord is mentioned. The work of the priest was and still is to go to God for men and to go to men for God. God wants to be among men, to dwell with men, and to find rest among them. For this reason, there is need of the priesthood. Through the priesthood God obtains His resting place on earth.
Sanctuary and priesthood are God’s double requirement. The work of the priests is to serve God. And sanctuary is the dwelling place of God as well as of the priests.
Melchizidek was God’s priest of old, but he was only an individual, so he was not able to satisfy the heart of God fully. What God has always desired is a kingdom of priests. For this purpose, therefore, He ultimately called out a people, the Israelites, brought them through the Red Sea, and had them enter the wilderness so as to make of them a kingdom of priests (Exodus 19.6)
In the eyes of God His people and His priests were one and the same. As a matter of fact, He wished to have all Israel as priests: if they are My people, they are to be priests. This was why Moses as the mouthpiece of God said to Pharaoh, “Let my people go, that they may serve me” (Exodus 8:1, 9:1) All the people of Israel were to serve God. Everyone was to be a priest.
