Deuteronomy 18:9-14 p4

The Priest and the Prophet

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Exodus 19:6
And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel."

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The Book of Deuteronomy is layed out in this fashion.

I: Chapters 1-4: Reviewing the journeys
II: Chapters 5-26: Restating the Law - Love and obedience. (This series)
III. Chapters 27-30: Regarding the future of the land. The blessings and the curses.
IV. Chapters 31-34: The book of Deuteronomy ends with a requiem to Moses.

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An overview

Before addressing the idolatry of other nations and the command from God not to partake of those abominations, we should look at the beginnings of the priesthood (Levites) and the mention of the prophets that would come to Israel as the voice for the Lord of Hosts to deliver His word. In the fullness of time, God's word was fulfilled by the Lord Jesus, as The Word became flesh (John 1:1).

God chose the office of priesthood to minister His word and ordinances. The Prophets were to deliver God's true word to Israel first, then finally given to the whole world (Romans 1:16). God chose Israel to be a Holy nation unto Himself and the Jews would be His witness unto the world.

God was gradually preparing the people of his choice for a more perfect revelation of Himself and a more explicit code of laws for their government. He was gradually cutting them off from other nations in order to preserve the blood of Abraham. During the sojourn in Egypt the chosen people largely fell into the corruptions of their surroundings. Tribal relations and conditions had to some extent been developed and preserved, even during the enslavement; but there is no proof that there was any general bond of union or any public worship. Crosswalk.com

Exodus 14:2 for thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.

From the above verse we find:
1) An holy people unto the Lord. 2) The Lord chose them. 3) A peculiar people (set aside) for a witness to all the nations.

Exodus 19:6 and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel."

The idea of a priest and his intercessory work underlies all religion. Ancient History.

Why did God choose to deliver His word through the prophets?

2Chronicles 36:15 The LORD, the God of their fathers, sent {word} to them again and again by His messengers, because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place;

Prior to Moses, we find several who are mentioned that gave prophecy. Enoch (Gen:5:21-24; Jude 1:14) Noah (Gen:9:25-27) Jacob (Gen:49:1). Abraham saw what appears to be most of God's divine plan as revealed to him.

Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. John 8:56

It was also about these men that Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied, saying, "Behold, the Lord came with many thousands of His holy ones, Jude 1:14

Moses (Moshe)

Moses was chosen to deliver God's people (the Jews) to the promised land, from bondage and slavery in Egypt through the 'strong arm' of the Lord God (Christ). Moses delivered God's laws to His people (the lawgiver). Moses was a Christ like image for the nation of Israel. He was the chosen mediator between God and man and it was Moses who delivered the Mosaic law. The only religion ever ordained by God on earth.

Moses was indeed unique of all men of Israel, even perhaps of all men. He was a deliverer, he was a priest, he was a prophet, he was the lawgiver. He was the mediator between the Lord God and His people. These are all titles of the Lord Jesus Christ.

In the transfiguration, we see Moses and Elijah conversing with the Lord Jesus (Matt:17:2-3). This is a unique part of scripture and has a more deeper meaning than when first looked at. In the transfiguration, Moses is present because he represents the Law, one aspect of God's divine plan for redemption. Elijah is present because he represents the prophet, another aspect of God's divine plan and revelation to the world. These two divine plans are seen as the fulfillment of the Old Testament in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, prior to his forthcoming death. The transfiguration is interpreted rather as a glimpse of the future glory of the Son of God at his second coming (Matt:24:30)

The Gospel writers seem also to have understood this account as the fulfillment of Jesus' words with respect to the disciples seeing the kingdom of God coming with power in their lifetime. Robert H. Stein - Crosswalk.com

Moses was transfigured: Exodus 34:29-35

Moses brother Aaron was also with him when they confronted Pharaoh to 'let my people go' and would be chosen as the bloodline of the priesthood. Moses and Aaron were from the tribe of Levi.

Exodus 6:13Then the LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, and gave them a charge to the sons of Israel and to Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring the sons of Israel out of the land of Egypt.

Who were the Levites

Levi (meaning; adhesion)

• The third son of Jacob by Leah. (Gen: 29:34)
  
• He is mentioned as taking a prominent part in avenging his sister Dinah (Gen:34:25-31).
  
• He and his three sons went down with Jacob (Gen:46:11) into Egypt, where he died at the age of one hundred and thirty-seven years (Exodus 6:16).
  
• The father of Matthat, and son of Simeon, of the ancestors of Christ (Luke 3:29).
  
• One of the apostles, the son of Alphaeus (Mark 2:14; Luke 5:27,29), called also Matthew (Matthew 9:9). The striking feature of Matthew's Gospel is that he presents the King, the Lord Jesus.
  

Numbers 1:50 But you shall appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of the testimony, and over all its furnishings and over all that belongs to it. They shall carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings, and they shall take care of it; they shall also camp around the tabernacle.

The Twelve tribes of Israel: The 12 sons of Jacob. Genesis, Chapter 49.

Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Zebulun, Issachar, Dan, Gad, Asher, Naphtali, Joseph, Benjamin.

The Priest

The first occurrence of "priest" in the Old Testament is the reference to the pre-Israelite "Melchizedek king of Salem … priest of God Most High".

And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God Most High (Gen:14:18).

Jethro, Moses' father-in-law and the priest of Midian, was also recognized as non-Israelite priest of the true God of Sinai by Moses, Aaron, and the elders of Israel (Exod 2:16; 3:1; 18:1, 10-12).

Part 5 of this series will look at The Custody and Administration of the Mosaic Law by the Levite priesthood, starting with Aaron and why God sent his Holy Prophets to Israel. "Thus saith the Lord".

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