Royal Priesthood: God sought to make Israel His “own possession among all the peoples,” namely, that they would become a “a kingdom of priests[1] and a holy nation” (19:6). God who possesses all the earth (19:5), set them apart (“holy nation”) to be a ruler (“kingdom”) and mediator (“priests”) for “all the peoples.” This was not only a privilege but a tall order. Nevertheless, they entered this “covenant” (19:5) solemnized with blood (24:8), enthusiastically accepting the law as the terms of this covenant (24:7). But this was excitement without thought, heat without light. Even before the covenant, they showed that their faith was defective (15:25; 16:4; cf. also Lk. 8:13). They wanted health and wealth but had no taste for faith and obedience. Israel would never become the royal priesthood and the son (4:22) God wanted, not until He gave them a new heart in the New Covenant (Ezek. 36:26; cf. also Rom. 11:25-26).
Total Depravity: Israel was the demonstration of the inability of humans to trust and obey the LORD. Even though they had every reason to do so,[2] Israel still disobeyed, because they neither had “the heart to know nor eyes to see nor ears to hear” (Deut. 29:4; Deut. 30:6). Israel’s history is a case study in total inability. As Israel was, so is every human born spiritually dead (Eph. 2:1-3). But Jesus had life within Himself (John 5:26); He pleased and honored the Father (John 8:29, 49). Thus He became all that Israel should’ve been: high priest (Heb. 2:17), king of kings (Rev. 19:16), and God’s obedient Son (Matt. 3:17). Moreover, He sent His Spirit to transform His people to conform to Him that they might become participants in His “royal priesthood” (1 Pet. 2:9).