WEDNESDAY
Exploring further the image of Eden as a temple, we find that Adam is portrayed as a priest in the creation narrative.
Genesis 2:15 (ESV) 15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.
The purposes of working and keeping are not surprising in this context. Gardening requires constant work and tending. These two words were often used to describe the priestly duties of the Levites. Work implies service and worship. Keep implies obedience and preserving something from corruption. In Numbers 18 the word translated work it (there, service occurs 6x to describe the priestly duties. The word here translated keep it occurs at least 4x. They both occur in verse 4.
Numbers 18:4 (ESV) 4 They shall join you and keep guard over the tent of meeting for all the service of the tent, and no outsider shall come near you.
Certainly, all the people of Israel were called to serve the Lord and to keep his law (Deut. 13:4; Josh. 22:5). This is reflected in the creation ideal, as Adam is the figurative head for all humanity—all humans are purposed to be priests. But the priesthood, the descendants of Levi, were charged with the duty of keeping the law and serving God in the sacred space of the tabernacle/temple because of humanity’s sin. The priestly duties involved mediating between God and his people to atone for sin in order to reconcile the people back to God. More on this in a bit.
Furthermore, in Ezekiel 28:1, Ezekiel is prophesying against the king of Tyre. God gives Ezekiel words that describe the king as formerly being in Eden wearing precious stones. This is clearly an allusion to Adam. The stones mentioned are stones of the ephod that would be worn by the high priest. So Adam is depicted as a priest.
So, Adam in the garden is depicted as a priest who is charged with the sacred duty of keeping the commands of God and serving him in worship. He, of course, fails in this duty as he eats from the one tree in the garden that was forbidden. Instead of trusting in God’s good character as the source of good and evil, allowing him to define good and evil, the first humans took that responsibility into their own hands. They sought to define good and evil for themselves instead of trusting in God to teach them good and evil. Adam failed to serve God and to keep his law. His failure was a failure of worship, trust, and obedience.
Where Adam fails, Jesus will succeed. But that is getting too far ahead of ourselves. We will be there in a few weeks.
In the church era of redemption history, believers are all priests.
1 Peter 2:5 (ESV) 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 2:9 (ESV) 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
Humanity is constantly drawn to what Andy Stanley calls this “temple model” of worship. In this faulty model, priests serve as gatekeepers who restrict access to God to only a privileged few. This is not the story of Scripture. All humans are purposed to be priests, but we fail in that purpose as we attempt to define good and evil for ourselves apart from God. Because of this sin, the Levites were called in the Old Testament to mediate between the people and God. In the Church this priesthood is now being restored. Access to the presence of God is now open to all who would believe in Jesus for their salvation. In the new creation, humanity will fully realize its priestly purpose.
Unfortunately, certain Christian traditions muddy the waters of this truth and return to the former “temple model” of religion. Their church practices indicate that one must go through a priest, whether in the Eucharist or confession, in order to be made right with God. The beauty of the gospel is that we all now have access to God through Jesus who is our once-and-for-all great high priest.
As priests, like Adam, we are charged with the call to serve God and keep his commands. We are to do all we do in worship to God, whether it seems sacred or secular. Our work is to be worship to God. Our play is to be worship to God. Everything we are is to be given over in service and worship to God. We are to obey the commands of Jesus as well. Those who love him are those who keep his commands (John 14:23-24). This is our priestly duty.
Additional Content
Reflection
In your role as a priest, reflect on your desire to serve God and keep his commands.
Are there areas of your life that you haven’t surrendered to God as acts of worship: a relationship, your career, your wealth, your goals and ambitions? Commit to serving him with all that you are and all that you do.
Do you love the Word of the Lord and delight in obeying him? Is there a certain area of obedience that you are struggling to follow? Are you committed to preserving God’s Word by doing your best to discover truth in his Word, not just relying on your own ideas of what is good and true? Commit to keeping God’s Word by obeying it and preserving it as truth.