A Meditation on 1Peter 2:9

1Pet. 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 

Meanings from Greek; additional from Webster’s in parenthesis:

chosen – elect, favorite (adopt)

generation - kin, family, offspring, kind (The body of those who are of the same genealogical rank or remove from an ancestor)

royal – royal, kingly (under the patronage of royalty) 

priesthood – (order of men set apart for sacred offices)

holy – religious awe, sacred, an awful thing (set apart to the service or worship of God; spiritually whole, pure in heart, guiltless) 

nation – a race, as of the same habit; a tribe (A part, or division, of the people of the earth, distinguished from the rest by common descent, language, or institutions)

peculiar – an acquisition, purchased, possession, saving (One’s own; belonging solely or especially to an individual; not possessed by others; of private, personal, or characteristic possession and use; not owned in common or in participation.) 

people – (an aggregate of individuals forming a whole)  

I just felt the need to look up all these words to try to get the full impact of why Peter was inspired to describe the believers in a variety of composite wholes.  

1. At first glance it seems that the first unit describes our position in Jesus as adopted into the family.  We are all adopted at the same level, as brothers and sisters—not some as cousins, aunts, uncles, or grandchildren, etc.—we are brothers and sisters in Jesus.  
2. Our Father just happens to be the King of kings, and we are set apart to hold sacred offices, to act in special relationship to the King on behalf of ourselves and others—as priests.  
3. We are bound together as a nation through a common belief system, faith in God.  We are set apart to serve and worship God.  This service and worship will draw us together as a spiritual whole when performed from a pure (genuine, sincere, clean) heart.  We can worship and serve guiltless because our sins are covered by the shed blood of Jesus.  
4. We are a group of individuals purchased through the blood of Jesus for His possession.  He is a jealous God and expects our undivided commitment to Him.

     Exodus 34:14 “For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God….”

It seems that we all enjoy the part of being a child of The King, and we often live as though we have no other responsibilities.  To whom much is given, much is required—and we have been given the greatest Gift and gifts.  Our hearts should be so overflowing with love and gratitude that we are ready to do whatever will please and bring glory to The King—Our Father.  We are to “shew forth” this love and gratitude and praise through how we live and what we say.  Because of His love for us, He provided for our salvation through His only Son, and called us out of the darkness (bondage to sin) and into His marvelous, wonderful light (freedom to live in love and joy in victory over sin). 

Wiersbe:  “Each of these four pictures emphasizes the importance of unity and harmony.  We belong to one family of God and share the same divine nature.  We are living stones in one building and priests serving in one temple.  We are citizens of the same heavenly homeland.  It is Jesus Christ who is the source and center of this unity.  If we center our attention and affection on Him, we will walk and work together; if we focus on ourselves, we will only cause division."