<p>2:9<i> But you are an elect race-</i> They who believed in Christ were the true Israel of God, and not those back in Palestine who had rejected and persecuted them.</p><p><i>A royal priesthood, a holy nation- </i>God intended Israel to be &quot;a Kingdom of priests&quot; (Ex. 19:6). &ldquo;All the people of Israel&rdquo; were the builders of the spiritual house of God, i.e. His people (Acts 4:10,11). All Israel were to lay their hands on the Levites to show that they were truly Israel&rsquo;s representatives (Num. 8:10). When Israel were rejected, they were told that they as a nation could no longer be God&rsquo;s priest (Hos. 4:6). By baptism, we become spiritual Israel; and this idea is relevant to us too. Peter picks up these words in Exodus and applies them to every one of us: &quot;Ye <i>also</i> are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices&quot; (1 Pet. 2:5,9). The Lord Jesus is a King-priest after the order of Melchizedek (Heb. 6:13-18; Ps. 110:4); and through being in Him, we share this position. Through what He achieved for us on the cross, we have been made <i>now</i> king-priests, with the future hope of reigning on earth (Rev. 1:6; 5:10). Israel were constituted a Kingdom of priests; a whole nation who would preach forth God's ways to those about them. And this designation and commission is applied now to the new Israel (1 Pet. 2:5,9 cp. Ex. 20:5). Males who could not procreate were barred from the congregation (Dt. 23:1), possibly in prototype of how spiritual procreation was to be a vital characteristic of the future Israel.</p><p>Israel were called out of Egypt in order to declare among the surrounding nations the character and greatness of Israel's God. In this calling to be a missionary nation they failed miserably (what similarities with the new Israel?). The very reason why we are a &quot;chosen race, a royal priesthood (is) <i>that</i> we should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness (cp. Egypt)&quot;. Our separation from this world is therefore related to our praise of God. We don't shew forth the knowledge and praise of God to this world by singing to them; but rather by showing in our lives and preaching that we have been separated unto a glorious Kingdom of light. This is the true shewing forth of praise.</p><p><i>A </i><i>people for God's own possession, that you may show forth the excellence of Him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light</i><i>- </i>Judaism was therefore &quot;darkness&quot;.</p>