Who Was Melchizedek? - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing,
majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him today and what came to my heart and mind in Genesis 14:18-20,

"Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was
priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, 'Blessed be
Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And praise be to
God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.' Then Abram
gave him a tenth of everything."

Melchizedek was "king of Salem", that is, Jerusalem. We are told he
was a "priest of God Most High". He was both a king and a priest. When
Abraham returned from defeating a group of kings who absconded with
his nephew, Lot, we are told Melchizedek brought out bread and wine
for Abraham and his men, and then blessed him.

David refers to Melchizedek as he prophesied about the coming Messiah
in Psalm 110:4. He says, "The Lord has sworn and will not change his
mind: 'You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.'" From
this we understand the Messiah, Jesus Christ, will be both king and
priest. The writer of Hebrews, in turn, refers to Psalm 110:4 as he
describes the priesthood of Jesus Christ.

In Hebrews, chapter 7, the writer speaks of the superiority of Jesus
Christ and his priesthood to that of the Levitical priesthood of the
old covenant. In a fascinating perspective he uses Melchizedek as a
type of the Messiah and points out something fascinating:

"Just think how great he [Melchizedek] was: Even the patriarch Abraham
gave him a tenth of the plunder! Now the law requires the descendants
of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people—that is,
from their fellow Israelites—even though they also are descended from
Abraham. This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet
he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the
promises. And without doubt the lesser is blessed by the greater. In
the one case, the tenth is collected by people who die; but in the
other case, by him who is declared to be living. One might even say
that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham,
because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of
his ancestor." Hebrews 7:4-10.

As I say, fascinating, isn't it?

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to
hear from you!

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