The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and majestic in his radiant 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 also 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 had taken his nephew, Lot, we are told Melchizedek brought out bread and wine for Abraham and his men, and then blessed him. The writer of Hebrews points out that in this episode, Melchizedek is to be understood to be greater than Abraham in God's economy of things, Hebrews 7:7, "without doubt the lesser is blessed by the greater."
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 7:17, in turn, refers to Psalm 110:4 as he describes the priesthood of Jesus Christ. In this, Melchizedek was a type of the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ.
The writer of Hebrews speaks of the superiority of Jesus Christ, and his priesthood, to that of the Levitical priesthood of the Old Covenant. In an interesting perspective, as I say, 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.
In Hebrews 7:3, we read, "Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he [Melchizedek] remains a priest forever." Some have concluded this to mean that Melchizedek had no birth and that he never dies. This is a misunderstanding of what the writer of Hebrews says here. It is a reflection that within the pages of Scripture, Melchizedek's genealogy, his birth and death are not recorded, just as the second person of the Trinity, the Son of God, has no genealogy, no birth in eternity past and no eternal death recorded in the pages of Scripture, establishing Melchizedek as a type of Jesus Christ.
Some have suggested that Melchizedek was a "theophany", a presence of God among people. However, that notion is precluded as the writer of Hebrews tells us Melchizedek was a man, Hebrews 7:6. Apparently, God had established a priesthood hundreds of years before Moses and the Levitical priesthood.
My takeaway from this is that the Bible does not tell us everything God has done through the ages.
Back in the days of Melchizedek, God was doing things he has not chosen to talk much about in his word.
As I say, fascinating, isn't it?
What is your perspective on Melchizedek?
Melchizedek was "king of Salem", that is, Jerusalem. We are also 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 had taken his nephew, Lot, we are told Melchizedek brought out bread and wine for Abraham and his men, and then blessed him. The writer of Hebrews points out that in this episode, Melchizedek is to be understood to be greater than Abraham in God's economy of things, Hebrews 7:7, "without doubt the lesser is blessed by the greater."
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 7:17, in turn, refers to Psalm 110:4 as he describes the priesthood of Jesus Christ. In this, Melchizedek was a type of the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ.
The writer of Hebrews speaks of the superiority of Jesus Christ, and his priesthood, to that of the Levitical priesthood of the Old Covenant. In an interesting perspective, as I say, 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.
In Hebrews 7:3, we read, "Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he [Melchizedek] remains a priest forever." Some have concluded this to mean that Melchizedek had no birth and that he never dies. This is a misunderstanding of what the writer of Hebrews says here. It is a reflection that within the pages of Scripture, Melchizedek's genealogy, his birth and death are not recorded, just as the second person of the Trinity, the Son of God, has no genealogy, no birth in eternity past and no eternal death recorded in the pages of Scripture, establishing Melchizedek as a type of Jesus Christ.
Some have suggested that Melchizedek was a "theophany", a presence of God among people. However, that notion is precluded as the writer of Hebrews tells us Melchizedek was a man, Hebrews 7:6. Apparently, God had established a priesthood hundreds of years before Moses and the Levitical priesthood.
My takeaway from this is that the Bible does not tell us everything God has done through the ages.
Back in the days of Melchizedek, God was doing things he has not chosen to talk much about in his word.
As I say, fascinating, isn't it?
What is your perspective on Melchizedek?
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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