MELCHIZEDEK
Fourth
of twelve devotions in Advent Parallel
Bible Study series
Psalm
110:4, Hebrews 5:5-6
Psalm
110:4: “The Lord has sworn and will not
change His mind: ‘You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.’”
Melchizedek: [mel-KIZ-i-dek] is a
mystery. His name means “my king is
righteousness” or “king of righteousness” (Hebrews 7:2). We first meet him with Abram in Genesis
14:18. Abram and allied (partner) kings
just defeated Kedorlaomer. Victorious four
kings seized all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah—including Abram’s nephew
Lot—who was living in Sodom. After the
victory, the kings returned with Abram.
Melchizedek—a priest of God Most High—was
the king of Salem. He brought out bread
and wine and blessed Abram, “‘Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of
heaven and earth. Blessed be God Most
High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.’ Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.” (Genesis 14:19-20).
Salem is a shortened form of Jerusalem
(Psalm 76:2), and is Hebrew for “peace.”
Hebrews 7:2 says that Melchizedek was king of peace. He had no father or mother. There is no record of Melchizedek’s birth or
death. Just like Jesus, he “remains a
priest forever.” Abram gave him a tenth
of everything, (God’s command of tithe).
And yet, Melchizedek does not trace
his descent to Levi and Israel’s priests, the Levites. Without doubt, the lesser man was blessed by
the greater man. A tenth is collected
from the one who’d die. And isn’t the
one who collects the tenth alive? Could
one say that Levi paid his tenth through Abram?
Another mystery.
Take
Home Nugget
The opening Scripture
shows God the Father speaking to His Son Jesus.
He establishes Jesus, His anointed, as king-priest in Zion (Israel), to
be priest forever in the order of Melchizedek. This “forever priest” and “forever reign” was God’s
covenant with Jesus’ ancestor, David. God
promised David in 2 Samuel 7:13, “He [Solomon, David’s son] is the one who will
build a house for My Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom
forever.”
God promised to maintain David’s line on
the throne from Solomon to Jesus Christ…and forever. Psalm 89:29: “I will establish his line forever,
his throne as long as the heavens endure.”
Jesus’ Father is God. His mother
came from the eternal reign of David’s line. (1 Chronicles 17:12-14, Psalm 132:11-12).
Hebrews 5:5-6 says, “So Christ also
did not take upon Himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to Him, ‘You are My Son; today I
have become Your Father.’ And He says in
another place, ‘You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.’”
The Bible has mysteries. Who can understand Most High God, Creator of
the universe?
J.D. Griffith
A
personal, private lesson experience with our staff
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