And so the shadowy figure of Melchizedek enters the picture. We know more about Melchizedek from the writer of Hebrews than we do from the reporting from the Old Testament. The relevant passages are: Genesis 14:18-20, and Psalm 110:4. Wait, these are not just the relevant passages, they are the only passages that talk about Melchizedek. Read them now, if you haven't already.
Without digging into the details, here are the important points for us to know about Melchizedek.
- He's a "type" of Christ. A type is something like an archetype, or a likeness. According to the I.S.B.E.1, it's:
A person, event or thing is so fashioned or appointed as to resemble another; the one is made to answer to the other in some essential feature; in some particulars the one matches the other.
- There are three ways that Melchizedek helps us understand Christ as priest.
- The priesthood of Melchizedek precedes the Levitical priesthood, in both time and authority.
- Melchizedek was both king and priest. Christ combines those offices also.
- Melchizedek is without beginning or end.
- The writer of Hebrews is not necessarily claiming that Melchizedek is eternal, but that because of how he's written about in the Old Testament, he's a "type"(see above) of someone without beginning and end, which is Christ's identity.
So what? This might have been important for the Hebrews, but what about us? You may have your own so what, and I encourage you to write about it. My focus today is on Christ as king of righteousness, king of peace. Today, I can enter Christ's rest, His peace, because of His righteousness, and, in turn, my obedience.
1International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, James Orr, M.A., D.D., General Editor.
2 comments:
One thing I have wondered about is what Abraham would have done if Melchizadek didn't show up. Although the Bible doesn't speak to this issue clearly, I wonder how sorely Abraham was tempted to "make the deal" with the king of Sodom. Perhaps more than we realize. But right before Sodom had the chance to make the offer, the Priest showed up. And Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. And then the temptation was gone, or else Abraham seemed to have no trouble dealing with it.
In the same way, for us, whenever we face temptation, we have an Intercessor who is ready to walk between us and the temptor, if we only let him do it.
Tremendous observation. As Jesus told us to pray: "And don't let us yield to temptation, but deliver us from the evil one."
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