Melchizedek



Genesis 14:17-24
17After his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley).
18And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.)
19And he blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth;
20and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!” And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
21And the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons, but take the goods for yourself.”
22But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have lifted my hand to the Lord, God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth,
23that I would not take a thread or a sandal strap or anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’
24I will take nothing but what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me. Let Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre take their share.”

Today we discuss a rather mysterious and somewhat pivotal event in the life of Abram. How you see this passage can rank anywhere between “not much here” to “this is truly profound.” Where you land in your understanding of Abram’s meeting with Melchizedek is between you and the Holy Spirit. With a great willingness to allow the Bible to be mysterious in places, I will tell you my opinion – but that’s all it is and it is worth exactly what you’re paying for it!

No reading of this passage is complete without also reading Hebrew 7. I’ve included a link so that you can do just that. Let me say at this point – it’s not easy. Hebrews still remains one of the most difficult books of the Bible for me to wrap my head around. But Hebrews 7 is quite helpful when reading Genesis 14 because they discuss the same guy – Melchizedek.

http://www.esvbible.org/Hebrews+7/

Melchizedek springs up rather unexpectedly in the story just as Abram is wrapping up his battle to retrieve Lot and his family from the 5 kings who swept them away. Abram has achieved his goal and is heading home when Melchizedek shows up. Melchizedek is called the King of Salem (which later becomes JeruSALEM) . He is also called “priest of God Most High.” We have no idea where this guy comes from or why he has these titles. But he brings bread and wine to refresh the people, glorifies the Living God and receives a tithe from Abram. And then he is never mentioned again until the book of Hebrews where the writer to the Hebrews declares Jesus to be a Priest in the order of Melchizedek. It is also interesting to note that Melchizedek is the first to be called a priest. It is not until the book of Exodus where God sets up the priesthood from the tribe of Levi. Jesus and Melchizedek are the only legitimates priests in the Bible who were not from the tribe of Levi. (There were others who called themselves “priest” who were not Levites after the kingdom split – but that’s another study.) In Hebrews, Jesus is called a priest in the order of Melchizedek because neither of them were Levites and yet still priests of the Most High God. While not all theologians agree with me, I believe they were one in the same. Melchizedek was a theophany – Jesus come to earth during the Old Testament in human form to interact with His people; also known as a pre-incarnate Christ. We have other instances of this happening throughout the Old Testament – again, another study. If you want to extend an already long study, look up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the fiery furnace, Abraham and the Angel discussing Sodom and Gomorrah, Jacob wrestling the Angel on the river bank. . . and there are several more.

Jesus has always been a part of the lives of His people – always. In the next chapter of Genesis, we are told of the epic covenant that God makes with Abram. This visit with Melchizedek is just the opening salvo in that whole story. God’s involvement with us is personal and constant. What more do we need?

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