Compiled By: Lisa K Gonzales
From: The Life Application Study Bible
1 This Melchizedek was king of the city of Salem and also a priest of GOD Most High. When Abraham was returning home after winning a great battle against many kings, Melchizedek met him and blessed him. 2 Then Abraham took a tenth of all he had won in the battle and gave it to Melchizedek. His name means “king of justice.” He is also “king of peace” because Salem means “peace.” 3 There is no record of his father or mother or any of his ancestors – no beginning or end to his life. He remains a priest forever, resembling the Son of GOD.” ~ Hebrews 7:1-3
Melchizedek was a priest of GOD Most High: 18 “Then Melchizedek, the king of Salem and a priest of GOD Most High, brought him bread and wine.” 19 Melchizedek blessed Abram with this blessing: ‘Blessed be Abram by GOD Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. 20 And blessed be GOD Most High, who has helped you conquer your enemies’. Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of all the goods he had recovered.” – Genesis 14:18-20 – This man Melchizedek was obviously a GOD-fearing man – his name means “king of righteousness,” and king of Salem means “king of peace.” The writer of Hebrews uses this story in Genesis 14:18-20 to show that Christ is even greater than Abraham, father of the Jewish nation, and Levi (Abraham’s descendant). Therefore, the Jewish priesthood (made up of Levi’s descendants) was inferior to Melchizedek’s priesthood (a type of Christ’s priesthood).
Melchizedek was a “priest of GOD Most High”. He recognized GOD as Creator of heaven and earth. What else is known about him? Four main theories have been suggested: 1) Melchizedek was a respected king of that region. Abram was simply showing him the respect he deserved. 2) The name Melchizedek may have been a standing title for all the kings of Salem. 3) Melchizedek was a type of Christ (Hebrews 7:3). A type of an Old Testament event or teaching that is so closely related to what Christ did that it illustrates a lesson about Christ. 4) Melchizedek was the appearance on earth of the pre-incarnate Christ in a temporary bodily form. He is said to remain a priest forever because his priesthood has no record of beginning or ending: “The LORD has taken an oath and will not break HIS vow: ‘You are a priest forever in the line of Melchizedek.’ – Psalm 110:4 – He was a priest of GOD in Salem (Jerusalem) long before the nation of Israel and the regular priesthood began. As a priest, Melchizedek like Christ, never abused his divine position, and his reign will be forever.
Abram gave a tenth of the goods he recovered to Melchizedek. Even in some pagan religions, it was traditional to give a tenth of one’s earnings to the gods. Abram followed accepted tradition; however, he refused to take any of the recovered goods from the king of Sodom. Even though this huge amount would have significantly increased what he could have given to GOD, he chose to reject it for more important reasons – he did not want the ungodly king of Sodom to say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’ Instead, Abram wanted him to say, ‘GOD has made Abram rich.’ In this case, accepting the gifts would have focused everyone’s attention on Abram or the king of Sodom rather than on GOD, the giver of victory. When people look at us, they need to see what GOD has accomplished in our lives……… do they?
Father GOD Most High, Creator of heaven and earth and conqueror of our enemies we pray that when people see us, they see what YOU have accomplished in our lives. We know that without YOU, LORD we can accomplish nothing. Sometimes we, as humans get caught up in the things of this world and what ‘we’ accomplish in this world, but Father GOD, we know without YOU, we have no real accomplishments. Thank YOU, Father for YOUR Word that is so full of ‘teachers’ such as Melchizedek and Abraham whom we can look to for an example of what YOU expect and want from us. Help us LORD, to be an example for others to follow.
Photo: Old Quebec City (Quebec, Canada)
Photo By: Lisa K Gonzales
Click on the photo to enlarge
