Today's Reading: Genesis 14
"The Mystery of Melchizedek"
Melchizedek’s sudden
appearance and disappearance in the book of Genesis is somewhat mysterious.
Melchizedek and Abraham first met after Abraham’s defeat of Chedorlaomer and
his three allies. Melchizedek presented bread and wine to Abraham and his weary
men, demonstrating friendship. He bestowed a blessing on Abraham in the name
of El Elyon (“God Most High”) and praised God for giving
Abraham a victory in battle
Abram, in turn, gives
Melchizedek a tenth of everything he has taken as spoils of war, a practice
known as tithing. By this act Abraham indicated that he recognized Melchizedek
as a priest who ranked higher spiritually than himself. See how great this man
was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils!
So Abram received the
blessing, recognized the man as the priest of the Most High God, gave tithes of
all of the spoils that he had taken unto him. Nothing more is said of
Melchizedek until we get to the 110th Psalm. And suddenly we read the words,
"I have sworn, and will not repent, I have made you a priest forever after
the order of Melchizedek." This is a prophetic statement about the
coming Christ, the Messiah, and teaches us that Melchizedek was a foreshadowing
or prefiguration of our Great High Priest, Jesus Christ.
Later on, the author
of the book of Hebrews begins to point out the fact that Jesus, though He is
from the tribe of Judah of which the Scriptures have nothing to say concerning
the priesthood, He is a Priest of the order
of priesthood of Melchizedek, the superior order of priesthood. Thus, He can be
the Great High Priest of those who will come unto God through Him.
This passage is
significant for several reasons. First, it is the first mention of Melchizedek
in the Bible and his introduction as a priest of God Most High. Secondly, it
demonstrates one of the functions of the priesthood - to stand before God and
bless God's people, pronouncing upon them favor and success. Third, it is one
of the earliest examples of the practice of tithing in the Bible. And lastly,
it shows the recognition of God's sovereignty over the universe and his role in
the victory of Abram.
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