THE PEOPLE IN THE BEGINNING: MELCHIZEDEK

It’s an odd story.

Abraham had rescued Lot from a confederation of marauding Mesopotamian kings. Welcoming Abraham home from battle, Melchizedek, the king of Salem, “brought out bread and wine” (Genesis 14:18). It was a feast honoring the victorious warriors, and a foreshadowing of the Lord’s Supper.

Melchizedek was the “king of Salem” (Genesis 14:18), or in the Hebrew language, the “king of peace.” His name meant “king of righteousness.” He wasn’t just a king, he was “Priest to God Most High” (Genesis 14:18), the first priest mentioned in the Bible. Put that all together. He was king of righteousness… king of peace… and priest of God Most High.

Welcoming Abraham home from battle, Melchizedek “blessed him and said: Abram is blessed by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, and blessed be God Most High who has handed over your enemies to you” (Genesis 14:19-20). The priest blessed Abraham and reminded him that the victory was due to God’s favor. In response, Abraham gave Melchizedek a tenth of the spoils of battle… he gave him a tithe (Genesis 14:20).

Melchizedek’s name only appears twice in the Old Testament, in the fourteen chapter of Genesis and then in David’s Psalms. “ ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool’ … The Lord has sworn an oath and will not take it back: ‘You are a priest forever according to the pattern of Melchizedek’ ” (Psalm 110:1,4). (See also Hebrews 5:6, 10, 6:20; 7:1, 10, 11, 15, 17).

Who was the one and only “priest forever”? Jesus!

Melchizedek was great but … Jesus is the better King of Righteousness, the better King of Peace, the better Priest of God Most High, and the only Priest Forever!

“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).