The Word for today:
Hebrews 7:1-14
Hebrews 7:1-14
“Melchizedek.”
Some names belong on a marquee. ‘Melchizedek’ is certainly one of them.
Melchizedek is a whisper, a promise, a prophecy, and (probably!) a person. He is a King and the Priest of God Most High. He seems to have dropped by on his way from eternity past to eternity future. He offers Abraham, Father of Israel, bread and wine.
His name means "King of Righteousness." He is also King of Salem (‘Shalom’), which means he is the King of Peace.
We learn all of this from a few scant (but loaded) lines in Genesis:
And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.)
And he blessed him and said, "Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!"
And Abram gave him a tenth of everything. (Gen 14:18-20)
And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.)
And he blessed him and said, "Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!"
And Abram gave him a tenth of everything. (Gen 14:18-20)
He comes from out of the blue, stays long enough for three verses, then disappears back into the wild blue yonder from whence he came.
He is not heard of again for a thousand years, until the Holy Spirit loads King David’s pen with this:
The LORD says to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool."
The LORD sends forth from Zion your mighty scepter. Rule in the midst of your enemies!
Your people will offer themselves freely on the day of your power, in holy garments; from the womb of the morning, the dew of your youth will be yours.
The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind, "You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek." (Psalm 110:1-4)
The LORD says to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool."
The LORD sends forth from Zion your mighty scepter. Rule in the midst of your enemies!
Your people will offer themselves freely on the day of your power, in holy garments; from the womb of the morning, the dew of your youth will be yours.
The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind, "You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek." (Psalm 110:1-4)
His name then disappears from scripture for another thousand years, until all the dots are connected in Hebrews chapter 7 (which we will attempt to summarize tomorrow).
So by the time scripture closes, Melchizedek the marquee mystery man is mentioned once in Genesis, once in Psalms, and 8 times in Hebrews. Which, of course, makes it perfectly clear (to me) that another great Bible mystery man has been identified.
You may want to sit down and perhaps attach your heart monitor, because today, in your hearing, it is being revealed, for the very first time, that the heretofore-unidentified author of Hebrews is none other than…….Melchizedek!
How do I know? I don’t, but you tell me who would have the inside track to all this insight about the High Priest of God Most High other than the High Priest of God Most High, Himself? Who better to reveal the mysteries of Melchizedek than the Mystery Man, Himself?
The book of Hebrews has ‘Melchizedek’ written all over it. Remember that you heard it here first.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
No comments:
Post a Comment