Melchizedek

Who:

Melchizedek, was the King of Salem by translation that is “King of Righteousness” and “King of Peace.” He is considered by some to be a:

Theophany.

An appearance or manifestation of God; a compound word derived from the Greek noun for God and the Greek verb “to appear.”

In its broadest meaning the term has been applied to many forms of divine revelation in both Testaments, whether occurring in a vision or dream or in normally perceptible realities such as unusual natural phenomena, appearances of the Deity in human form in the OT, or the incarnation of Christ in the NT. The use of the term theophany is restricted here to manifestations of God in temporary forms perceptible to the external senses, and thereby excludes divine manifestations in dreams or visions and the incarnation of Christ.

Theophany is regarded as one of the means by which God’s special revelation comes to man. God’s special revelation may be divided into two basic forms, that of word and deed. God’s revelatory deeds may be further divided into the categories of theophany and miracle. A theophany is then a form of divine revelation in which God’s presence is made visible and recognizable to man. God therefore reveals himself not only by word and miracle, by prophecies and signs, but also by making his presence perceptible to men.

(Elwell, Walter A. and Barry J. Beitzel. Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Book House, 1988.)

Jewish tradition held that he was Shem, the son of Noah, a sentiment Luther says he had no problem with, even defending the genealogical record which supports that Shem lived beyond Abraham’s death according to the biblical record and his number of years.

Both Josephus and Philo record Melchizedek as an actual historical figure; this appears to be in line with the Biblical record where he is recorded as the King of Salem in the Genesis record. Calvin also found the teaching of the Epistle to the Hebrews, sufficient evidence to identify him as a real and historical figure, whose virtue and gifts were directly accorded to God’s blessing and sanctification.

(Genesis 14:13-15:17, NKJV)

¹³ Then one who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew, for he dwelt by the terebinth trees of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and brother of Aner; and they were allies with Abram. ¹⁴ Now when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his three hundred and eighteen trained servants who were born in his own house, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. ¹⁵ He divided his forces against them by night, and he and his servants attacked them and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus. ¹⁶ So he brought back all the goods, and also brought back his brother Lot and his goods, as well as the women and the people. ¹⁷ And the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley), after his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him. ¹⁸ Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. ¹⁹ And he blessed him and said: “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; ²⁰ And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” And he gave him a tithe of all. ²¹ Now the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons, and take the goods for yourself.” ²² But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand to the Lord, God Most High, the Possessor of heaven and earth, ²³ that I will take nothing, from a thread to a sandal strap, and that I will not take anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich’- ²⁴ except only what the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men who went with me: Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.” ¹ After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.” ² But Abram said, “Lord God, what will You give me, seeing I go childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” ³ Then Abram said, “Look, You have given me no offspring; indeed one born in my house is my heir!” ⁴ And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.” ⁵ Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” ⁶ And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness. ⁷ Then He said to him, “I am the Lord, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to inherit it.” ⁸ And he said, “Lord God, how shall I know that I will inherit it?” ⁹ So He said to him, “Bring Me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” ¹⁰ Then he brought all these to Him and cut them in two, down the middle, and placed each piece opposite the other; but he did not cut the birds in two. ¹¹ And when the vultures came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away. ¹² Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, horror and great darkness fell upon him. ¹³ Then He said to Abram: “Know certainly that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them, and they will afflict them four hundred years. ¹⁴ And also the nation whom they serve I will judge; afterward they shall come out with great possessions. ¹⁵ Now as for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried at a good old age. ¹⁶ But in the fourth generation they shall return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.” ¹⁷ And it came to pass, when the sun went down and it was dark, that behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a burning torch that passed between those pieces.

(Genesis 14:13-15:17, NKJV)

What:

Melchizedek was a man. We are not told what man he is , that is his tribe, or genealogical background and this is important in the providence of God. The conversation between Melchizedek and Abram, is important, as Abram and the Priest are worshipping the same God, El Elyon “God Most High” maker of heaven and earth. Also, the priestly distinction accorded to the position of Melchizedek in Psalm 110 and Hebrews 5-7, is of essential importance in deciphering what Melchizedek is concerning his Priesthood.

He was a Priest, part of an Order, the chosen of God, established and sustained by God. The recognition and contrast of Melchizedek to the other kings around him is characterized in his recognition of the living and true God (El Elyon), the God of Abram, who was the maker of heaven and earth. The evidence that El Elyon is the true and living God, is found in the pronouncement of YHWH the covenant God, as Abram holds up YHWH to the King of Sodom (Gen 14:22) adding the phrase “maker of heaven and earth” when he chastises the King. It is YHWH which later appears and speak the oath upon the pain of death, YHWH’s death, a fact attested to in the imagery of Genesis 15:1-17.

The blessing received from Melchizedek along with the tithe paid to him from Abram, is the evidence found in Hebrews authenticating the superiority of the Priesthood of Melchizedek over, Abram and the Levitical Priesthood then present in his loins.

Where:

We are told that Abraham received the blessing of Melchizedek in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley) in Gen 14:17, it is unclear if the King of Sodom is present at the same time, but the text seems to suggest this is the case.

Additional antidotal information is seen in that Melchizedek is the King of Salem, and while this is widely accepted as Jerusalem, there is no specific passage which indicates this fact for us.

This lack of a meaningful where, adds to the importance of the person of Melchizedek in terms of his origin. It is not his Origin which should concern us but instead his actions.

When:

Perhaps most important is the timing of Melchizedek appearance at this event in God’s providence, and the fact it proceeds the covenant ceremony recorded in Gen 15. This is important because Melchizedek is an type of Christ, in human terms, as we see in Hebrews, concerning the superiority of the Priesthood of Christ. Also because the evidence of an Order of Priest, exists before the Abrahamic covenant is ratified with the oath in which YHWH promises to fulfill every word he has given to Abraham upon the pains of death.

Why:

We must be careful when asking this question. God is never required to give us an answer, the fact that He communicates His love and dedication to His Elect, is an extension of His Mercy!

Why? Here the depth of the meaning grows as or since God’s providence is the correct response. God wanted it to happen. God’s glory is the ultimate end. His Purpose is being served.

Part of the reason is revealed in Psalm 110

(Psalm 110, NKJV)

A Psalm of David. The Lord said to my Lord,”Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” The Lord shall send the rod of Your strength out of Zion. Rule in the midst of Your enemies! Your people shall be volunteers In the day of Your power; In the beauties of holiness, from the womb of the morning, You have the dew of Your youth. The Lord has sworn And will not relent, “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.” The Lord is at Your right hand; He shall execute kings in the day of His wrath. He shall judge among the nations, He shall fill the places with dead bodies, He shall execute the heads of many countries. He shall drink of the brook by the wayside; Therefore He shall lift up the head.

(Psalm 110, NKJV)

To understand the significance this passage we have to go to Hebrews:

(Hebrews 5:5-11, NKJV)

So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him: “You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.” As He also says in another place: “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek”; who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, called by God as High Priest “according to the order of Melchizedek,” of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.

(Hebrews 5:5-11, NKJV)

For your Homework read Hebrews 5-9, and look for all the links to our study.

How:

Through the restoration of better promises, in which Christ is evidenced as a better Priest than those established by the promises which came after the origination of the Priesthood of faith and life, called the Order of Melchizedek. God established Melchizedek, as he established Christ, according the same order, an order which had been temporarily displaced until the time of restoration (Heb 9:10.)

The additional verses in Hebrews 6-7 discuss the superiority of Christ, on the basis of the establishment of the Order of Melchizedek, the progenitor of the Israelites, Abraham, and the descendants to which the oracles of God came establishing the 10 Commandments and all of the Jewish laws, including the order of Levitical Priests, who by the testimony of Abraham, submitted to a superior in the faith and priesthood, namely Melchizedek, while still in Abraham loins.

What can we do with this information?

1. Christ is glorified and God receives honor.
2. The appearance on Melchizedek over a span of thousands of years in the biblical record supports the authenticity of God’s word.
3. The establishment of the promises of the Order God created, prior to the Levitical law, was superior and assures us of His Sovereign control over us and all things, He has planned and is accomplishing all His holy will!
4. It provides us with the knowledge that we like Christ and Melchizedek before us are Priests and Kings, and it establishes the certainty that we are established upon the same promises which have been present from the beginning, demonstrating that God does not change!
5. We can better understand the blessings we have received through Christ and the Father!
6. We can pray and worship more meaningfully, with this knowledge because of our understanding.

All Glory be to GOD!