Vital signs
Have you ever walked into a movie half an hour late?
It’s a bit disorientating, especially if it’s a good story, because much of what comes after will depend on the earlier parts of the plot. We need the entire story from beginning to end if we are to enjoy and respond appropriately to it.
Reading about Melchizedek can feel the same way if we are not aware of who he is and the role he plays in the Old Testament.
In Genesis 14, Abram (later Abraham) is visited by the King of Salem (meaning 'king of peace'), Melchizedek, and is blessed by him (denoting that the Abram is inferior as he is the one blessed). In response, Abram gives Melchizedek one tenth of his portion and we don’t hear of this king again (Psalm 110 is the exception).
What does this all mean?
The author of Hebrews is letting us know that as great as the patriarch Abraham is, there was one that was greater than him still.
This is incredibly important to grasp as we look forward to the way that Jesus becomes a priest for us.
As you think about these strange times, strange places, strange names, and strange customs, remember that we serve a God who transcends all of our cultural moorings and yet was willing to be subject to our culture in order to bring us home.
Receive this beautiful (and strange) truth today.
”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 the kings, Melchizedek met him and blessed him. Then Abraham took a tenth of all he had captured in battle and gave it to Melchizedek. The name Melchizedek means “king of justice,” and king of Salem means “king of peace.” 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. Consider then how great this Melchizedek was. Even Abraham, the great patriarch of Israel, recognized this by giving him a tenth of what he had taken in battle. Now the law of Moses required that the priests, who are descendants of Levi, must collect a tithe from the rest of the people of Israel, who are also descendants of Abraham. But Melchizedek, who was not a descendant of Levi, collected a tenth from Abraham. And Melchizedek placed a blessing upon Abraham, the one who had already received the promises of God. And without question, the person who has the power to give a blessing is greater than the one who is blessed. The priests who collect tithes are men who die, so Melchizedek is greater than they are, because we are told that he lives on. In addition, we might even say that these Levites—the ones who collect the tithe—paid a tithe to Melchizedek when their ancestor Abraham paid a tithe to him. For although Levi wasn’t born yet, the seed from which he came was in Abraham’s body when Melchizedek collected the tithe from him.“
Hebrews 7:1-10 NLT
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