Who Was Melchizedek, Part II

Last Sunday Pastor David explored verses 11-19 of Ch. 7, where the writer-preacher lays out the comparison between Jesus and Melchizedek, and which read as follows:

11 Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron? 12 For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. 13 For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.

15 This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, 16 who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is witnessed of him,


“You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”

18 For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness 19 (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.

Pastor David broke this section down into two parts, the first addressing the imperfections of the Levitical priesthood.

I. Imperfections of the Levitical Priesthood: vv. 11-14

1. The imperfect nature of the Levitical priesthood as established from Levi, the 3rd son of Jacob and Leah can be illustrated in two ways:
a. First, to give some background, Levi was one of the brothers who defended his sister's honor by going into the city to find the men that defiled her and killed all the males, not just some, but ALL. Does this sound like a priest?

It is important to note that the priesthood came from Levi because first, Moses, who was a to be a great deliverer of Israel (as Christ is the ultimate deliverer) was the son of a Levite. Thus, Aaron, as his brother and first of all priests was also a Levite. In addition, even though Jacob had essentially disinherited Jacob from any land when his other sons got land, God had a different plan. In Numbers 3, God sets the Levites apart as His, to be His servants and the Lord anointed them as priests. From that point on, the Levites were to be given 10 percent from the other tribes essentially in exchange (as a redemption price) for having ALL Levite sons being dedicated to the Lord, in place of dedicating all firstborn sons from all tribes in that fashion.

b. Second, the imperfections are quite evident and don't take long to show, as the most obvious would be when Aaron agrees to have a golden calf made from jewelry of the people while Moses is still on Mt. Sinai. Thus, the FIRST opportunity Aaron has to exert authority and minister to the people, he fails! But this should ever tell us that people are fallible, no matter their position, because they are sinners!

The most striking thing about the above example is what Moses says in response to Aaron and the Israelites when arriving and finding what they have done--he states that perhaps he can make atonement for their sins. He knows the God that He serves and His majesty, holiness and justice! He is a mere man and can only beg of God's mercy as He did with Sodom and Gomorrah--at that point there is no firm approaching of God as we have in Christ! So this is why the law needed to be changed--for while our disobedience can be radical, He pours out His grace even more to overcome it!

2. Changing the Mosaic Law (vv. 12-14)
As evidenced in the above example, the law could not save the Israelites--it only served to show God's standards, their sinfulness and their inability to keep that standard. Just as they could not do this, we cannot either--their faith in some ways was tied to their obedience because they had a law that could not be satisfied within themselves. Our faith is not predicated on a maybe or perhaps, but on a firm foundation.

II. Superiority of the New Priesthood
1. Jesus' priesthood is forever, and He is our Savior to the uttermost!
Christ lived the perfect life and became priest in this manner and not because
he descended from Levites.

2. Jesus is a better hope! Jesus, being perfect in every way, living the perfect
life, and being raised on the third day is a MUCH better hope than the
Israelites had in their priests (who made their own share of mistakes).

Pastor David concluded by looking to Isaiah 11 where it talks of Christ's coming and God speaks of what His priest will do and how peace will be illustrated by a lion laying down with a lamb. This is the work of Christ and the power of His salvation: that peace will reign in the hearts of men because He has saved them and has given them a new nature and new heart. This is the awesomeness and effectiveness of His priesthood. He is not a Levite priest who wails repentant prayers of atonement annually for the people hoping that a righteous and justly wrathful God will hopefully hear his prayers, but Jesus Christ, Word made flesh, who reigns on high with the Father in the Triune Godhead who was made sin for us that we might live and ever intercedes for us before the Father. Picture it, for this is your hope and salvation! Rest in the glorious grace of Christ.

Meditating on the Promises of God

After having pulled two 12-hour work days from 6AM to 6PM (I was actually on the road this morning to court by 20 minutes to 6), I'm quite tired, so blogging Pastor David's most excellent sermon from last Sunday will be up tomorrow.

In the meantime, I will turn once again to Spurgeon for something worth thinking about, this taken from my morning reading on Friday July 27th, where Spurgeon quotes 2 Peter 1:4 ("Exceeding great and precious promises"):

If you would know experimentally the preciousness of the promises, and enjoy them in your own heart, meditate much upon them. There are promises which are like grapes in the wine-press; if you will tread them the juice will flow. Thinking over the hallowed words will often be the prelude to their fulfilment. While you are musing upon them, the boon which you are seeking will insensibly come to you. Many a Christian who has thirsted for the promise has found the favour which it ensured gently distilling into his soul even while he has been considering the divine record; and he has rejoiced that ever he was led to lay the promise near his heart.

But besides meditating upon the promises, seek in thy soul to receive them as being the very words of God. Speak to thy soul thus, “If I were dealing with a man’s promise, I should carefully consider the ability and the character of the man who had covenanted with me. So with the promise of God; my eye must not be so much fixed upon the greatness of the mercy—that may stagger me; as upon the greatness of the promiser—that will cheer me. My soul, it is God, even thy God, God that cannot lie, who speaks to thee. This word of his which thou art now considering is as true as his own existence. He is a God unchangeable. He has not altered the thing which has gone out of his mouth, nor called back one single consolatory sentence. Nor doth he lack any power; it is the God that made the heavens and the earth who has spoken thus. Nor can he fail in wisdom as to the time when he will bestow the favours, for he knoweth when it is best to give and when better to withhold. Therefore, seeing that it is the word of a God so true, so immutable, so powerful, so wise, I will and must believe the promise.” If we thus meditate upon the promises, and consider the Promiser, we shall experience their sweetness, and obtain their fulfilment.

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Christian, I will simply say that it is quite easy for us to read the Bible as we do any other book, as I myself often do, as if it is an assignment for a grade! But how often are we exhorted to meditate on the promises, to own them and know the God that made them! Read the promises of God and pause, considering the God who has made them in his wonder and glory, crying out at the same time, "wretched sinner that I am!" Yet, wonder in His infinite grace and know that you are His, bought with the blood of Christ! If he can achieve so great a salvation, can He not provide for you in EVERY other manner?

Worry and doubt are rooted in the ignorance (meaning, lack of knowledge) of Biblical principles--and that may offend some, but it is the truth. Why do you think that several writers in the New Testament are rebuking their hearers that they should have moved on to spiritual meat instead of being stuck on spiritual milk? Many of those even in Christendom would want to see signs or experience God in some sweeping emotional way when they have the Word of God right in front of them! He has revealed Himself to us in His Word so that we may know Him and believe, and with the help of His Spirit we can grow in knowledge of Him. We are called to be a sanctified people, set apart for Him--and in this sanctification, we grow in Him.

Christian, meditate deeply on the riches of Christ and the promises of God, and pray that the Holy Spirit lead you to the assurance that only God gives!

So Who Was Melchizedek? Part One

In the first of two parts, Pastor David preached on Hebrews 7:1-3:

For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. 3 He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.

Who Was Melchizedek?

1. He was a king (vv. 1-2) of peace (Salem is derived from shalom, meaning peace) and of righteousness.

2. He was a priest. Now why is this interesting?

Because the Levitical priesthood was later created by Mosaic law, and this was 400 years away! So we have a priest essentially before there was an "official" office. In addition, the Mosaic law made a VERY strict line that separated the King and the priest, making them separate offices (one need only look to Uzziah's mistake in 2 Chronicles 26 to see this illustrated).

3. He also had no genealogy.

This is also interesting because you have to realize that both for the hearers of Hebrews and those living in Old Testament times, genealogy was VERY important. Why do you think that Matthew begins with a genealogy in setting the scene for the Gospel? EVERY other Old Testament believer had a genealogy, but it was likely because he was a type.

Melchizedek Was a Type of Christ

1. Definition: a TYPE is a divinely-purposed illustration or example of the ultimate reality

2. A type POINTS or foreshadows the reality--at the end of Hebrews 6, it states that Melchizedek was a forerunner

3. When the type is considered, the reality of that type is greater appreciated--just as Melchizedek was king of peace and righteousness, Christ is the ultimate King of peace and righteousness.

How did Melchizedek act as a type of Christ?

Pastor David closed with three points to illustrate this:

1. Melchizedek was a king; Jesus is the KING OF KINGS.

2. Melchizedek was a priest; Jesus is the HIGH PRIEST.

3. Melchizedek did not have a father or mother; Jesus is THE ETERNAL AND ONLY Son of God, THE Ancient of Days, always existing, immutable, glorious.

The importance of this forerunner to Christ is the illustration of the joint office of Christ: He is both our intercessor as priest, ever our representative before the Father and King over us as our Creator! And even more, He acts as the person offering sacrifice AND having been the sacrifice! Glory in Christ as your King and High Priest!

God Made a Promise!

Continuing on in Hebrews 6, Pastor David (on July 15) finished that chapter by stressing the assurance that God provides.

To introduce the topic, he quoted Romans 15:4: For whatever was written in former days (the OT) was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

And now to the passage:

13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, 14 saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiply you.” 15 And thus Abraham, [2] having patiently waited, obtained the promise. 16 For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. 17 So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, 18 so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. 19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

God uses the Scriptures to encourage His people, and what a better example to point back to than Abraham (vv. 13-15)! We are to patiently wait for the salvation of the Lord, just as Abraham did on the mountain as he was about to sacrifice Isaac. Why is this significant?

Notice in Genesis 22 that Abraham doesn't merely think that God will provide, but KNOWS he will since Abraham is willing to sacrifice his son: Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.”

Our pastor stated something, and I thought this was great: "Truth properly understood can give encouragement, and enable us to live our life." Focus on the first part of that: Truth PROPERLY understood. I can look outside and see that it's raining but if I don't have an understanding or make the connection that I will get soaked unless I wear a coat or grab an umbrella, the knowledge that it's raining will not help me.

Similarly, our faith grows by the power of the Holy Spirit helping us to understand the Word--our study of God's Word to us increases our understanding of who God is, and can follow this progression:

ASSURANCE--> PERSEVERANCE --> HOPE

Biblical instruction in the church is an instrument of God to lead to encouragement of the body of Christ. If we are strong in Scripture, we can be strong in hope.

So after describing this example, Pastor David then moves to how God brings about such assurance. God swears by His name and in doing so, He shows us two things:

1. That in swearing by His name, God gave His promise an especially solemn character.(v. 16)
I have been reading in Isaiah over the past month or so, and in the last 10 or so chapters that I have read (Ch. 40-50), I have been overwhelmed by the glory of God that is proclaimed by the LORD Himself:

Isaiah 42:8: I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other,
nor my praise to carved idols.

Isaiah 43:25: I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake,
and I will not remember your sins.

There are many other examples--but note on the second verse I mentioned--he blotted out our transgressions for HIS OWN SAKE. Many other examples of Scripture point to the fact that God does things for Israel and His people for His name's sake, because His holiness, righteousness, and might are not to be trifled with and if He states that a people will be redeemed, they will BE redeemed, and there is nothing that ANYONE OR ANYTHING can do to undo that promise.

2. That as a result of this, in God swearing by His name, we are to be encouraged!(vv. 17-18)

We are to hold to this strong promise of God and know that He will accomplish the work that He began in us, and will bring it to its end.

Last, Pastor David closed with a wonderful illustration that shows how God is a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul (vv. 19-20):

Cargo ships coming into the bay would oftentimes have to wait for the high tide because there were often sandbars that would prevent them from coming all the way into the bay and making them unable to set anchor. However, over time, smaller boats were made to come out to the cargo ships to bring them into the harbor and help set their anchor. Similarly, Christ comes out to us, anchoring us with the Word and His Spirit as we live this life--He does so through His person and His life lived on this earth in spreading His Gospel.

Go forth and be encouraged in the certainty of salvation which has been vested in the Lord Jesus Christ and we are all beneficiaries of His work!