Hebrews 7 Commentary
The scripture has a number of strange appearances, particularly in the Old Testament. The one man or the three men that visit Abraham to announce the birth of Isaac. The one man that walks and chats with Abraham over Lot’s plight in Sodom/Gomorrah.
Another one meets Abraham after the defeat of the 4 powerful Kings. Abraham tithes to him. We shall call him Melchizedek.
If we measured importance by the number of appearances, Melchizedek would be a huge disappointment. One lone mention in the Book of Genesis and the author of Hebrews wrote chapters on the subject.
Look at the account in Genesis and see Melchizedek in the grand scheme of things.
In the Book of Genesis, the Creator God creates man in His own image. Everything flows smoothly until Genesis 3. Man falls from grace because of disobedience. He is scattered from Eden – from a piece of land. The original blessing of Genesis 1 verse 28 falls apart.
After a period represented by mad numbers and symbolic figureheads (undefined), the LORD God seeks to recreate life through Noah and we have the repeat of the original blessing in Genesis 9. Not too long after Noah, mankind falls from grace again and the LORD God scatters mankind at Shinar (The tower of Babel). The LORD must restart again but with Abraham. The original blessing is bestowed on Abraham in Genesis 12.
Part of the blessing to Abraham is the restoration of land. Probably in direct reference to Eden from which mankind was scattered. The immediate symbol is Abraham’s defeat of 4 powerful kings. Symbolically, Abraham acquires the vast land of the conquered kings. But this land is significantly smaller than ‘Eden’. Nevertheless, the symbol is important. It is at this point that we meet Melchizedek.
He is the priest of the LORD God, Most High. He shows up and blesses Abraham.
This story would probably remain hidden in the mysteries of the Spirit of God had the Psalmist kept quiet! Instead, we have Psalm 110! This psalm points to the royal and priestly function of the Son – David’s Lord. The New Testament confirms Psalm 110 as the psalm of David. Matthew 22 verse 44.
It is clear: Melchizedek is standing in the place of Jesus! It is yet another appearance of the man Jesus in the Old Testament. He is the God who interacts with humanity – sits with Abraham under a tree, shares a meal with the patriarch, walks with Abraham, and probably also the same Jesus may be seen walking in the Garden of Eden.
This particular appearance speaks to the future. There is a task list for Abraham. There is also a level higher than Abraham’s blessing – a level higher than father Abraham and it is human! What can be higher than the blessing of the LORD? Yes, it is the LORD Jesus Christ, the LORD God Almighty but in human form!
The appearance of Jesus on this earth is impossibly important! We can only begin to see and feel it! The event is bigger than what the news outlets can cover! Bigger than our ears! Yet the lowly spirit of man fully surrendered to the LORD can sense its worth and bask in the attendant glory albeit in part. Nevertheless, glory!
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