Heart of a Psalmist - Worshipping Christ Through The Psalms

Melchizedek -

Melchizedek’s story is told in Genesis 14 and explained to us in Hebrews 7. Abraham was return- ing from a battle with Kedorlaomer, the King of Babylon where he had rescued his nephew Lot: “Then Melchizedek, the king of Salem and a priest of God Most High, brought him bread and wine. Melchizedek blessed Abram…Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of all the goods he had recovered.” (Gen. 14:18- 20) Melchizedek deeply typifies the coming Son of God and some have even called him an Old Testa- mentappearance of Christ although there is no direct reference to that. Jesus is declared in this psalm to be an eternal priest “in the line of Melchizedek”(4) fulfilling all the benefits of Melchizedek’s priesthood to us: • Melchizedek is the ‘King of Righteousness’- “His name means ‘king of righteousness [justice].” (Heb. 7:2) Jesus offers righteousness to us as a free gift because of his blood that was shed on the cross. • Melchizedek is the King of Peace- “…He is also ‘king of peace’ because Salem means ‘peace.’” (Heb. 7:1, 2) ‘Salem’ is the shortened name of Jerusalem. Jesus makes peace between God and mankind by his sacrifice on the cross and now his peace reigns in the hearts of his believers. • Melchizedek is the King/Priest- ““This Melchizedek was king of the city of Salem and also a priest of God Most High” (Heb. 7:1) These two spiritual offices foreshadowed the coming Christ; Jesus is now the King of Kings and Priest Forever! • Melchizedek offered bread and wine- “This Melchizedek…brought him bread and wine.” (Gen 14:18) Jesus gave us the communion meal as a remembrance of his ‘once for all sacrifice’ on the cross. • Melchizedek is greater than 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 bless is always greater than the person who is blessed.” (Heb. 7:6, 7) Jesus is shown to be ‘greater’ in importance than Abraham, the most revered figure in the Jewish nation. He blesses his peo- ple today from his office of The High Priest of Heaven! • Melchizedek intercedes for victory- “And blessed be God Most High, who has helped you con- quer your enemies.” (Gen. 14:20) Jesus the eternal priest has provided a victorious life for his follow- ers. • Melchizedek receives tithes- “Even Abraham, the great patriarch of Israel, recognized how great Melchizedek was by giving him a tenth of what he had taken in battle.”(Heb. 7:4) As children of Abra- ham we participate in the blessings of his kingdom by giving a portion of our wealth to the Priest of Heaven. • Melchizedek lives forever- “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.” (Heb. 7:3) This priesthood is not temporary like Aaron: “But Melchizedek is greater than they are, because we are told that he lives on.” (Heb. 7:8) Jesus will always be our merciful and faithful High Priest. The significance of this declaration in the Book of psalms is immense. It directly states that the law of Moses and its order of worship is no longer valid because a different priest has come with a higher order of commandments: “And when the priesthood is changed, the law must also be changed to permit it…The change in God’s law is even more evident from the fact that a different priest, who is like Melchizedek, has now come.” (Heb. 7:12, 15) We no longer live by an external obedience to the laws of Moses but by an inward response to his commands through the power of Christ within us. Our salvation is complete and we have an eternal relationship with Jesus, our High Priest. “But Jesus remains a priest forever; his priesthood will never end. Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save everyone who comes to God through him. He lives forever to plead with God on their behalf.” (Heb. 7:24, 25) Jesus has initiated a new order of worship presented to us in the prophetic writing of the psalms. It is based on the eternal priesthood of Melchizedek that is given to Jesus Christ, not on the tem- poral priesthood of Aaron founded on animal sacrifice and ceremonial ritual. It is intimate, joyous and passionate, filled with power and the grandeur of the King/Priest: “…Our High Priest sat down in the place of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand. There he ministers in the sacred tent, the true place of worship that was built by the Lord and not by human hands.” (Heb. 8:1,2) We have been invited to an eternal celebration in heaven where Jesus is ministering forever be- fore the Father as King/Priest: “And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. This is the new, life-giving way that Christ has opened up for

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