| MELCHISEDEC By Alvin Mitchell Copyright 2004 by Alvin Mitchell |
| Hello, We here at the Hoss'n'Housexpress would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to our humble website. Our's is one of several sites dedicated to the service of our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ. "Click" here on the home page to access more interesting, Christ centered commentary, and do visit us sometime at (click) www.biblestudyhour.net, for more "Body Building" incites and instruction. The following is the answer I gave to a question put forth by "Lyman", at www.geocities.com/revcts/index. html. Lyman was a participant there, as part of CT Strickland's "Discussion Forum". I thought readers might find the incites shared helpful, so, I brought them over here. Lyman inquiried as to whether there were many who severed as Melchisedec "styled" Priests. My answer is as follows: With regard to the question of the Priesthood of Melchisedec, it should be noted that His was not just any Priesthood. The Individual in occupation as Such, was not just any "Joe", or individual. There were not "many", as there was only one. Notice Melchisedec's credentials:
This is a very "tall" order, which means that what we are dealing with here is the first of two "Christophonies" (so called in theological circles; there were actually more in the OT), in which God took the liberty of appearing as a Man before Abraham, well in advance of His birth in Bethlehem's manager. No mere man Of Adamic descent, no matter how righteous, could ever fullfill all these requirements. The term Melchisedec is an amalgamation of two Hebrew words: 1) melek--a king and, 2) tseq-dek--the right. Hence, Melchisedec literally means "King of Righteousness". The word Salem is an old name for Jerusalem. Whether the two are synonymous here is, at this junture, unclear. Given the credentials of this Person who ruled there, it is quite likely that it was not God's intent that this place should be taken as a literal earthly place (any more than the description given of the King Himself could be taken as reference to an ordinary, earthly man), as much as it is one more element by which to identify the Person presiding over it and the nature of His work and standing in the presence of the God of the Heavens. At any rate, its meaning is "complete", "perfect", or "peaceful". The King of Righteousness (Melchisedec), is not only One who rules over all that is complete, perfect and peaceful in the Eyes of God, He is also Priest of the Most High God. In God's economy, there has never been such an earthly, normal person who could actually and literally serve in both capacities. Only Jesus Christ could and does occupy in both domains. Only He is or was ever capable of fulfilling all the "stipulations", as set forth in the Book of the Hebrews 7:1-8, 16, 21-24. It may also be worthy of note that, where there is a King or Priest--or both--one would expect that there must also be a people over whom they are to preside, in matters civil and religious. None is given for this Kingly Priest--only what appears at first glance to be a Place. As with the "Captain of the Lord's Host" (Jos. 5:13-15), who wore the appearance and all the trappings which suggested a man of no greater than earthly significance, so likewise the exterior of this Melchisedec was just a "facade" (on a positive note) by which the Pre-incarnate Christ chose to interact personally with Abraham (who like us, could never relate to God in His Spirit form), chosen of God to be the vehicle by means of whom all the world would ultimately be blessed (Gen. 17:18). Hence, one might say, the people destined to "people" Salem had yet to be "garnered", and though God intentionally neglected to tell him, Abraham was the all integral first step (humanly speaking) in that long process. I hope and pray that this answered your question and so, was helpful to you. |
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