Melchize...what?

If you have read the Bible for any length of time, or sat through a church service growing up, you have probably heard the name Melchizedek mentioned once or twice. To me, he is one of the most important people in the Bible, while being one of the least mentioned. 

This King and Priest, which we will get to in a moment, is first mentioned in Genesis 14. He is introduced as King of Salem and priest of the God Most High. We see him show up again in the book of Psalm, chapter 110. This Psalm is prophetic of Jesus, and is even quoted by Jesus in his earthly ministry. Verse 4 says, "You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek." 

It is important to note these verses, because not only is the messiah going to be king, which was understood perhaps, but he will also be the priest. David did not reference kingship for Melchizedek, but rather his priestly status. 

Last, we see him mentioned a third time in the book of Hebrews. The author does a fantastic job at bringing to light, that Melchizedek is a forerunner and type of Christ figure. So much so, that I almost passed him over and moved on. In Hebrews 7, we see that he has no beginning or end, in a sense. He is also greater than Abraham, because he blessed Abraham, not the other way around. 

Sometimes, I have wondered if Melchizedek, along with a few other people mentioned in the Old Testament, actually was Christ in human form. I know this may be ridiculous to think, that Christ would reign in Salem for a time. These are the questions though. I think it is healthy to ask and search. Jeremiah the prophet states in Chapter 29 of his book, "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart" (NIV). 

This is exactly what we are doing as we travel through the Old Testament: searching for Jesus. He is to be found. According to Christopher Wright in his book, Knowing Jesus Through the Old Testament, "The author of Hebrews held that Jews received not only shadows and hints of the gospel, but that they could actually have known the gospel if they had understood what God was saying to them in the Old Testament."

Perhaps a certain few of them did. Abraham being one of them. Again, the author of Hebrews says this of him, "For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God" (NIV). So what exactly did Abraham see and find when he had this encounter with Melchizedek? If it was not Christ himself, this man was certainly as close as one could come. 

First, Melchizedek was the King of Salem. This would later be what we know of as Jerusalem. Not only was this city known as the city of David, but it will also be the place that Jesus actually rules from after the Great Tribulation. 

Second, when Abraham rescues his nephew Lot and the others from the surrounding areas, Melchizedek meets him with bread and wine. This is the first picture of communion that is seen in Scripture. Why would he doe this? What did he already know? Without the breaking of Jesus' body, and the shedding of his blood, there is no forgiveness or healing. What a foreshadow of the last supper!

Third, Melchizedek blessed Abraham. Abraham is the father of our faith for good reason, but it is alway the greater that gives the blessing. Abraham to Isaac, Isaac to Jacob and Jacob to his sons. Who is so great as to give a blessing to the "friend of God?"

Last, after being blessed, Abraham gives a tenth of everything to this King and Priest. Once again, this is a foreshadow of giving a tenth, or a tithe to God. Neither communion or tithing was practiced until the New Testament, but be assured, God was present and setting things in order for His church and for you, from day one. 

He is the same yesterday, today and forever!