Bible and Government - Melchizedek

So, for now, I plan to go through the Bible and look at what it has to say about world government. One aspect of this will be looking at the various statesmen.

We will start with Melchizedek.

According to Genesis 14 and Hebrews 7, Melchizedek was both the King of Salem and High Priest of God. So, he had a dual function role of political and religious leader.

In Genesis 14, Abram wins a major victory and meets with the kings of the various local city states, including Salem. In Hebrews 7, the author highly analogizes him to Christ.

We wonder why the Bible does not discuss Melchizedek more. Who was he? Where did he come from? How did he become high priest? Why does the Bible story follow Abram and not Melchizedek?

Melchizedek must have had a lot more power, prestige, in his day. Yet, so little we can glean about him. Even Hebrews 7 mentions these mysterious aspects about him, saying 'Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.' (v. 3).

Some might goes so far as to statement this means he actually was Christ. I think the statement of his lake of genealogy could be taken metaphorically, meaning not that he didn't have one, but none is described. Yet, he was high priest. So, he could have been the first high priest of all time.

Yet, the Genesis account overshadows him for someone more important in terms of the Biblical story, which is Abram. It is like Melchizedek is only a supporting cast member in the life of Abram.

We can only get from this a sense of humility. Melchizedek takes a back seat and lets the story unfold around Abram.

So, what can the Christian statesmen learn? We might have to use our power, influence, and role to raise up others.

A New Priest for a New Covenant (Hebrews 7-8)

The logic of the proceeding chapters seem to coalesce around chapters 7-8.

Here, author further discusses Melchizedek.  For instance, we do not know much about him as a person.  Yet, Melchizedek was greater than Abraham because Abraham gave him a 10% as a tithe.  This became the standard for the Levite priests to collect.  Indirectly, Levi paid homage to Melchizedek because Levi was still within Abraham.

The author of Hebrews likens Jesus to Melchizedek in connection with Psalm 110.

The author transitions to since there is a change in priesthood, there must be a change in the law.  This is the New Covenant, as outlined in 8.

The New Covenant is characterized by the following:

1.  An individual personal knowledge (i.e., relationship) God (v. 11, "they will all know me")
2.  People's hearts will change and God's laws will be written on their hears (v. 10)
3.  It makes the "Old" Covenant obsolete.  (v. 13)

Some implications of this that come to my mind.

First, Christians still disagree about what is "Old Covenant" and what is "New Covenant".  In other words, what laws, principles, or examples in the Old Testament are applicable today?  It is a very common disagreement among Christians.

Second, we can infer a causality relationship from the writing of the laws on the heart and personal relationship with God.  Inviting God into one's life is a step into having the laws written on one's heart.  This is what I think of when the New Testament authors write of "fruits of the Holy Spirit".

Jesus, the High Priest like Melchizedek (Hebrews 4:14-5:10)

At the end of chapter 4, Hebrews seems to transition to discussing Jesus' role as High Priest, following the "Order of Melchizedek".

Melchizedek was the priest and king of Salem who met with Abraham.  Later, the author of Hebrews points out that this priest did not come from the line of Levite priests, which was instituted in the law of Moses.  Similarly, Jesus takes on the role of High Priest from outside the Levite line, but rather as a descendant of David.

So, God is going outside the Levite line and returning to something that even preceded that, Melchizedek.

In some ways, we can probably even think of Melchizedek as a "Gentile priest", since the Hebrew people of Israel were all descendants of Abraham.

Here, the author of Hebrews traces the order of Jesus' priesthood to Melchizedek.  The author refers to Psalm 110, which is an interesting psalm that has Messianic undertone of conquest.

Hebrews 4:16 really stands out to me as it states "let us approach the throne of grace with confidence".  What interests me about that is that the high priest must do his own sacrifices to clean himself before doing sacrifices for others.  Here, that is circumvented - WE can approach the throne of grace.

Thank you Jesus!