Abraham and Melchizedek

We’re looking at the life and faith of Abraham.  In case you missed earlier lessons, there’s a listing of them at the end of this lesson.  

Abram and Melchizedek

In our last study (Abraham and the Battle of Siddim), we read about Abram defeating the four king confederacy that had just sacked Sodom and Gomorrah.  Recall that these four kings, led by Chedorlaomer of Elam (Persia/Iran), had crushed Sodom and Gomorrah, seized all of the cities’ possessions, and taken all of the able bodied people as captives/slaves.  Among the people taken captive were Lot and his entire household.  So Abram set out to rescue Lot.  And though hopelessly outnumbered, he routed the four kings, liberated all of the captives (including Lot), and returned all of the possessions that had been taken from them.

After that, Abram met with the five other kings that he had just avenged.  The normal rules of warfare dictated that Abram was entitled to keep all of the spoils (possessions), but Abram knew his victory was God’s doing, not his own.  Therefore, He reasoned that he would display his understanding of this being God’s triumph by refusing to take any of the spoils (i.e., none of the due credit).

As Abram was returning from his huge victory, the grateful king of Sodom rushed out to meet him in order to express his gratitude.  When the king of Sodom arrived, he found that another king, Melchizedek, the King of Salem, was already with Abram.  

Melchizedek, the King of Salem

The name “Melchizedek” means “King of Righteousness” and his royal title, the King of Salem, means “King of Peace.”  We are told that Melchizedek was not simply a king, but also a priest of “God Most High.”  In addition, when Melchizedek met Abram, he made an offering of bread and wine.  These small details are important “whispers” that God has given. And through those whispers, we can understand the significance of this unique priest-king.   

1. Melchizedek, the King of both Righteousness and Peace: These are titles that are henceforth given ONLY to Jesus Christ, especially at His Second Coming when He is will bring peace and reign in righteousness.
2. Melchizedek is not just a King but also a Priest:  A priest is an intermediary between man and God (in any religion).  A priest’s work is to explain to man what the gods want and, in turn, to make offerings to the god on man’s behalf.  This priest of the God Most High made offerings (Gen 14:20).
3. The earthly priests of the God Most High were from the line of Levi.  That was not true of this priest (Heb 7:3).
4. Melchizadek communed with Abram, blessing him and offering bread and wine to him (Gen 14:18).
5. Melchizedek thanked God for delivering Abram’s enemies into his hand and Abram paid tithes to Melizeded (Gen 14:20).

Bread and Wine

At His last supper with His disciples, Jesus symbolized His redemptive work in which He would soon offer Himself as payment for man’s sin debt.  He did this by offering his disciples bread and wine. He told them that the bread was a symbol of His body, broken for man, and the wine a symbol of His blood, poured out for man.  Melchizedek offering of bread and wine to Abram prefigured that of Jesus’ offering of the same to His disciples — both clearly symbolizing a blood atonement for payement of man’s sins. 

Melchizedek in the Book of Psalms

Interestingly, nothing is written about Melchizedek, after this appearance to Abram, for 900 years.  Then, King David wrote about Melchizedek, saying the coming Messiah would be a “priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.” (Psalm 110:4)  So while Jesus is a King by virture of His ancestral lineage (His mother Mary and earthly father Joseph), His priesthood is not Levitical.  It is of the order of Melchizedek.

Melchizedek in the Book of Hebrews

The only other mention of Melchizedek comes another 1000 years later by the writer of the Book of Hebrews.  

Hebrews was written about 20-25 years after Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave.  It was written to Jews who had come to understand and believe that Jesus was their Messiah and that they (as a people) had crucified Him.  These early Jewish Christians were expecting Christ to return in their lifetime to reign as King of the Jews. However, as time passed some began to return to traditional Jewish beliefs and practices.  Therefore, Hebrews was written to instruct them that:

1. the New Covenant is superior to the Old Covenant
2. Jesus Christ is superior to Moses, the Prophets, the angels, and
3. Jesus’ Priesthood is superior to the animal sacrifices of Jewish priests. 

In this context, the writer of Hebrews wrote that Jesus is “a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek” (Heb 5:6) and “called of God a high priest after the order of Melchisedec” (Heb 5:10).

Melchizedek — A Picture of Christ

Melchizedek serves as a type or foreshadowing of Jesus Christ — the King and Priest of Righteousness and Peace. Abram surely understood Melchizedek’s high standing, as demonstrated by his giving a tithe (a tenth) of all that he possessed as tribute (Gen 14:20).

King of Sodom

Gen 14:21 to the end of the chapter returns the focus to Abram. The king of Sodom came to thank Abram for saving his city and people.   As a gesture of appreciation and awe, the King of Sodom told Abram that he could keep for himself ALL of their possessions.   But Abram refused, citing that it was the LORD, the most high God, who had won the victory. Therefore, he wanted nothing that might take any of the glory, for only God deserved it. 

Moreover, Abram wisely said that he would not receive any wealth from any earthly kings so he would not be in debt to any man.  How was Abram able to make such a decision?  Perhaps, because his encounter with Melchizedek had so profoundly contrasted the King of Righteousness, a priest of the Most High God, with all earthly kings, especially the king of Sodom.  By faith, Abram’s allegiance was to his God. And Abram would not have the king of Sodom claiming that he had made him rich (Gen 14:23).  Abram’s communion with Melchizedek reminded him that his riches came from his God.

Further note that Abram spoke only for himself, asking that the men who went with him be allowed to take their portion (Gen 14:24).  By doing this, Abram showed that this was a personal decision.  All of this shows that Abram was increasingly being called out and separated from worldly things.  Abram was increasingly becoming holy, choosing by faith to follow God.

Conclusion

Evidently, Abram learned great lessons in Egypt very well.  And his communion with Melchizedek further strengthened his faith.  Now, having demonstrated complete faith in God, Abram gave all the glory to God.  The underlying lesson is: When Abram was in Egypt, with opportunities to trust God completely and let his faith in God be a witness to Pharaoh, he failed.  As a result, Pharaoh drove Abram out of Egypt.  But now, having seen the contrast between the King of Righteousness and the King of Sodom (a sinful place), Abram acted in faith.  And he was a tremendous witness to the kings of the earth that they might “see” the Most High God.  

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The Life and Faith of Abraham

1. Timeline of the Life of Abraham
2. A Story of Relationship
3. From Haran to Canaan
4. Abraham and Lot
5. The Battle of Siddim
6. Abraham and Melchizedek
7. Righteousness Through Faith
8. Cutting the Covenant
9. Hagar and Ishmael
10. A New Name for A New Man
11. Circumcision: the Sign of the Covenant Read also: Why Circumcision? 
12. Sarah — A New Name for a New Woman
13. The Lord Appeared to Abraham at The Oaks of Mamre
14. Abraham Pleaded for Mercy for Sodom and Gomorrah
15. The Rescue of Lot Out of Sodom
16. Lot and His Daughters
17. The Birth of Isaac, the Son of the Promise
18. The Akedah: God’s Testing of Abraham’s Faith and Obedience
19. ISAAC: A Whisper of Jesus in Genesis 22
20. The Death of Sarah and A Bride for Isaac
21. Jacob and Esau - Great Life Lessons + the Pattern of the Second Born
22. Isaac’s Blessing on Jacob: Genesis 27
23. Jacob’s Ladder and His Wrestling Match — Genesis 27, 32