Hebrews Chapter Seven, Searching For Melchizedek

 

Hebrews 7:1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,

 

Recall how the author of Hebrews already addressed the person of Melchizedek, saying, that Jesus Christ was called, “by God as High Priest “according to the order of Melchizedek,” of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing,” Hebrews 5:10, 11. Beginning in this passage the author deigns to pause the progression of his doctrine and enters into a parenthetical portion of the epistle.

A parenthetical passage is one that explains or qualifies something. In this instance, the writer stops to explain Jesus’ connection to Melchizedek after berating the Hebrew Christians for their backsliding into an infantile faith as far as understanding is concerned. What is “hard to explain” the writer now endeavors to try, apparently believing it necessary for the readership to grasp this Melchizedek and his role in God’s plan of redemption.

 

While chapter 6 is composed of the elementary principles of the Christian faith, a stern warning about apostasy, and a conciliatory passage magnifying God’s grace toward us through His generous promises, he comes full circle from Hebrews 5:10, addressing the matter once more in Hebrews 6:20. The matter of Melchizedek, and what is said of him. “This” Melchizedek, the writer intones to make sure his readership understands where his focus has fallen, was in Abraham’s day king of Salem. The city Salem might be considered obscure from Scripture, listed only twice in the OT under this name. It is found in Genesis 14:18, mentioned with the priest who hails from it. However, its second mention by Asaph clarifies the origin of the city beyond doubt. “In Judah God is known; His name is great in Israel. In Salem also is His tabernacle, and His dwelling place in Zion,” Psalm 76:1, 2. A casual reading through the Old Testament will readily demonstrate that Jerusalem and Zion are interchangeable names. Zion is used 152 times in the Old Testament and comes into use when David concurs the city. “And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites…nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion,” 2 Samuel 5:6, 7. Asaph, under inspiration of the Holy Spirit calls Jerusalem Salem, and likewise names it the home of Judah and God’s tabernacle in Israel. The author of 2 Samuel informs us that David waged war on the Jebusite-controlled city of Jerusalem, in victory called Zion.

 

It is debated what the term means, and to what extent it is used. Originally considered merely part of the fortified city, the stronghold that became the city of David, Zion became known as a descriptor for Jerusalem, the city where God’s temple and presence dwelt. Zion was also eventually a term describing Israel as a nation, referring to the Jews: God’s earthly covenant people; see Amos 6:1 for example. Furthermore, passages such as Isaiah chapter 60 (note 60:14) reveal a detailed account of the thousand-year reign of Messiah leading into His eternal reign from the throne of Jerusalem, or Zion.

 

Of Melchizedek it is noted that he is king of Salem. Genesis 14:18 tells us, “Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High.” Note the elements Melchizedek presents to the conquering Abraham. They are the self-same elements that Christians now take in what is commonly referred to as Communion, see Matthew 26:26-28, Luke 22:17-20. Salem’s king was also its high priest. We find an allusion to this in Zechariah, where we read of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, “Behold, the Man whose name is the BRANCH! From His place He shall branch out, and He shall build the temple of the Lord; yes He shall build the temple of the Lord. He shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule on His throne; so He shall be a priest on His throne, and the counsel of peace shall be between them both,” Zechariah 6:12, 13. We know from history that God separated the secular government from the religious power in Israel. Judah was given the honor of rule, Genesis 49:10. Levi was granted the honor of ministering as priest, Numbers 8:14-16. Joshua, a contemporary of the prophet Zechariah, was currently high priest and a member of the tribe of Levi. The Holy Spirit speaking through Zechariah declared that there would be a time when a man would sit on the throne of rule in Israel, wielding secular and ecclesiastical power and the counsel of peace would be found in this unity.

 

History further attests that Joshua was not such a man, but the prophet looked beyond him, seeing in Joshua a greater type of High Priest that would not only serve before the altar in God’s temple, but reign from it as well. Long before Zechariah penned his vision, we find Melchizedek, whom Moses describes as king of Salem and priest of God Most High. God Most High is El Elyon in the Hebrew. Since the covenant name hadn’t been given to Moses yet, Melchizedek comes to Abram (or Abraham) as a priest of the highest God, or the God above all gods. Jerusalem was a Jebusite city, archeology and Scripture attest, until David conquered it and renamed it, taking it for the Jewish people. The surrounding countries of Canaan served many gods. There were also many kings; we learn in Genesis 14:8 and 9 that the king of Sodom joined with a coalition of monarchs (rulers of city-states) to throw off the yoke of Chedorlaomer and his confederacy of kings: nine in all. Melchizedek was king of a city that sided with neither, and by suggestion of the blessings he offered and the gifts he conducted, was greater than them. Melchizedek is said to have been El Elyon’s priest, and in Genesis 14:19 recognized Abram as a servant of his God.

 

The psalmist writes, “I will cry out to God Most High, to God who performs all things for me. He shall send from heaven and save me; He reproaches the one who would swallow me up. God shall send forth His mercy and His truth,” Psalm 57:2, 3. Abram had just returned from a battle of many kings, victorious and laden with spoils, Genesis 14:16. Abram met with the king of Sodom in the King’s Valley (verse 17) and it seems likely that is also where Melchizedek met him. This valley is suggested to dwell two and a half miles south of Jerusalem where the Kidron and Hinnom Valleys meet, in Beth-hakkerem. If that is so it is not far off at all from the city Melchizedek hailed from in Abram’s day.

 

The verse further elaborates that this high priest met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him. That blessing, or benediction, is as follows: “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand,” Genesis 14:19, 20. Note two things in this benediction. First, that Abram belongs to God Most High, or El Elyon. Second that Melchizedek attributes the possession of both the heavens and earth to God. Unlike the pagan gods littering Canaan, El Elyon is considered the Creator of all that is, which is why the title of God Most High befits Him. The high priest ascribes to God attributes of ownership over all of the created order, including Abram, the coalition of kings that just fought, as well as the various gods they served. God Most High amplifies our Lord’s sovereignty over the creation, exalted as the Uncreated Creator of heaven (and all it contains) and earth (and all it contains).