Slices
Prepare
When you pray, ‘Thy kingdom come’, what kind of kingdom do you envision? What characterises this kingdom? Who lives there? What do they do? How do they feel?
Bible passage
Melchizedek the priest
7 This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, 2 and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, the name Melchizedek means ‘king of righteousness’; then also, ‘king of Salem’ means ‘king of peace’. 3 Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest for ever.
4 Just think how great he was: even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder! 5 Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people – that is, from their fellow Israelites – even though they also are descended from Abraham. 6 This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7 And without doubt the lesser is blessed by the greater. 8 In the one case, the tenth is collected by people who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living. 9 One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, 10 because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor.
Explore
The mysterious Melchizedek appears briefly in Genesis 14:18–20, is referred to fleetingly in Psalm 110:4 and reappears in Hebrews (5:6,10; 6:20; 7:1–17). His name means ‘king of righteousness’ and he reigns in ‘Salem’, meaning peace (v 2). Surpassing Abraham (v 4) and the Levitical priesthood (v 5), Melchizedek’s perpetual priesthood is patterned on that of the Son of God himself (v 3).
In a culture where names expressed a person’s essential nature, this enigmatic priest-king anticipates the messianic reign, which is characterised by both justice and peace (Hebrews 1:8,9; Isaiah 9:6,7). While justice and peace go together, there are inevitable tensions between these two concepts.
In the order of Melchizedek comes the priest-king Jesus, presented by God as a ‘sacrifice of atonement’, which ‘justifies those who have faith in Jesus’ (Romans 3:25,26). Our best efforts fall far short of God’s standards. It is only on the basis of being ‘justified’ (declared righteous) that we can experience peace with God and enjoy abundant life in his kingdom.
Respond
It is in Jesus that ‘righteousness and peace kiss each other’ (Psalm 85:10) finally and fully. How can you champion justice and make peace?
Deeper Bible study
I begin today by asking God to bless someone I know or love – or myself. What am I asking for?
Hebrews 1–6 ended with God blessing Abraham, confirming the blessing with an oath; and by these two wonderful actions we are given hope, an anchor for our soul, an anchor dropped in the very presence of God where Jesus has gone on our behalf – a priest for ever ‘in the order of Melchizedek’.1
I read today’s passage several times, slowly, allowing the words, ‘Just think how great he was’ (v 4) to reverberate in my heart again and again. Then I transpose the tenses to ‘he IS!’ and to ‘he WILL BE!’.2 The story about Melchizedek blessing Abraham can be found in Genesis 14:13–24; the regulations about the Levitical priests collecting tithes in Numbers 18:20–32. One of the most frequently quoted psalms in the New Testament is Psalm 110, where Melchizedek is again mentioned.3 Abraham was the person with whom the history of these Hebrew Christians, the recipients of this letter, began, but behind and above Abraham was this mysterious King Melchizedek! I trace here the four, five, six ways in which Melchizedek was greater than Abraham: ‘Just think how great he was!’ (v 4). All Jewish worshippers depended on priests to offer sacrifices on their behalf; the priests descended from Levi, who was a descendant of Abraham – but there was, there is, someone greater than Levi, greater than Abraham, greater than the mysterious King Melchizedek – it is Jesus, the Son of God, a priest for ever (v 3).
Finally I dwell on the word ‘blessing’. All over the world, worshippers seek for a blessing – from a pope, or a holy relic, or a holy well or place. People believe that a blessing really makes a difference. A famous blessing still used by Christians today is Numbers 6:24–26.
What blessing do I seek today? What blessing can I impart today, to whom, in what way?
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: 2 Samuel 13,14; 1 Corinthians 6
Pray for Scripture Union
Pray for Schools Worker Christopher Baker of local mission partner Christian Initiative to Schools, in his preparation for and taking of assemblies in junior and secondary schools in and around Letchworth Garden City, and for the continued work of lunchtime Christian groups in four secondary schools.
