The Mystery Man

Psalm 110:4-7

4The LORD has taken an oath and will not break his vow:

“You are a priest forever in the line of Melchizedek.”

5The Lord stands at your right hand to protect you.

He will strike down many kings in the day of his anger.

6He will punish the nations

and fill them with their dead;

he will shatter heads

over the whole earth.

7But he himself will be refreshed from brooks along the way.

He will be victorious.

Melchizedek is a man of mystery. Three verses in Genesis (14:18-20) tell us all we really know about him. Wearily, Abram returns from battle. Then Melchizedek, king of Salem and a priest of God Most High, comes, refreshing him with a supply of bread and wine and bestowing a blessing on him in the name of God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth.

Abram then gave him an offering.

Even though only three verses in Genesis tell us about Melchizedek, he is a key figure in the letter to the Hebrews. In Hebrews 5–7 the writer says that Jesus is like Melchizedek, both a king and a priest. But how could Jesus be a priest, one might ask, since he wasn’t from the priestly tribe of Levi? Well, neither was Melchizedek, the writer of Hebrews responds, quoting Psalm 110:4. While other priests live and die, Jesus is a “priest forever.” At the right hand of God, he continues to intercede for us. “He lives forever to plead with God” on our behalf (Hebrews 7:25).

What a great High Priest we have! Besides being our sacrifice, our Savior, and our Intercessor, he is the one who comes to us when we are completely worn out from our daily battles and gives the refreshment that we need, just as Melchizedek did for Abram.

Before the throne of God above

I have a strong, a perfect plea;

A great High Priest, whose name is Love,

Who ever lives and pleads for me.

CHARITIE BANCROFT

Bible Networking

Note how Hebrews 10:11-14 refers to both the first and fourth verses of Psalm 110.

Notable Quotable

“Many are willing enough to have him as priest who refuse to accept him as king. But it will not do. He must be king, or he will not be priest. And he must be king in this order; first making you right, then giving you his peace that passes all understanding. Let your heart be the Salem, the city of peace, where he, the priest-king, shall reign forever.”

F. B. MEYER