“The LORD has sworn and will not change His mind, ‘You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.'” – Psalm 110:4
Exclusive Order
The order of Melchizedek is very exclusive. In Psalm 110, David adds the promised Messiah to the list. So now the order consists of Melchizedek and the Messiah. David is adamant that the role of a priest is clearly God ordained for the Messiah. God has sworn and will not change His mind!! God has determined it. God has commissioned it. He will not repent. It is settled. The promised Messiah will fulfill the role of priest, and He will do so forever. After the order of Melchizedek.
War & Lot
We are introduced to Melchizedek in Genesis chapter 14. Or should I say He appears out of nowhere? Before Melchizedek makes his appearance it might be good to look at the context. Genesis 14 records the first war in the Bible. The king of Sodom along with his allies, consisting of the kings of four other cities, had decided to stop paying tribute to the government of Chedorlaomer. After twelve years of paying tribute, they decided to revolt. Chedorlaomer did not take kindly to the revolt. If the tribute was not paid “voluntarily” he would take it by force. And so he did along with his allies, consisting of three other kings. They laid waste to the land and took spoils from it. While the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, their enemies took “all the possessions of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their provisions, and went their way.” When plundering Sodom and Gomorrah, Abram’s nephew Lot and his possession were also carried away.
Melchizedek & Blessings
“I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” This was the promise God made to Abram in Genesis chapter 12 when He called him out of his native country. When Abram left his country to go to a land God would show him, his nephew Lot went with him. God’s promise was quickly tested. When Lot was carried away, Abram was pulled into the conflict. Upon hearing the news of Lot’s captivity, Abram assembled his men and rescued his nephew and his possessions. As Abram and his men were returning with Lot, the King of Sodom met them at the Valley of Shaveh (King’s Valley). It is at the King’s Valley that Melchizedek makes His mysterious appearance. We are told that He is the King of Salem and that He brought out bread and wine. And Moses adds, “He was priest of God Most High.” Then an interesting exchange takes place. Melchizedek blesses Abram, and Abram gives Melchizedek a tithe. And nothing more is mentioned of Melchizedek. For a thousand years.
Jesus & Melchizedek
Not until David penned the words quoted above from Psalm 110 is any mention made of Melchizedek. As stated above, David tells us that the promised Messiah will be a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. After Psalm 110, nothing is recorded about Melchizedek until Hebrews is written. The author of Hebrews tells us that Jesus, the promised Messiah fulfilled the prophecy of Psalm 110. He is the High Priest after the order of Melchizedek.
We are told that Melchizedek literally means King of Righteousness. Jesus told us that only God is righteous. Melchizedek is also King of Salem, which means King of Peace. Isaiah referred to the Messiah as the Prince of Peace. Melchizedek brought Abram and his men bread and wine. When Jesus instituted the Lords supper he passed the bread and wine as representatives of His body and blood. When Melchizedek came before Abram, Abram received His blessing and paid him tithes, recognizing Melchizedek’s superiority. When the Jews asked Jesus if He was greater than Abraham, Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58). The author of Hebrews tells us that Melchizedek is without genealogy and without beginning of days or end of life, made after the likeness of the Son of God. Jesus is the eternal Son of God made after the likeness of Melchizedek.
Perfect Forever
The Priesthood of Melchizedek is a priesthood of Grace, therefore it is superior to the Levitical priesthood which was based on Law. The law appointed men in their weakness to serve as priests, the New Covenant appoints a Son who is perfect forever (Hebrews 7:28).
Standing with Melchizedek
Let’s go back to the Valley of Kings. Here stands Abram, chosen by God, asked to leave His country for a better promise. Abram believed God and was made righteous because of his faith. Here stands the king of Sodom, the representative of the city forever associated with immorality, fire, and brimstone. Here stands Melchizedek, King of Righteousness, King of Peace. And here you and I stand represented by Lot. When given his choice of land, Lot chose to live in Sodom. He lifted his eyes and saw the fertile land of Sodom and moved his tent there. Lot saw a chance for material prosperity, yet this is what God saw, “Now the men of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the Lord” (Genesis 13:13).
Saved by Melchizedek
“Do not love the world or the things in the world…For all that is in the world-the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and the pride of life-is not from the Father but is from the world” (1 John 2:15a-16). Like Lot, we were from the world. Captives of sin, in the midst of a spiritual war. Born into the order of Adam we needed rescue. We needed One from the order of Melchizedek. We needed a Messiah, commissioned by the Father to be a perfect, eternal High Priest. Into our spiritual war the King of kings appeared. He offered his body and blood for our redemption. He saved us from our spiritual Sodom and the wrath to come. Like Abram, we are saved by grace through faith. Like Lot, there is no turning back. God’s not. He has sworn and will not change His mind. “You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.” And because God did; and Jesus is; our eternity is secure. Sodom has been exchanged for Heaven, where our High Priest is making intercession for us. Certainly beats fire and brimstone. Don’t you agree Lot?
The order of Melchizedek is exclusive. Jesus is the only member. He alone is qualified. He alone is sufficient.
“For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for His own sins and then for those of the people, since He did this once for all when He offered up Himself.” – Hebrews 7:26-27