Melchizedek, Part 2

Let's begin by taking a look at the term "Melchizedek, King of Salem" In fact, "Melchizedek" is actually a title rather than a name. The NIV confuses things just a bit in Hebrews 7:2 by using the word "name":

"First, his name means "king of righteousness"; then also, "king of Salem" means "king of peace."

In this instance, the original Greek reads closer to the King James version:

"First, being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace."

So, what we have are two titles, not a name. In fact, his name is not given, but he is known by his first title of "King of Righteousness" which is further enhanced by his second title "King of peace."

Small things sometimes carry much importance….such as the order in which his titles are presented: righteousness first, then peace. The term "Melchizedek, King of Salem" used in Genesis 14:18 is prophetic in its teaching to us of a basic spiritual truth. Namely, that the righteousness of Christ brings peace. Look at some of the many scriptures that confirm the importance of this truth in the Old Testament, followed by a few examples of the truth being confirmed in the New Testament:

Isaiah 32:17 "And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance forever."

Colossians 1:20 "And having made peace thru the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself…"

Romans 3:21-26 "Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference….being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus…to declare, I say, at this time His righteousness, that He might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus."

Romans 5:1
"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ…"

Romans 14:17
"For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost."

The basic spiritual truth that we are being introduced to in Genesis 14, and which is confirmed by Hebrews 7, is that one cannot have peace with God until one has received the righteousness of Christ by faith. Or to put it more simply…first comes the righteousness of Christ to us, then comes peace with God, for it is Jesus Christ who has reconciled us to the Father. First, Jesus, then peace. There is no other way to the Father, except through Jesus Christ. You can believe all truth except that one, but you will still have no peace with God. We cannot have peace with God until we are justified through Jesus Christ.

Now let's look at the offering Melchizedek, King of Salem brought to Abram: the bread and the wine. Here is prophecy of the Last supper that Jesus celebrated with this disciples the night before He was crucified in which he called the "bread" His body, and the "wine" His blood…both given for us…for our justification in the eyes of God the Father through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

The bread also signifies death and the wine signifies life. Where do I get that?

Look at Genesis chapter 40. You will find Joseph in prison along with a baker and a wine steward. The baker and the wine steward each have a dream which Joseph interprets: the baker will die in three days; and in three days, the wine steward will have his life restored to him; and so will Joseph eventually have his life (freedom) restored to him because of the wine steward. The baker of bread signifies death; the steward of wine signifies life. This is another prophetic analogy of Jesus Christ; as is the bread and wine that Melchizedek, King of Salem brings to Abram after this battle with the kings.

Thus you have merely two examples of the prophetic nature of scripture which reveals Jesus Christ to us in hundreds of ways.

Now let's look at the last unique characteristics of Melchizedek, King of Salem.

He is a King AND he is a priest. Under Levitical law (established under the law of Moses, as given to Moses by God – a study we have not yet encountered as it is further along in the Bible) only men of the tribe of Levi could be priests. Kings, however, were descended from the line of Judah, the royal lineage. The roles of the two lines (Levi and Judah) were to be always kept separate and distinct: kings were never to be priests (Saul sinned greatly by crossing over this line of separation), and priests were never to be kings. Yet there are two exceptions to this rule: the first exception is Melchizedek, King of Salem; the second exception is Jesus Christ.

Finally, let's conclude this posting by considering just who this Melchizedek might be. Is he Jesus Christ appearing before His time? Is he an angel of the Lord? Or is he actually just a native prince who happens to be a believer in God and therefore also a priest of the Most High God, yet one who is used to prophecy about Jesus?

We don't know for sure. Biblical scholars can't agree. But there is a term "angel of the Lord" that is often applied by biblical scholars to a pre-incarnate Jesus Christ (we will see this angel of the Lord appearing to Abram and Sarai soon.) And it is possible that Melchizedek, King of Salem could be a pre-incarnate appearing of Jesus Christ (in other words, Jesus appearing in scripture long before He was made human flesh by being born to Mary). The fact that Melchizedek, King of Salem has no father or mother, no beginning and no end…might indicate that this is Jesus…or it just might indicate that Melchizedek, King of Salem's genealogy is not supplied to us for purposes which only the Holy Spirit knows. In other words, that characteristic of "no father or mother" might not apply to the personage of Melchizedek, King of Salem; but it might apply instead to the lack of information we are given about his genealogy alone….or his lineage. How did he come to be made a priest AND a king? We just don't know.

It could be instead, (as the writer of Hebrew states) that Melchizedek. King of Salem is simply "made like unto the Son of God." In other words, that he is a prophetic "typology" or a "symbol" of Jesus Christ who was to come.

And there we have the few facts, as well as a bit of the speculation that exists, about the nature of Melchizedek, King of Salem.