Day 220, Hebrews 7
We have been referring to Melchizedek throughout the past few chapters. Today we look at him in detail.
His story appears in Genesis 14, where he is seen to have no forebears. Abraham gives him a tenth of all his battle spoils because Melchizedek is the earthly representative of God.
This giving is not a legalistic or familial requirement, because Melchizedek is not of Abraham’s ancestry (indeed he has no ancestor). Later the tithing principle is adopted to support the priestly system, founded on Levi, and the first priest Aaron. Aaron was Levi’s great-grandson, and the whole tribe had roles to play in the Tabernacle worship that God instructed. But this tithing is purely to God, represented on earth by Melchizedek, and represents a more fundamental principle than providing for a structured worship system.
So the tithe is a fundamental plank of our relationship with God. In Genesis 14 it is clear that Abraham does not want anything other than his relationship with God to be credited with his prospering. So the tenth he returns to God through Melchizedek is a free, willing response from a man who is certain that all he has comes from God.
Giving to God in this way acknowledges God’s faithfulness, giving us victory over the evil forces that would steal from us (see Genesis 14). But the story (and this commentary on it) tell us more beautiful truths. Abraham’s determination to acknowledge God led to him being blessed by Melchizedek. This is far more than our present practice of saying “bless you” when someone sneezes, or the Southern phrase “bless your heart,” which means more than it appears to mean! Blessing in the context of Abraham and Melchizedek is a process of impartation, releasing God’s resources and promises into Abraham’s life. When you and I establish our foundational relationship with God, and trust God’s sovereignty by returning the tithe freely and wholly, we move out of the realm of our own agency into God’s. The tithe is not a portion of my income that I reserve to spend in godly ways as I determine, it is given fully and willingly to God’s earthly representation (here Melchizedek) without strings attached. Malachi makes it clear that there is a “storehouse” for God’s people, and that is where the tithe belongs.
The whole story is prefiguring what God will do later. Although there was a multi-generational line of priests descended from Aaron and Levi, who mediated between God and Israel, none of those priests had enough power to impart and release eternal relationship with God.
But God always purposed to introduce another - a king-priest of the order of Melchizedek (who wasn’t born and never died). His name is Jesus. His priesthood is not by genealogy - Jesus was born into the pride of Judah, not Levi. Rather, His priesthood is by decree (Psalm 110) - you are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek. We might surmise that Melchizedek was an early manifestation of Jesus!
This is vitally significant: the covenant which the Levitical priests mediated was flawed by sin, and undermined by hard-hearted disobedience (as we have seen in earlier chapters). The new covenant granted and guaranteed by Jesus is superior!
His priesthood is eternal, His intercession is constant, His sacrifice is complete, and His promise is permanent. The eternal Son is our eternal High Priest King.
You and I are members of that order of priesthood!
Have a great day!
Mark.