M. Priestly
In Hebrews 7:1 it is said of Abram that Melchisedec, priest of the most high God, "met" him returning from the slaughter of the kings, and "blessed him." Let us follow the events of this Biblical warfare, which is the first mentioned in Scripture and is divided into two battles. The first is a battle of oppression and captivity; the second is a battle of recovery. Abram is involved in this second battle. In Genesis 14 he is seen marked by resolve and courage, which carried him to victory against very great odds.
What was it that drew Abram to lead out his three hundred and eighteen trained servants who, with the aid of three allies, engaged in battle with such a mighty host as Chedorlaomer and his confederate kings? It was love for the "brother." (See Genesis 14:14-16.) God came in with power to bring him back with all the persons and goods. At this point Melchisedec met Abram, coming on the scene after the significant victory (Gen. 14:18).
There has been spiritual warfare today covering a space of time, where the truth has been recovered, and, with it, brotherly love. Now when Melchisedec appears, it is said in Hebrews, "First being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace." There is no mention of parentage—father or mother, nor genealogy, neither beginning of days, nor end of life— but it says, "Made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually" (Heb. 7:2-3). This is a tribute to our Lord's eternal Sonship, which supports the reality of His eternal Priesthood. (See Hebrews 7:28.)
If we go back to Hebrews 2:9, we find the source from which our Lord's Priesthood springs. Here Jesus is seen as Son of man—"made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor." From here on, this is transmuted into a priestly crown, as the "miter" on the forehead of the high priest for glory and beauty (Ex. 28).
Continuing with the Old Testament account in Genesis 14, Melchisedec comes upon the scene and meets Abram. Then notice what he did; he "brought forth bread and wine" (vs. 18). He then blessed him and said, "Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth" (vs. 19). Again he said, "And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand" (vs. 20).
This Old Testament account is set On record for our present understanding, and the sustaining power of the heavenly priesthood meets our needs at a time of crisis. Is it not significant to us today, when the Christian testimony is in public ruin? "When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him." The Melchisedec priest brought forth "bread and wine." Here there is a return to what was at the beginning (1 Cor. 11:23-26). All has been carried away, but God has intervened in grace.
The early Hebrews were reminded of the heavenly reality of the Melchisedec priesthood which was "an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil" (Heb. 6:19). We, too, in this day come into the efficacy of this great priesthood. Christ has gone on high interceding for us. This is for the whole household of faith. As we remember Him in His death for us, we remember every true believer is in "the loaf" and "the cup." This brings the bread and the wine down to us today. Communion overflows into worship. Blessing comes down and goes up (Song of Sol. 2:14). The blessing of the Lord strengthens and satisfies. We go out and are thus equipped for the spiritual conflict that lies ahead (2 Cor. 10:3-4).
The king of Sodom meets Abram and notice what he says, "Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself." Abram refers back to his first having been met by the Melchisedec priest and can now give a direct and uncompromising answer. He is caught up in the Melchisedec blessing. Hear his reply, "I have lifted up mine hand unto the Lord, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, that I will not take from a thread even to a shoe latchet, and that I will not take anything that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich" (vss. 22-23). The king of Sodom is a type of the god of this world. He wants our souls, but the true God has put in His claim for us first.
The Jews regarded earthly riches as blessing from God, but Christian blessings are heavenly and spiritual (Eph. 1). God can give earthly riches also if He so will, for our God is "possessor of heaven and earth." Melchisedec is the heavenly King and Priest. How blessed for him to meet us in all the riches of grace, to satisfy the soul as worshippers, and to go out to the "brother." This leads into self-judgment and self-sacrifice (2 Cor. 2:6-11). Consider the state at Corinth: there was much which came in from the devil's world. See I Corinthians 10:21-22. This and the general state were met by the "demonstration of the Spirit and of power" which came in with Paul (1 Cor. 2:4).
Now go back to Abram who was named "the patriarch" in Hebrews 7:4. He came forward as an intercessor for the "brother" who was tempted back into Sodom, and what did Abram do? Did he stand off and say, "He should never have gone back there into that wicked city He should have kept a separate pathway." No, he pleaded with God to spare the city for Lot's sake (Gen. 18:24-32).
It is said of the Melchisedec High Priest, "Because He continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them" (Heb. 7:24-25).
Our Lord went out after the lost sheep and the lost son, and He gave His life for us, and "we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren." Many examples come to mind: there was Moses who said, "Blot me, I pray Thee, out of Thy book" that God might be able to go on with His people (Ex. 32:32). There was David who said, "The Lord forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the Lord's anointed" (1 Sam. 26:11; see also ch. 24:6). And Abigail said, "Upon me, my lord, upon me let this iniquity be" (1 Sam. 25:24). And then, but not the least, there is the occasion of Solomon's wisdom which called for a sword, which brought forward the true mother whose heart yearned for the child and was prepared to forego her rightful claim that it be not divided (1 Kings 3:24-27).
Would we say Paul comes the nearest to the Lord in all he endured in service to Him and to His people? This is brought out in 2 Corinthians 11:23-33. Patience heads the list of the labors and sufferings of Paul and his co-workers in chapter 6:4-10. Patience also comes first in "the signs of an apostle" in chapter 12:12, when Paul wrote to the early Hebrews. Peter notes that "our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you" (2 Peter 3:15).
It is not without meaning that the manner of the Lord's going up into heaven is given in Luke, the gospel of the priest, nor to say, "He led them out as far as to Bethany." Then he adds, "And He lifted tip His hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while He blessed them, He was parted from them, and carried up into heaven." And then follows: "And they worshipped Him." And the next thing is, "And returned to Jerusalem with great joy: and were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God" (Luke 24:50-53).