A Word about this Bible Study

If you have 15 minutes a day you can study the Word of God!
"For the Word of God is living and active..." Hebrews 4:12
For most of my growing up the Bible seemed anything but living and active. Though I knew I was supposed to read it I barely did and when I tried it all felt flat and unrelatable.
I was in my 20s the first time I was shown the vitality of Scripture. For me it was Beth Moore's Jesus the One and Only Bible study that changed everything. I'd heard the story of Christ a million times but that study made Jesus come alive to me, it made the Word of God come alive. Since then I've done dozens of other Bible studies but more importantly God has created in me a desire to know Him more through His Word.
This blog is my endeavor to do just that and share what I find.
Each week I will post 3-5 10(ish) minute Bible lessons. The focus will be on who God is and just how awesome and amazing His Word is. Most of the time I will type the verses out, however for longer sections of Scripture, you will need to have your own Bible handy.
Finally a little disclaimer: I am perfectly capable of making mistake! If you are unclear, or disagree with me on something I encourage you to be like the Bereans and search the Bible for yourself to find out what is True (Acts 17:11).
The Word of God truly is alive and active, I hope you enjoy this adventure, and may it be life changing.







Wednesday, June 9, 2010

A Strange Encounter Day 2

You will need your Bible today.
Melchizedek may seem like a strange interloper in the story of Abram's victory over the 4 kings, but he probably would have settled into obscurity had it not been for King David. Outside of Genesis 14, there is only one other verse in the Old Testament that refers to Melchizedek and it has some interesting implications.
Please read Psalm 110:1-7
Though many of the Psalms are prophetic, Jesus declared this one was all about Him.
"While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 'What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?' 'The son of David,' they replied. He said to them, 'How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him 'Lord'? For he says, 'The Lord said to my Lord: Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.' If David calls him 'Lord,' how can he be his son?' No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions." Matthew 22:41-46
Psalm 110 is all about the Messiah (specifically about the 2nd coming when He comes to conquer and reign). Tucked into this psalm is our only other Old Testament reference to Melchizedek.
"The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek." Psalm 110:4
At the time David was king this would have been a very strange thing to say, yet the Holy Spirit wanted us to understand that the Christ was be unique in His role.
About 600 years after Abram entered Canaan, Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt. Before heading to the Promised Land (Canaan), the LORD brought them to Mount Sinai. It was at Mount Sinai that Moses received the 10 commandment, the blueprints for the Tabernacle and the rules and regulations for daily life, and worship. There the LORD appointed the tribe of Levi to be His priests. They were to be separate from the other tribes and were not allowed to be king. Judah was the tribe that God had appointed to the royal kingship, and the kings were not allowed to take on the role of the priest (Judah was also the tribe that the Messiah would come from). God very specifically separated the two roles.Yet David, speaking by the power of the Holy Spirit exalts the priest king Melchizedek over the priesthood of Levi and the kingship of Judah. The Messiah would be both King and Priest like Melchizedek.
Out of seemingly nowhere, David (by the Holy Spirit) used Melchizedek to describe the Messiah, then he vanished again until Hebrews. Psalm 110:4 quoted in both chapters 5 and 6 but in chapter 7 Melchizedek takes center stage as a clear foreshadowing of the Christ.
"This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, his name means 'king of righteousness'; then also, 'king of Salem' means 'king of peace.' Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God he remains a priest forever." Hebrews 7:1-3
I've said it before but it bears repeating, sometimes its not what the Holy Spirit includes in Scripture that is important but what the Holy Spirit excludes.
Melchizedek showed up on the scene of Genesis 14 with no history and we leave him there with no future. He merely exists (to our knowledge) within the confines of 3 verses. The lack of background, what his personal name was (Melchizedek is a title), who his parents were, when he was born, as well as the lack of information after his appearance in Genesis allowed the Holy Spirit to draw a better parallel between him and Jesus (We don't have to assume that Melchizedek was really never born or never died, though some believe it and that's okay). Without having a (recorded) beginning or end Melchizedek never stopped being a priest to God Most High, which is a beautiful model of Jesus who has ascended to Heaven to be our High Priest forever.
"Because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood." Hebrews 7:24
Jesus is our High Priest right now interceding for us before the throne of God. He is also our King, He is our ruler and Lord of our hearts and minds (at least He should be). However the day is coming when He will return to this Earth to be King and Priest over all Creation.
"And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God." Revelation 21:3
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