MELCHIZEDEK ORDER PART 2

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Trusting God More Than Speculation

Trusting God is another lesson we learn from the account of Melchizedek.

Many people are led astray through a lack of knowledge, false teaching, distorted facts, fables and myths. Today, social media algorithms often feed what the Bible calls "itching ears." They present people with ideas that agree with their opinions rather than challenge them with the truth.

Even Christians can fall into this trap. Our own emotions, personal biases and desires can influence how we read Scripture. Like Israel in biblical times, we often struggle with wanting to please people and fit in with the world around us. This is one reason God repeatedly warned Israel about adopting the beliefs and practices of the surrounding nations.

2 Timothy 4:3–4 says:

"For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine and accurate instruction that challenges them with God's truth. Instead, to satisfy their own desires, they will gather teachers who tell them what they want to hear. They will turn away from the truth and turn aside to myths."

The enemy's methods have not changed. Only the tools have changed. Today those tools include technology, social media and marketing. The goal is still the same—to create confusion, division within the body of Christ and ultimately a falling away from the faith.

The Church has been building on the foundation laid by Christ and the apostles for nearly two thousand years. Yet we must ask ourselves: Are we continuing to build on that foundation, or are we allowing ourselves to be distracted from it?

Jesus Himself said that "the children of this world are wiser in their generation than the children of light" (Luke 16:8). The world often plans its strategies carefully. As believers, we should be equally committed to knowing the truth, living it and sharing it faithfully.

Our calling is to strengthen and unify the body of Christ. True transformation begins when God's people awaken to His truth. I hope to explore this subject more fully in future articles.

Peter reminds us that the apostles did not build their message on myths.

2 Peter 1:16 says:

"For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty."

The apostles wrote about what they saw, heard and experienced. Throughout the New Testament they remain consistent on the essential truths of the Christian faith.

These include:

1. Jesus' words and works.

2. The call to repentance and conversion.

3. Jesus as the mediator of the New Covenant.

4. Jesus as the Word of God.

5. Jesus' humanity, born of a virgin, as the Son of Man.

6. The miracles of Christ.

7. The miracles that followed through faith in His name.

8. The command to preach, teach and spread the Gospel.

9. Jesus as the Saviour of the world.

10. Jesus as the true and living God.

11. Jesus as the Son of God.

12. Believers as heirs and joint heirs with Christ.

13. Believers as ambassadors of Christ and a royal priesthood.

14. The complete and perfect work of the Cross.

15. The power of the blood of Jesus.

16. The ministry of reconciliation flowing from the Father's love.

17. Salvation by grace through faith, not by works.

18. The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

19. The Holy Spirit, who brings to believers all that Christ has accomplished for them.

20. Believers have power and authority over the wiles and plans of the enemy.

These themes appear throughout the New Testament and are rooted in the Old Testament. As the Church builds on these truths, believers grow in unity, maturity and love. Imagine the harvest of souls that could be gathered into God's Kingdom if we remained focused on these foundations. We would be building the walls or repairing the walls. We will be building from the foundation which a next step.   

The book of Hebrews brings many of these themes together. It does not present Melchizedek as an isolated figure. Instead, his priesthood becomes the meeting point of several great biblical themes: covenant, kingship, priesthood, righteousness, peace, inheritance, eternal life, Christ's once-for-all sacrifice and our access to God. Hebrews uses Melchizedek to show how Jesus fulfils God's redemptive plan in a priesthood that is greater than that of Levi.

How confusion surrounding Melchizedek is often used

Confusion about Melchizedek can become a doorway for false teaching. Some common examples include:

1. Focusing on his ethnicity in ways that create unnecessary division over the Canaanites rather than understanding the biblical account.

2. Using modern political or emotional issues, such as debates surrounding Israel, Jerusalem, Palestine and Gaza, to distract from what Genesis is actually teaching.

3. Claiming that because the Bible does not answer every question, it cannot be trusted.

4. Introducing teachings about Melchizedek that present a different gospel or a false view of Christ.

5. Claiming that Israel invented or hijacked the priesthood and that Jesus is therefore not the promised Messiah.

6. Using Abraham's tithe to Melchizedek to argue that the biblical principle of giving has no relevance today without considering the wider teaching of Scripture.

Paul repeatedly warned believers about this kind of error.

1 Timothy 1:4 warns against myths and endless genealogies that produce speculation rather than God's work, which is by faith. In the case of Melchizedek it is a question of genealogies.

Titus 1:14 tells believers not to pay attention to human myths that turn people away from the truth.

1 Timothy 4:7 simply says:

"Have nothing to do with irreverent and silly myths."

What are "silly myths"?

Many ideas shared on social media and presented as research are not based on careful scholarship or sound methods of investigation. They often rely on assumptions, selective evidence and emotional appeals rather than facts. They are designed to provoke reactions instead of helping people discover the truth.

This brings us back to a simple but important question.

Do I trust God?

Do I believe that what God has revealed in Scripture is true?

Do I also believe that what He has chosen not to reveal is not necessary for my salvation or for understanding His purposes?

When Abraham entered an unfamiliar land, he brought Lot with him. Over time, God taught Abraham to trust Him completely. 

Are we doing the same? Are we allowing others to create a "veil" over our eyes? Are we allowing endless questions, speculation and myths to pull us away from the solid foundation of God's Word? 

Deuteronomy 29:29 "The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law."

Ask God to forgive you for engaging or listening to myths, fables, genealogies. Ask The Holy Spirit to help you filter out the deceit of the enemy. Remember there is a difference in seeking truth or seeking to break down believers. Ask God to forgive you for listening to and entertaining, a false Jesus or a false gospel. Click here for part 1

MELCHIZEDEK ORDER PART 1

 In the following blogs I want to address topics that have been used to deceive many people. Some are foundational matters to the Christian faith. Many fall away from the church due to lies, propaganda and ignorance or lack of knowledge. For sure, many people perish for a lack of knowledge. Let us look at Melchizedek.

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Melchizedek was a priest, but not just any priest. He was the priest of El Elyon, which means God Most High. 

What is most important about Melchizedek is what the Bible actually tells us. Over the centuries many people have guessed who he was and what his meeting with Abraham meant. The Bible, however, gives us only a few details. Perhaps God chose to reveal only what was necessary so that our attention would stay on His purpose instead of our own speculation. Nonetheless, there has been a lot of confusion about Melchizedek because of historical inaccuracies. 

In this series I want to examine that purpose. Before we can understand what the Bible calls the Order of Melchizedek, we must first understand the man and the city where he ruled.

What does the Bible tell us?

The Bible tells us that:

• Melchizedek was the king of Salem.

• He was the priest of God Most High (El Elyon).

• Abraham met him after winning the battle that rescued Lot.

• Melchizedek brought out bread and wine.

• He blessed Abraham in the King's Valley near Salem.

• Abraham gave him a tenth of the spoils from the battle.

• The Bible presents Melchizedek as someone greater than Abraham in rank because Abraham received his blessing and paid him a tithe.

Some References: Genesis 14:18–20; Psalm 76:2; Psalm 110:4.

The City of Salem

The first point worth examining is that Melchizedek was the king of Salem. Salem was a Canaanite city-state, yet its king served the Most High God. The city depended on the Gihon Spring for its water supply and that is a landmark used by archaeologists in identifying the location.

The name Salem means peace in both Hebrew and Canaanite. Because of this, Melchizedek is often called the King of Peace.

Many scholars identify Salem with ancient Jerusalem. Over time the name developed into the Hebrew Yerushalayim (Jerusalem). Some connect this name with the Hebrew root yarah, meaning "to found" or "to lay a foundation," and "founded in peace".

In Judges 19:10 the city is called Jebus, after its Jebusite inhabitants. Later it became known as Jerusalem after King David captured it. The Bible also uses the name Zion. Sometimes Zion refers to the fortress David conquered, while in other passages it represents God's dwelling place among His people (Psalm 76:2). The historic main areas of Salem was renamed to honour King David

The prophets Isaiah and Nehemiah later referred to Jerusalem as the Holy City.

There is much more that could be said about Jerusalem. If you would like to explore its connection with sacrifice, you can read my earlier article, by clicking here for What's on your altar? Part 4  where I explain why David purchased the threshing floor even though he already ruled the land.

Archaeological Evidence

Archaeologists have uncovered a rock structure that is about 4,000 years old. The structure supports the idea that Melchizedek served as both king and priest.

Among the discoveries are:

• a standing stone or pillar that may have been anointed with oil as a symbol of meeting with God;

• a carved stone altar with channels that may have drained blood or wine;

• an olive press that could have been used to produce sacred anointing oil.

Many archaeologists believe this complex may have been the place where Melchizedek brought out bread and wine and blessed Abraham. It provides an interesting historical background to the biblical account.

Why was a Canaanite king serving the Most High God?

This is an important question. One that should be placed in context of the period this event occured. At the time Canaan was serving other gods, yes. But Canaan was a city that came out of one of the sons of Noah. Ham's descendants populated the area known as Canaan. The descendants of Shem later conquered the land. In Genesis 9 we learn that Canaan the youngest son of Ham was cursed by Noah. This can be discussed further in a later blog. What is important to note at this time is that they all came from the same lineage and there was a reason why Shem's descendants would rule the land.  

The name El Elyon first appears in Genesis 14:18–20. The meeting between Melchizedek and Abraham happens immediately after Abraham defeats the kings who had taken Lot captive.

The name Lot means "veil," "covering," or "that which conceals."

Here I would like to offer my own interpretation.

I believe the war became a test of Abraham's readiness to fully trust God. As long as Abraham depended on Lot, he was not fully trusting God. How was he dependent on Lot? 

When God first called Abraham to leave his family, Lot travelled with him. Lot represented security to Abraham. Abraham may have trusted God, but perhaps he still wanted something familiar to rely on. 

Here is a lesson I learnt a long time ago. When God tells us to leave others and move with Him. We should do it and do it fast. Disobedience causes confusion with the same people we hold on to. We can see that happening between Abraham and Lot and they had to separate (Genesis 13:8). This separation was very significant. In fact both times they separated held important meaning. In the first parting Abraham called him "brother" and not nephew. 

The significance can be seen in that as soon as they parted Abraham moved his tent which was in Bethel-where Jacob wrestled with God-to Mamre, Hebron, where God spoke to him. 

Genesis 13:14–17:

"And the Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him: 'Lift up your eyes now and look from the place where you are—northward, southward, eastward, and westward; for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever. And I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth... Arise, walk in the land through its length and its width, for I give it to you.'"

Genesis 14 tells us that Abraham took 318 trained servants from his household to rescue Lot. He was acting on principle as found later in Leviticus 25 concerning the redemption of a relative, because Abraham referred to Lot as his "brother" not his nephew when they parted the first time. Abraham then became Lot's "blood avenger".  In this second parting of ways Abraham fulfilled his responsibility toward Lot but after this rescue the Bible records no further direct relationship between them.

In my view, this showed a turning around for Abraham who now became Lot's back up plan rather than Lot be his back up plan.

Only after this final parting does Melchizedek appear and bless Abraham. This proves that there was a significance in his final parting with Lot.

Are there people in your life like Lot? Has God told you to separate from anyone and follow Him?

"But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy." 1 Peter 2:9-10

Pray and ask God to show you if you should separate from anyone and ask for courage and wisdom to do it peaceably.  Follow after Jesus you will not regret it.