Scripture Meditation: Genesis 14:17-20; Psalm 110; Hebrews 4:14-5:10
Another psalm of David and another promise regarding the messianic king that is to come. This promise is found in Psalm 110:4, “You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.” Clearly the Lord is not speaking of David in the psalm, but of David’s Son that would come to establish an eternal throne. Not only is our promised Messiah a prophet who would be greater than Moses and a king who would have an eternal throne and reign in righteousness, but He will also be an eternal priest!
The office of priest is significant to the people of Israel. They were appointed by God from among the people to be the worship leaders for the nation. They would teach the law and they would minister and serve in the house of the Lord. They would offer the sacrifices for the sins of the people on a daily basis and the high priest offered the atonement sacrifice annually. The sacrificial system and the purification rituals were integral to the worship of Yahweh and without the priests the people would have not be able to worship God. Day after day, year after year, the priests would work on the behalf of themselves and the people in the presence of God. In the midst of this system of sacrifices is the promise of One who would come that would be anointed by God among men as an eternal priest.
Hebrews helps us to understand that it was Jesus that God had set apart to be the Eternal Priest in the order of Melchizedek (Hebrews 5:10). Instead of needing priest after priest and sacrifice after sacrifice, Jesus, the Son of God, came to offer on our behalf Himself as the sacrificial offering for sin. His one sacrifice was the only sacrifice that could satisfy the just judgment of God fully and completely! Not only that, through Jesus He opened the way for those who put their faith in Him to boldly enter the presence of God where we can find grace in our time of need! And there’s more, if you can image that. As our great and eternal high priest He ever lives to intercede for us! “The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but He holds His priesthood permanently, because He continues forever. Consequently, He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” (Hebrews 7:23-25)
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