Who was the mysterious
Melchizedek who met Abraham?

Q. Who was Melchizedek (Melchizedec) who, in the Old Testament, met Abraham?

(Submitted by: Sandy)

A. There isn't much in the Old Testament about this personage, who is quite mysterious to many. He suddenly appears at Abram's (he was later name Abraham) times and then, as far as the biblical account is concerned, disappears except for a brief mention in Psalm 110. That may be strange, in the human thinking, but God has His reasons and His wisdom.

Melchizedek is easily identifiable, however, when we put together the related Scriptures of Old and New Testament. The book of Hebrews does actually give a more detailed account than Genesis.

He is first mentioned in chapter 14 of Genesis, verses 18-20. The biblical account here informs us that this illustrious personage was the King of Salem (Jerusalem), Priest of God Most High (Hebrew: El Elyon ), God the Father. Interestingly, He "brought out bread and wine", undoubtedly a type of a later ordinance which became part of Jesus' memorial ceremony at Passover.

Approximately 1000 years later we find some more light on this subject, in Psalm 110. This Scripture was quoted by Jesus, (another 1000 years later ) to the consternation of the Jewish audience, who was baffled and speechless. This has to do with the duality of the Godhead, contrary to the belief of Judaism, that maintains that God is only one person. Verse 1 says:

" The Lord said to my Lord, 'Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool' ".

David was saying that the Lord, (God the Father) said to my Lord, (the Word that later became Jesus), " sit at My right hand till I make Your enemies Your footstool ", a prophecy about Christ, the Messiah to be fulfilled in the future. It continues with verse 4 identifying who this "my Lord" is: " a priest for ever according to the order of Melchizedek".

Another 1000 years elapsed and apostle Paul elaborated in the book of Hebrews, chapters 5, 6, 7. Hebrews 5:6 is a quotation of Psalm 110:4. In Hebrews 6:20 apostle Paul links Melchizedek to Christ. It continues in chapter 7 with a broad description of this personage,

". . . without father, without mother, without (human) genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually" ( Hebrews 7:3).

He could not be a human being. Christ only is the Son of God and a priest continually. The Bible labels Jesus our High Priest (Hebrews 6:20). There can be no doubt that Melchizedek of the Old Testament was the Word (John 1:1) that later became Jesus Christ.

Of course there are many questions: When did Jesus begin to be Melchizedek on this earth? When did He end? The Bible doesn't say. God does not reveal everything, but at this present time we are the recipients of the greatest spiritual knowledge ever dispensed to humans. The ancient men of God were not given to know what we know now (1Peter 1:10-12).