Consider Melchizedek

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LNI — July 18th

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Song of Preparation: #

†CALL TO WORSHIP based on Malachi 1:11

Pastor Austin Prince

Minister: Thus says the Lord of hosts:

Congregation: For from the rising of the sun even to its setting, my name will be great among the nations.

Minister: In every place incense is going to be offered in his name, and a grain offering that is pure;

Congregation: We offer our worship, for your name will be great among the nations.

†PRAYER OF ADORATION AND INVOCATION

Father, most blessed,

Almighty Lord, Creator of heaven and earth,

Because of your splendor and greatness, we praise your name.

Because of your mercy and grace, we love your name.

Because of the salvation promised to us in Christ, we gather in your name.

Seal us, therefore, in the name of Jesus. Stamp the reality of the risen Christ within our hearts.

Write his name upon our foreheads, the name of the Son upon whom your favor rests, that in him we might be your sons and daughters as well.

To you, O Father, be all glory, and to the Son, the only begotten, the well-beloved,

and to the Spirit, welling up within us. One God forever more. Amen.

†OPENING HYMN OF PRAISE #241

“O God Beyond All Praising”

†CONFESSION OF SIN AND ASSURANCE OF PARDON

based on Exodus 20 Elder, Craig Hoffer

Minister: “God spoke all these words, saying, I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.”

You shall have no other gods before me.

You shall not make idolatrous images; to have or to worship.

You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.

Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.

Honor your father and your mother.

You shall not murder.

You shall not commit adultery.

You shall not steal.

You shall not bear false witness.

You shall not covet.

Congregation: Almighty God, we confess that we have sinned against your holy law in thought, word and deed. We have not loved you with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength. We have not loved our neighbor as we love ourselves. By grace through faith, you made us righteous in Christ. Yet we have not lived with the perfect purity of our savior.

Forgive us, for his sake. Purify us, by his blood. Wrap us in his love and righteousness, that we might stand before you on the day of judgment, and find favor. We thank you that the promises of forgiveness we find in your word are true. Give us the Holy Spirit, that we might live before you more faithfully. Make us glad for our salvation, and eager to serve your holy will. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

CONTINUAL READING OF SCRIPTURE Numbers 22:1-21

Numbers 22:1–21 ESV

1 Then the people of Israel set out and camped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho. 2 And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. 3 And Moab was in great dread of the people, because they were many. Moab was overcome with fear of the people of Israel. 4 And Moab said to the elders of Midian, “This horde will now lick up all that is around us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field.” So Balak the son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time, 5 sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor at Pethor, which is near the River in the land of the people of Amaw, to call him, saying, “Behold, a people has come out of Egypt. They cover the face of the earth, and they are dwelling opposite me. 6 Come now, curse this people for me, since they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them from the land, for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.” 7 So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the fees for divination in their hand. And they came to Balaam and gave him Balak’s message. 8 And he said to them, “Lodge here tonight, and I will bring back word to you, as the Lord speaks to me.” So the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam. 9 And God came to Balaam and said, “Who are these men with you?” 10 And Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, saying, 11 ‘Behold, a people has come out of Egypt, and it covers the face of the earth. Now come, curse them for me. Perhaps I shall be able to fight against them and drive them out.’ ” 12 God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.” 13 So Balaam rose in the morning and said to the princes of Balak, “Go to your own land, for the Lord has refused to let me go with you.” 14 So the princes of Moab rose and went to Balak and said, “Balaam refuses to come with us.” 15 Once again Balak sent princes, more in number and more honorable than these. 16 And they came to Balaam and said to him, “Thus says Balak the son of Zippor: ‘Let nothing hinder you from coming to me, 17 for I will surely do you great honor, and whatever you say to me I will do. Come, curse this people for me.’ ” 18 But Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, “Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the command of the Lord my God to do less or more. 19 So you, too, please stay here tonight, that I may know what more the Lord will say to me.” 20 And God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “If the men have come to call you, rise, go with them; but only do what I tell you.” 21 So Balaam rose in the morning and saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab.

THE OFFERING OF TITHES AND OUR GIFTS

CONGREGATIONAL PRAYERS

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

†PSALM OF PREPARATION #93

“The Lord Reigns Over All”

SERMON Hebrews 7:1-10 // Consider Melchizedek

PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION

Almighty God, and most merciful Father, we humbly submit ourselves, and fall down before your Majesty, asking you from the bottom of our hearts, that this seed of your Word now sown among us, may take such deep root, that neither the burning heat of persecution cause it to wither, nor the thorny cares of this life choke it. But that, as seed sown in good ground, it may bring forth thirty, sixty, or a hundredfold, as your heavenly wisdom has appointed. Amen.

— Middelburg Liturgy

(I’m going to start at Heb 6:19)

TEXT HEBREWS 6:19-7:10

Hebrews 6:19–7:10 ESV

19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. 1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. 3 He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever. 4 See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils! 5 And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, though these also are descended from Abraham. 6 But this man who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7 It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior. 8 In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one of whom it is testified that he lives. 9 One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, 10 for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.

AFTER SCRIPTURE

As for God, His way is perfect, the word of the Lord is flawless.

Introduction

There are many names in the Bible that have echoed through the centuries and made their way into our homes and families. Even in our congregation, we have several Johns, Marys, Andrew, and Sarah, Hannah, Paul, etc.

And there are names like Abraham, Moses, and David—names which are milestones in the story of redemption. Names that help us understand God's work across time, and more importantly, they each tell us something about Jesus — about how He is greater than each of them and their offices. He is the greater Prophet, the greater Priest, and the greater King.

But there is one name that hasn’t passed into baby name popularity: Melchizedek. And yet the writer of Hebrews says this is a name we ought to know. It’s a name that tells us a great deal about who Jesus is.

He shows up once, says nothing, and then disappears—but helps us understand Jesus more clearly. This mysterious name from Genesis holds a key to seeing Christ as our superior, eternal priest and king.

Today, we’ll take note of three characters from this text.

First, we’ll meet Melchizedek, the mysterious priest-king.

Second, we’ll see Abraham honor him.

And third, we’ll behold Jesus, the eternal priest-king in his order.

And through these, we’ll see why Jesus commands our trust, our surrender, and our hope.

1. Consider Melchizedek: King and Priest

Who is Melchizedek? Scripture offers only two Old Testament glimpses: Genesis 14 and Psalm 110. Yet, these brief mentions paint an important picture.

In Genesis 14, Abraham—then Abram—lives near Sodom and Gomorrah. Four eastern kings invade, plundering the neighboring cities and capturing Abraham’s nephew, Lot. Abraham rallies 318 men and pursues these kings in a daring nighttime chase, recovering the spoils and freeing Lot.

As he returns, laden with treasures, he meets Melchizedek, priest of God Most High and king of Salem.

Melchizedek brings bread and wine, blesses Abraham, and receives a tithe from Abraham of all the spoils.

His name means “king of righteousness,” and as king of Salem—likely Jerusalem—he’s the “king of peace” (shalom — well being). He’s both king and priest, a rare combination. Unlike Genesis’ detailed genealogies, Melchizedek has no recorded parents or lifespan. He appears, blesses, and vanishes.

And we don’t see his name again until David takes it up in Psalm 110, a Messianic psalm that is the most cited OT text in all of the NT, declaring that the Messiah will be a “priest forever after the order of Melchizedek” (Ps. 110:4). This priest-king foreshadows Christ.

So consider Melchizedek: a king of righteousness and peace, a priest who blesses the father of our faith, setting the stage for something greater.

2. Consider Abraham: The Patriarch Pays Tribute

The writer of Hebrews then directs us to Abraham himself.

This is one of those common and important names, one that we remember —He is the father of the faithful, the one through whom the entire Jewish worldview is anchored. But here, something remarkable is seen to be happening:

Abraham bows to Melchizedek. He gives a tithe to Him. He is blessed by Him. Abraham acknowledges the one greater than himself.

After Abraham catches up to the fleeing kings and defeats them, He recovers all the spoils and treasures and people that they had taken. And as the redeemer, he is entitled to keep what he recovered. But Abraham does two things with the riches.

First, when Melchizedek comes out to bless him and brings out the bread and the wine, Abraham gives him a tenth of everything. He tithes.

And when the king of Sodom tells Abraham that he only has to give Sodom’s people back but can keep their goods for himself, Abraham says “I have lifted my hand to the Lord, God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth, that I would not take a thread or a sandal strap or anything that is yours lets you should say, ‘I have made Abraham rich’” (Gen. 14:22-23).

Hebrews emphasizes: “See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth!” (Heb. 7:4). The inferior is blessed by the superior (Heb. 7:7).

There are kings that Abraham wanted nothing to do with. And then there was Melchizedek, the king of righteousness and peace, who was worthy of a tithe. A king over the kings, it seems.

And the author presses further: the Levites, who would later receive the tithes of Israel, were not yet born but still "in Abraham's loins" when he tithed to Melchizedek.

In other words, because they were his descendants, it’s as though they were with him that day, paying tribute through him. Which is to say, the entire levitical priesthood bowed down and submitted and was blessed by Melchizedek.

This isn’t a footnote. It’s a thunderclap. If Melchizedek is greater than Abraham, and Jesus is a priest in his order, then Jesus is greater than the temple, the sacrifices, and the entire religious system the Hebrews were tempted to return to.

Everything they held sacred was pointing forward to Jesus. And they must move on to trust in Him alone, never to go back.

3. Now, Consider Jesus: The Superior Priest and King

Jesus is the High Priest forever after the order of Melchizedek (Heb. 6:20).

It’s not saying that Jesus is Melchizedek, but it is expounding on a type. Just as this priest was clearly Abraham’s superior. As he was priest of God most High, king of righteousness, and the ruler of peace, so Jesus should be seen as clearly superior to us.

He truly is the King of Righteousness and the King of Peace. He it is who truly gives a blessing—the the bread and wine of His life.

Righteousness cannot be bought or earned. It wasn’t found in all of the treasures of Sodom or in allegiance to Abraham. Once we see Christ, we must see that there is no other possibility of righteousness before God but through His Son.

Being an upstanding person won’t make you righteous, nor holding the right opinions, nor building a successful business, nor having well-mannered children and having built up a peaceful home.

Righteousness, holiness, wholeness, right-ness, is only something that can be gifted to us by the King of Righteousness. And Jesus is that gift. There is only one way to it and that way is a gift that stands before you, dripping in blood and cloaked in robes of humility. “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,” (1 Peter 3:18, ESV)

We may speak of righteousness at times and have it feel like an abstraction, as we are not well acquainted with it. But we are well acquainted with unrighteousness.

We know all too well the weight of sin, the sting of betrayal, the shadow of fear, the hurt that comes from others, the pain of loss. And we’ve all been troubled and terrified as we try to peel off the sin that clings so close to our own soiled hearts and thoughts and actions.

Unrighteousness we know well.

But righteousness comes from Jesus.

Not because I say it does, and not because the bible is simply making metaphors between names, but because Jesus died on the cross, was buried, and rose again!

“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21, ESV)

As High Priest, He has walked in your shoes. He has lived the week that you just had with all of its difficulties and temptations, and he has come through it all perfectly obedient and holy. And he laid down that perfection as a payment on your behalf.

He does not give us the idea of righteousness or an example of righteousness — you do not need an idea or an example of it — you need an actual righteousness. And that was paid for by the blood of Christ. Your sins and Adam’s curse taken and buried and put away by Jesus, the strong man, the one who upholds the universe by the word of His power.

There, and only there, do we have real peace.

A peace that isn’t secured by your own striving.

A peace that isn’t wishful thinking.

A peace that is eternal and will be with you all the days of your life.

A peace that is settled, seated at the right hand of the Father.

A peace that is near to you — Jesus the High Priest is acquainted with your sorrows and is sympathetic.

A peace that is unwavering — anchored behind the veil.

This is the heartbeat of our hope:

Jesus is qualified to save.

Jesus is eternal in his role.

Jesus is superior to every other source of hope.

Application 1: Don’t Go Back

The message to the Hebrews is clear: Don’t go back.

In fact, you can’t go back. There is nothing to go back to. There is no hope for you back there at the temple. Once you see Christ, you must respond to Him. There are no varying degrees of salvation. There is Christ or chaos. There is Christ or damnation. There is righteousness and peace or there is your own strength and your own works, which do nothing but condemn you.

And the message to us is the same.

We may not be tempted to return to temple sacrifices, but we do return to lesser hopes: the safety of wealth, the illusion of control, the security of relationships, the comfort of our achievements. But none of these can hold us.

And like Abraham, when you see the True Priest for who He is, you lay all of your treasure at His feet.

Your heart should break seeing the love of God poured out for you in such a way and with such an ultimate and remarkable hope. But you must have a heart to break. And many of the Hebrews didn’t — their hearts had grown hard and they couldn’t hear this teaching.

And just as Abraham gave his tithe to Melchizedek, we are called to respond in tribute to Christ.

Abraham could have given a tenth and then taken the rest of Sodom’s treasure, but He wanted none of it. He realized that all was the Lord’s and gave freely.

In other words, there are real stakes in following Christ. There are real idols that must now go.

Take the tithe specifically, as an example. There is no change to the call for us to give a tithe — to give a tenth. It’s not a declaration that 10 % belongs to God and 90 % belongs to us. It’s a declaration that 100 % belongs to God. It’s an act of acknowledgement that everything we have is grace from Him.

And we can feign obedience and worship and devotion, but when it comes to our money things get real very quick.

When our idols, our real idols, are threatened, then we see where it is that our hopes really lie. Maybe we are holding back a little bit so that we, too, can trade with Sodom and be rich like and secure like them. But here, in this world, moth and rust destroy our treasures and idols. They are fleeting things and worthless hopes. They also become our damnation — fire melted all the treasure that Sodom kept.

Giving over ourselves, not just our tithe, not just a small fraction of ourselves, but the whole of ourselves, we find where the real blessing is. The real wealth was not in the storehouses of kings, plundered by manipulation, blood, and pride, greed, ambition, or fear. Real hope, real vitality for living, is not in any created thing but in the blessing of the Creator.

When God blesses a man, a man can truly live.

Idols are like swimming in the ocean with an oxygen tank. It’s an artificial life support. It’s a fake and limited promise of relief. But in Christ, the True King of Righteousness sets you free.

In Christ, idols of the world are dethroned but the world is not destroyed. Only in Christ can the things of earth be properly enjoyed. They stop becoming our lifeline of hope and become graces and blessings from an even more glorious High Priest.

Abraham gave up the treasure of 5 kings, but gained the inheritance of the king of kings. He gained the world.

Application 2: Anchor Your Hope

If we are to circle back to the start of the writer’s comments on Melchizedek, we are to remember that this is all to be a reminder of our steadfast hope.

I want to take a second to acknowledge how the bible is using that word, hope.

Hope is not wishful thinking. Biblical hope is confidence with its eyes wide open. It’s the assurance of things hoped for, not a “safe-bet”, like “I put my trust and hope in Christ and we will see if it works out. We’ll see if that bet pays off.”

To hope in Christ is not to cross your fingers. It is to be anchored in a priest who will never die, never leave, and who will never falter. It’s to rest assured now of something that is not yet.

It is to live now like you are righteous and forgiven — to live now under the reign of the Prince of Peace. Our cultural vernacular may mean something different when they use the word hope. They may hope that it doesn’t rain. But we say, “I know that my Redeemer lives.”

So:

When you are weighed down by guilt, remember his righteousness.

When you are anxious, remember his peace.

When you are weary, remember his constancy.

When you're tempted to turn back, cosider Melchizedek and remember Jesus’ superiority.

Conclusion: Give All, Trust Fully

Hebrews lifts our eyes. It places before us a priest who cannot be outdone, a king who cannot be unseated, a hope that cannot be shaken.

So here is the charge:

Do you see his superiority? Do you see his power to make you righteous? His authority to bring you peace?

Will you give him your whole life? Not just 10%, not just Sunday mornings, not just your "Christian side." Everything. Every dollar spent, every word spoken to your spouse, every private thought you nurture—it all comes under his reign.

Will you place your hope in him alone—confidently? Not vaguely. Not casually. Not "we'll see how it goes." But with boldness, with faith, with surrender.

Melchizedek may be an obscure name. But the One he points to is not. Jesus, our Great High Priest, is worthy of your trust, your worship, and your all.

"He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him." (Hebrews 7:25)

Let us draw near. Let us press on. Let us give him everything.

Amen.

†HYMN OF RESPONSE #234

“The God of Abraham Praise”

THE MINISTRY OF THE LORD’S SUPPER

Minister: Lift up your hearts!

Congregation: We lift them up to the Lord.

Minister: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

Congregation: It is right for us to give thanks and praise!

CONFESSION OF FAITH

Nicene Creed p. 852

Congregation is seated.

INVITATION TO THE LORD’S TABLE

As Abraham was coming back from the battle, carrying with Him the loot and treasure of five different kingdoms, He saw that there was more to be gained in the blessing of the priest of God most High who brought him bread and wine than to cling to man’s trinkets. The sum of wealth that he held in his hands promised security and comfort and power, but He gives it all away and instead eagerly clings to the nourishment that God supplies.

Shortly thereafter, the treasures that went back to Sodom were destroyed by fire, while Abraham is blessed to a thousand generations.

What looked like a small meal and a few words of promise proved to be a far greater treasure than anything the nations possessed.

In the same way, the Great High Priest offers us a meal and a blessing.

The substance of that meal is the body and blood of Christ, the bread and the wine. The remission of sins from the King of Righteousness and the security of the King of Peace.

We may think that Abraham gave more to the priest than the priest gave to Abraham, but it is not so. The blessings of this meal are all the blessings of being “In Christ”. As a farmer cannot out-give his field, so too can we never out give what blessings Christ is bringing to us.

Like Abraham, we, too, come, leaving behind the treasures of this world to be far out-blessed by God through His Son.

So come, and welcome to Jesus Christ.

DISTRIBUTION OF THE ELEMENTS

//once all elements are received//

The Lord has prepared this table for all who love him and trust in him alone for their salvation. It is for those who belong to Christ through repentance, faith, baptism, and continuing union with his Church.

“O taste and see that the LORD is good; happy are those who take refuge in him.”

[motion to partake]

For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” This cup is the new covenant in the blood of Christ, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. Drink of it, all who believe.

PRAYER

†OUR RESPONSE #572

“Gloria Patri”

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end. Amen, amen.

†BENEDICTION: GOD’S BLESSING FOR HIS PEOPLE

The Lord of peace Himself gives you peace; at all times and in every way. The Lord be with you all.

Grace Notes Reflection

Hebrews 7:1-10 reveals Jesus’ superiority over the entire Levitical priesthood.

​By comparing Jesus to the mysterious figure of Melchizedek from Genesis 14, the text makes a simple yet profound point: Just as Abraham, the patriarch, bowed to Melchizedek and was blessed by him, so too must we recognize Jesus’ superiority and seek His blessing. For the Hebrews, this taught that their entire worldview and heritage submit to an even greater priest. Psalm 110 had set the expectation for generations that the true Messiah would be a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek. Jesus is that ultimate priest. Like Melchizedek, He is the King of Righteousness and the King of Peace. These are not mere titles or exaggerated attributes; He is the King of Righteousness and King of Peace by the nature of His life, death, and resurrection. Jesus is not the shadow; He is the substance. Like Abraham when he encountered Melchizedek, we should experience a snapping of the cords that bind us to earthly things. When Abraham met Melchizedek, returning from battle with the four kings of the east, he was carrying great wealth. Upon meeting the priest of God Most High, he gave him a tenth of everything and received bread, wine, and a blessing from the mysterious priest. Similarly, all the security blankets we cling to for an unstable future, all the structures we build from wealth or relationships, and all the pleasures we seek to slake the thirst of our souls snap when we behold the true Lord of Righteousness and Lord of Peace. Entering His realm, receiving the security of His protection, feasting at His table, and resting in His righteousness is like discovering a treasure for which we would sell everything to possess. This is a moment to examine our own idols—those crutches we lean on for added security. Abraham gave a tenth of all he possessed. For many Christians, the tithe becomes a motive for Bible study: “Where can I find a loophole to avoid this?” Yet the tithe is a marvelous testimony to the all-consuming nature of God’s supremacy in our lives. It’s not that God needs ten percent or that ten percent appeases Him while we cling to the remaining ninety, but that all we have is representatively His as we give a tenth. And, like Abraham, the blessing we receive in return far surpasses the fleeting support of earthly wealth. Like a farmer who cannot outgive his field, so it is for those who give everything to gain Christ. Perhaps the young man who gave his loaves and fish when Jesus came to town was not thrilled to part with his lunch, but he watched the Lord transform it into a feast. Recognizing Christ’s superiority frees us from clinging to earthly things, and then He returns them to us abundantly, no longer as life-draining, soul-damning idols. As Bunyan’s tune in Pilgrim’s Progress declares, “There was a man, some thought him mad; the more he gave, the more he had.”