Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

So far, we have studied several names of God.

They are:

Elohim - A God of Covenant

El - A God of Great Power

El Shaddai - A God Might in Pouring Out His Blessings and His Judgment

The next name for our consideration is the name “El Elyon.”

Let’s begin with this text.

Look in your Bible at Genesis 14.

Note especially verse 18 which connect Melchizedek as “the priest of the most high God.”

Here we find God’s name as “El Elyon” or the Most High God.

It was at this meeting with Melchizedek that Abram learned this wonderful name of God.

In response to learning this name, Abram proclaims in verse 22.

As we study this name, we are going to learn something special.

In fact, the book of Hebrews is going to teach us much about the “El Elyon” the most high.

If you do a comprehensive study of Hebrews, you will a very fascinating and wonderful book of the New Testament.

In Hebrews, we find out more about Melchizedek, the king of Salem.

I will come back to these verses in a bit.

However, for now, I just want to note that Christ is associated with this great king of Salem who was also a “priest of El Elyon (the most High God).”

The Meaning of His Name, El Elyon!

The name “El Elyon” uses the name “El” in much the same it was in “El Shaddai.”

If you recall,

“El” means “might or power.”

Thus, God is mighty or powerful.

Looking back our text in Genesis we find that this name is describes God as the “possessor of Heaven and earth.”

The word “Elyon” means “most high.”

However, as with most words, it is used in a more common way for many different things and persons.

Whenever it is used, it indicates that person or things as being the highest of a series or order.

Let me give you a few examples.

You might recall the story of Joseph and how interpreted the dreams for Pharaoh's butler and baker in prison.

The baker dreamed that he had three white baskets stacked on his head full of things he made for Pharoah.

In the “uppermost (elyon) basket” there were many different baked items.

Unfortunately, the birds had an amazing feast as they ate everything out of the “uppermost (elyon)” basket.

This was the basket that was the highest in a series of baskets.

Ultimately, Joseph revealed that this dream meant that the baker would die at the hands of the Pharoah.

Here is another example of this word’s common use.

God’s promise to Israel was they would be a nation that was “high (elyon) above all nations.”

They would be esteemed high above every other nation.

There are many other instances in Scripture, but I believe you understand its use.

Its application to God then reveals that He is the “Highest.”

Everyone else is below Him.

As the Highest, God has the power to rule and He does as He so desires.

A fact that Nebuchadnezzar, the great king of Babylon, learned quite well.

The fact that God is the Highest of all leads us to this thought.

HE is The HIGHEST of All Beings!

There are two types of created beings that, for lack of a better term, are endowed with natures similar to Gods.

The first type of being created by God with natures similar to His are angels.

They are personal beings with personality, self-awareness, self-determination, moral awareness, and intelligence.

Scripture even calls them “sons of God.”

The second type of being is us.

We, as men and women, are created in the image of God.

However, both created beings ended up fallen.

Not all angels are fallen, yet are large number followed Satan’s revolt against God.

We, as men, are fallen.

Here is the point.

Even though we are created in God’s image, we fall quite short of God’s glory.

He is the Highest in ever aspect we could possibly imagine.

We see this so vividly in Genesis and the story of Melchizedek who was the king of Salem and the priest of the Most High.

You must understand that Melchizedek was one of the many kings in Canaan.

In other words, he was a Gentile king.

Now, as we know, at the time of Melchizedek, there was not Jewish nation.

Abram was in the process of becoming that nation as God promised.

However, my point is this.

Melchizedek does not speak of God here as “Elohim”, nor does he know God as “YHWH” or even as “El Shaddai.”

If you recall, “Elohim” indicates God’s covenant relationships, “YHWH”, as we will learn, shows Him as the righteous Lord suffering for His fallen creatures, and “El Shaddai” emphasizes a might God who pours out His bounty upon His people.

All these names were reserved for God’s people.

Melchizedek, as a Gentile king, knew God as “Elyon,” the “Most High.”

Why that name?

It is this name which connect God’s with all kings, kingdoms, and dominions and not just with Abraham and his seed.

However, there is deeper connection here as well.

HE is the HIGH PRIEST of All Who Believe!

God’s relationship with all men is seen in a more promising way than just One Who is far higher than all others.

This is the picture that we find in Hebrews.

Go back with me to our passage in Hebrews 5.

We find a little more information about Melchisedec in chapter 7.

We see here in these verses a clear connection between Christ and Melchisedek.

Both are recognized as priests.

Christ is “called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.”

Melchisedek is “made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.”

There are several significant facts about Melchisedec that are important to understand.

He was the King of Salem and, as such, we know...

His name means king of righteousness.

He realm over which he ruled was “Salem” or “Jerusalem.”

Earthly Jerusalem is a type of the coming, heavenly Jerusalem.

He was a priest of the MOST HIGH God (El Elyon).

He was paid tithes by Abraham who was the first man to whom God gave His great promise.

He was an eternal priest just as the Son of God.

He had no genealogy.

Melchisedec is quite the anomaly.

One noted Bible commentary described him this way.

“In the old Genesis story Melchisedec is a strange and almost eerie figure.

He arrives out of the blue; there is nothing about his life, his birth, his death or his descent.

He simply arrives.

He gives Abraham bread and wine, which to us, reading the passage in the light of what we know, sounds so sacramental.

He blesses Abraham.

And then he vanishes from the stage of history with the same unexplained suddenness as he arrived upon it.

There is little wonder that in the mystery of this story the writer to the Hebrews found a type and forecast and symbol of Christ” (The Letter to the Hebrews, p. 75).

In fact, if you continue reading Hebrews 7, the Holy Spirit goes to show how that Melchisedec was a superior priest than other priest.

All which is evidenced by Abraham’s actions.

Abraham paid him tithes.