“Many Things to Say” – The Priesthood of Melchizedek
October 23, 2007
Dear Friends,
One of the most enigmatic figures in the Bible is the king/priest Melchizedek. This mysterious figure appears very briefly in Genesis 14 where he both blesses and receives tithes from the patriarch Abraham. There is brief mention of Melchizedek again in the Psalms, but it is not until we reach the book of Hebrews that the import of this character is acknowledged. He is a foreshadowing of the king/priesthood of Jesus Christ and the head of a priesthood that would take its name from him just as the Levitical priesthood took it name from Levi. In Hebrews, we are told of the defining characteristics of this priesthood. They are as follows:
- “Without father and mother” – Meaning he does not come from a priestly lineage.
- king/priest – Meaning he has both kingly and priestly characteristics.
- Never-ending – His priesthood has no defined beginning or end.
- Greatness – He is man to whom great people (like Abraham) will cede their own authority.
The writer to the Hebrews gives us tantalizing comments about Melchizedek when he says “Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchizedek. Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.” What exactly were the “many things” that the writer had to say? We can only speculate. However, it does tell us that there are other details that are worthy of uncovering as regards the great typical priest and priesthood.
I would suggest that one of the “many things” is the other priests in that line. Other than Jesus and Melchizedek, I would suggest the following men as candidates for the priesthood of Melchizedek: Job, Jethro and Solomon. Let’s take a look at each.
In the book of Job, we are introduced immediately to the facts that lead us toward Job’s Melchizedekian credentials. He “was the greatest of all the men of the east” (1:3) and “rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings” (1:5) on behalf of his children. Of course, the book ends with his offering and interceding for his three friends (42:8) in another priestly act.
While each person presented in the book comes with a pedigree (Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, etc.), Job appears as simply Job with no lineage given. This seems a striking contrast that is not easily overlooked. Also, an alternate interpretation for the meaning of Job’s name is “where is my father?’ or “without father.”
Job does not appear to be a descendent of Abraham. He lives in gentile city. If we understand that Job lived during the events of the exodus, we see that he was not with the children of Israel. This being the case, he could not be a descendent of Levi. His priesthood would have to be without beginning or end.
Finally, the one piece of the puzzle that seems to be missing is Job’s kingship. Perhaps that is alluded to as well. In Job 29:7-10, Job says:
When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street! The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, and stood up. The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth. The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.
Although this evidence is not conclusive, what other man causes the elders to stand, the princes to stop talking and the nobles to hold their peace other than a king? Also, if he was the greatest man in the east, the “east” would surely include some kings. Could a non-king be said to be greater than a king?
Job fits incredibly well with the criteria for the office of a Melchizedekian priest. The amount of details seems to point very concretely in the affirmative that he was a priest in the order.
Lord willing, we will take a look at the other candidates next week.
Have a great week,
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