Who is Melchizedek!?

Lily Cathcart December 06, 2024 0 0

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Genesis 14: 18–20 (NRSVA)

18 And King Melchizedek of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was priest of God Most High. 19 He blessed him and said,

‘Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
    maker of heaven and earth;

20 

and blessed be God Most High,
    who has delivered your enemies into your hand!’

And Abram gave him one-tenth of everything.

King Melchizedek was a priest and a king. He was a very purple fellow, though whether they had purple dye when he reigned I am not sure. But by the modern interpretation of the colour and by the ancient one he was fully entitled to wear it. Perhaps he wore it as he brought out a simple but meaningful meal.

In this passage from Genesis he is presiding over a meal between people who are most definitely not friends, in fact they have just been fighting in a war. It is not an easy situation but I expect King Melchizedek used both his royal authority and his priestly compassion to see everyone through it safely. Perhaps this action would inspire young Jesus as he grew and studied the Torah, Jesus would read how King Melchizedek makes the table a safe place by his presence and his words. He gives a blessing so that everyone can remain calm and hopefully become a better version of themselves in the process.

As we think about Jesus: a prince, in heaven, and a priest here on earth, we remember the times he blessed those around him and shared a simple meal in troubling times. It is good to look back at those who used their humanity to bring about what pieces of God they could into their lives and the situations they found themselves in. After all, just as Jesus’ actions were foreshadowed by Melchizedek, they are also meant to be inspiring to those of us who read about him now.

Prayer:

Dear God of mediators

Thank you for those people who stay calm

for those who provide a welcome and safety

Please help us to find ways to offer welcome

and to provide safety to those who need it

Amen