Genesis 14:

18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was the priest of  God Most High,

19 and he blessed Abram…

Events, many, have taken place since our the episode.

Lot, the nephew of Abram, and his herdsmen have separated from Abram and now domiciled in Sodom.

A war involving nine kings, five against four, has taken place and Lot taken captive.

Abram is drawn into the chaos to rescue his blood. He, with his well trained three hundred and eighteen soldiers, has defeated the kings and rescued victorious. The enemy-defeated king of Sodom comes out to welcome him and to offer a deal with him. Abram has refused

Now, here comes the king of Salem, which means king of righteousness.  He is the priest of God Most High. What really gets me in this setting is that the kingly-priest is a Canaanite! Canaan descendant whose forefather was caused by Noah, “Cursed be Canaan” (Genesis 9:25). Here, this mysterious parsonage is not known as a Canaanite but as a kingly-priest of God Most High! He combined the office of king with that of a priest. Before Christ, the nearest to that awe-inspiring place was Moses. Moses wasn’t anywhere near this position; only Melchizedek was! Though, one would expect this honour to belong to Shem or Japheth descendants or Abram of Shem or his descendants. But this that stares us in face is this

Kingly-priests can emerge from anywhere, from any race, even those who bear the unique ancestral curses. How did Melchizedek attain that most glorious position? Faith in God and not in ancestral curse. As I write this, I’m catching my breath. I dare say my faith is in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ and not in my earthly hunan ancestry! The type of priest caught in the vision of God from all eternity is the Melchizedek’s and is described in the utterances of a prophet-psalmist as priest of the order of Melchizedek.  The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: “You are a priest for ever in the order of Melchizedek” (Psalm 110:4). This is in reference to the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ is a priest of the order of Melchizedek! Not even the later-day Moses or Aaron was so designated. Moses and Aaron were descendants of Shem while Melchizedek was from Ham. The implication is so clear: oneness with God is not a function of race, birth, genealogy but of the heart. If an Islam person surrenders his heart to the Lord Jesus Christ and, by faith, begins to trust and serve him, he’s part of this eternal plan of God. If a christian denomination member turns to the Lord Jesus, he’s of the Lord. The pentecostalist is so sure that the Roman Catholic will not see God’s face; the evangelical is double sure that the African spun church members are in absolute darkness. Much ado about nothing! Now this I say that every one of you saith, I am of Paul, and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ (1 Corinthians 1:12). Faith in Christ is all! For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and confession is made unto salvation… For there no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:12-13).

The Melchizedek priestly order is not based on the basis of regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of indestructible life (Hebrews 7:16). But then what’s it to be a priest? It means representing humanity to God. It means a life of service to God, walking in His way and pleasing Him above all considerations. Priesthood is to have assumed and entered into the character of God, to have put on Christ Who was prophecied in the ancient time as the One coming into the order of the Melchizedek priesthood. It’s part of the priestly functions to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God, by Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:5). This Christ’s priesthood which is melchisedekic is what is gleefully declared to have been the lot of the believers in the Lord Jesus in the Book of Revelation: and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father – to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen (1:6). Yes, the believers in Christ have been made to serve both as kings and priests before the Father of Christ. Here’s the new pattern whereby these kingly-priests offer sacrifice to God. They offer their bodies as living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God and this act is defined as worship; it’s an act that ensures the priest is not conformed any longer to the pattern of this world but is transformed by the renewing of mind (Romans 12:1-2). This sacrifice can take the form of giving towards the expansion of the work of God. … having received of Epaphroditus things which were sent from you, an odour of sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God. Praising God is well defined as part of the priestly sacrifice functions. By him (Christ) therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name (Hebrews 13:15). The believers, these priests of the order of Melchizedek in Christ Jesus, constitute a living stones of spiritual house, says Peter, raised up to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God (1 Peter 1:5).

Father, this an awesome privilege, raising us up as kings and priests unto Your Father. As we continue in You, we pray that we will effectively serve and function in this call to the praises and glory of Your name, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thank You Lord for this