Follow the Lamb
“A King and a Priest”
Genesis 14:14-24
In John 5:39, Jesus told the Jewish religious leaders that the “Scriptures are they which testify of Me!”
- The “scarlet thread” woven throughout the Old Testament is the prophetic trail of the blood of Jesus Christ – the Lamb of God, whose death paid the wages of the sin of the world.
- The “signs of the Savior” are in every book of the Bible – the Old Testament pointing to the promise of His coming – the New Testament pointing to the fact of His coming.
- The Bible says Jesus – the Lamb of God – was slain from the foundation of the world – His death was God’s sovereign plan from the beginning!
- Therefore, Jesus Christ is the ONLY WAY to have our sins forgiven, our relationship with God restored, and our assurance of everlasting life.
Appearing as both King and Priest, Melchizedek – serves as another “type” of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
The Battle of the Kings: (Genesis 14)
- The five Kings of the Plain determined to no longer pay taxes (tribute) to King Chedorlaomer.
- The four Kings of the East declared war on all the nations to their west – destroying cities, killing or taking the people captive as well as their valuables.
- In God’s sovereignty, they also attacked the Kings of the Plain – including the King of Sodom where Lot, Abram’s nephew lived.
- The Kings of the East decimated Sodom, and they took Lot and his family with them as captives.
- A man from Sodom escaped captivity and told Abram that Lot and his family had been taken and were about to be sold as slaves.
- Even though Abram was reluctant at first, he then decided to take his men and try to rescue Lot and his family and to recover some of their property.
- After the rescue was completed, the Kings of the Plain desire to express their appreciation to Abram and his men – namely, the King of Sodom and King
- Abram rejected the expression of thanks from the King of Sodom!
- Abram accepted the expression of thanks to King Melchizedek, and in so doing, he worshipped Him with his tithes.
- That act of worship gives us another glimpse of our Savior, Jesus Christ!
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The King of Sodom – Vs 17 – “And the King of Sodom went out to meet him.”
The “King of Sodom” represents the world, and all its temptations and possessions.
- To show his appreciation for Abram’s bravery in the rescue of his people, the King of Sodom told Abram:
- You “Give me the persons” – their souls – so they could return to the sin pits of Sodom
- You “keep the goods to thyself” – the spoil – which could be easily replaced in Sodom.
- Abram said he had “lifted his hand unto the Lord, the Most High God; possessor of heaven and earth”, (made a vow or a pledge) and he would not take, even a shoelace from the King, lest the King would say that he had made him rich.
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The King of Salem – VS 18 – “And Melchizedek brought forth bread and wine – he was the priest of the Most High God – and he blessed him!”
- “Melchizedek” means – “King of Righteousness!”
- “Salem” means “Jerusalem” – the city of peace!
- Melchizedek was the King and Priest of the Most High God, and He served Abram “bread and wine” – symbolic of the Passover and the broken Body and shed Blood of Jesus Christ – the Lamb of God.
- As a PRIEST, Melchizedek did two important things:
- He blessed Abram with communion and prayer.
- He blessed God in prayer for giving Abram victory over his enemies.
- Abram’s response to the Kings action was:
- To worship Him by giving Him tithes!
The writer of Hebrews used this event in Abram’s life to equate Jesus with Melchizedek – identifying Him as a visible manifestation of the Son of God! (Hebrews 7)
- Melchizedek was:
- The King of righteousness –
- The King of Salem –
- Without father or mother –
- Abram recognized Melchizedek as being the Priest of the Most High God – sent by God to minister to him, and to be worshipped by him.
- By paying “tithes” unto Melchizedek, Abram was placing his trust in God as his Provider, Protector, Deliverer and Defender.
- By paying our “tithes” unto the Lord, we are placing our trust in God to do the same for us.
Jesus made six major changes in the Priesthood!
- Only Jesus can make us perfect and acceptable unto God.
- Only Jesus is qualified to serve as our High Priest.
- Only Jesus can give us the promise of even drawing nearer to God.
- Only Jesus can guarantee that God will keep His covenant with lost man.
- Only Jesus could reduce the number of priests and still have enough for men of every age.
- Only Jesus – as our Perfect High Priest – can bring about our complete and eternal salvation!
- He has perfect power – Matthew 28:18
- He had a perfect life – Hebrews 4:15
- He has made the perfect sacrifice – 1 Peter 1:18
