July 8, 2008

• Hebrews 7 by Pastor Don

  Guess what, we have moved from Chapter 6 to Chapter 7!!!!!!! This was a Friday, May 30 Bible study, so I am catching up!!! Is it hot by you? It sure is hot here.

   Hebrews 7:1-3 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated “king of righteousness,” and then also king of Salem, meaning “king of peace,” without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually.

  Pastor Don told us that there are organizations who are offering diplomas for being a Priest in the order of Melchizedek, but that is something that is impossible to offer, because no one on earth can meet the conditions laid out in the above three verses.  They cannot be a priest continually, and we all have a father and a mother, but Melchizedek was without father, without mother, without genealogy. Having neither beginning of days (we all were born), and end of life (we all will die). People in many cults have tried to change the scriptures, and they try to convince us that Christ is just a prophet, or not really God and human simultaneously. The Jehovah Witnesses try to tell us that Jesus is just an archangel. But they are not reading the Bible as it is written.

  We then went to look at where Melchizedek was first mentioned in the Bible.

  Genesis 14:18  Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High.

  Abram took several of his servants and rescued Lot after an attack on Sodom and Gomorrah by attacking kings. Abram was able to bring back Lot and his family, and all the others who were captured, as well as all the loot. After Abram and his family, including Lot had come to the land where God showed him, the families began to grow, and after a time there were conflicts between Lot’s servants and Abram’s servants. Abram offered Lot the opportunity to select where he would settle and Abram would go elsewhere. Lot chose an easy course near Sodom and Gomorrah. But that was to Lot’s detriment. When we get too attached to this world, and are in close proximity to the culture and elements of that society, you can be destroyed by that. So Lot and his family were captured. Abram came to the rescue.

  We then looked at a few earlier verses to get a better picture.  Genesis 14:8-13 And the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) went out and joined together in battle in the Valley of Siddim against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of nations, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar—four kings against five. Now the Valley of Siddim was full of asphalt pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled; some fell there, and the remainder fled to the mountains. Then they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their provisions, and went their way. They also took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed. Then one who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew, for he dwelt by the terebinth trees of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and brother of Aner; and they were allies with Abram.

  Pastor Don told us that in those days a king was a person who was wealthy, and was an overseer of land. There was no established government, just money and power established who was a king. Those who needed to raise money for themselves and their families would swear allegiance to a king, and serve him. This was close to a feudal type of kingship with each king having about 50 – 100 people under them. Some of the men fighting might be professional warriors, but many were just the “serfs” on the land. In those days, most kings had about 50 warriors. And also in those days, if a man saw a wife he liked, he would just take her, sort of like property. Women were not protected until Judaism came into being. In this passage we see a group of kings who agreed to get together. 

  Abram was responsible for Lot, for he was the elder brother.

  Genesis 14:14  Now when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his three hundred and eighteen trained servants who were born in his own house, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. (Heather’s note, I have it noted that the distance marched by these people was 120 miles)

  Abram would go to battle with 318 trained servants. Pastor Don reminded us that in those days, a servant would serve a set number of days and then his period of service would be over and he and his wife and children could leave.  If a servant married while under the service of the master, the wife would not be free to go. Slavery in this time was far different from what was called slavery that we had in our country. Often, the servant was so well treated by the master, like one of the family, that he willingly chose to remain with the master for life, and the master would take care of the servant and his family. The slavery that the United States had would have been considered barbarian by those in Abram’s day.

  In the Bible, there was the year of Jubilee, where every 50th year all were set free. Also, a slave could purchase his freedom. Remember the story of Ruth with the kinsman redeemer, your family could purchase your freedom.

  When Abram was barren, he despaired to God that Eleazer would inherit the goods – Eleazer was a slave in Abram’s house, but more like a member of the family. When the slave chose to remain with his master, the master would take an awl and punch a hole in the slave’s ear as a sign that he chose to remain with his master. In those days, to have a number of servants who chose to remain spoke well of the master.

  We are now reintroducing men wearing jewelry – which was in that day a symbol of being a slave, and satan has turned it into a fashion statement.

  When the Romans invaded, they permitted people to hold onto their cultures. For the Jews, if they loaned money to another Jew they were not permitted to add interest. They could charge interest to a Gentile, but anything more than 3% was considered usuary. Our US economy by those standards is way beyond usuary, and we will be paying for such greed in our economy.

  Anyway, Lot was a blood relative, and Abram had a responsibility to recover Lot’s slaves, wives, goods, and family, for Lot was Abram’s nephew.

  In Genesis they call Lot a brother, but close family members were considered brothers even though technically the relationship was that of uncle and nephew.

  Notice that Abram brought 318 trained servants. They were born in Abram’s house and would fight.

  Genesis 14:15 He divided his forces against them by night, and he and his servants attacked them and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus.

  That was a long way to pursue them.

  Genesis 14:16 So he brought back all the goods, and also brought back his brother Lot and his goods, as well as the women and the people.

  If every grandchild and grandchild and great grandchild considered you an enemy, then people would seek to wipe you out. King David brought Mephibosheth into his house. He was the only one left alive, and all other descendants of King Saul were killed. It was practical wisdom to destroy all of the enemy to protect your household. Pastor Don mentioned that you had to keep your enemy closer than your friends.

  Solomon takes the life of one brother who asked to have one of David’s concubines. He was killed, immediately in the Temple, because of the concubine had had a child, that child would have had a right to Solomon’s throne.

  Notice that all the goods were brought back.

  Genesis 14:17 And the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley), after his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him.

  They are in the King’s valley, and then the important event happens after this.

  Genesis 14:18-19  Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. And he blessed him and said:  “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth;

  This flies in the face of those who try and say that there were no priests until the time of Moses. Enoch was translated, favored by God and He walked with the Lord. Cain and Abel brought sacrifices to God, and God looked at the heart. They ministered unto the Lord.  God had established a law and it was in the hearts of man. That is why God was so upset when he saw in Genesis 6:5 Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

  They did what they wanted, did not minister to the Lord, and bring the offerings to the Lord. The people in Egypt honored God. That is why God could send people into Egypt, because they knew God, they had law and order, and peace. Akhenaton worshiped one God (the sun god), and they Egyptians knew that God created the world.

  Acts 10:34-38  Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all— that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

  God revealed himself to all who chose to see him. Romans 1:20-23 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. 

  When Albert Schweitzer entered Africa, the evil witchdoctors wanted to kill and eat him, but the chief who knew the creator told them not to touch him.

  The demons and satan introduced idol worship,

  All men know God, and if they walk away from Him, there is a part of our brain that seeks after God, and wonders who is my creator? If a person continually seeks for their creator, they will find Him.

  Someone did research with people who spoke in tongues and found that there was a part of their brain that was activated, that isn’t active at any other time.

  Genesis 14:18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High

  This priesthood had no temple, no Mosaic law. Salem is another name for Jerusalem. This Melchizedek was a priest of God Most High BEFORE Moses. We can infer his identity by the gifts he brings – bread and wine. Same as when Jesus gave bread and wine at the Last Supper.

  Genesis 14:19-20 And he blessed him and said:  “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth;  And blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” And he gave him a tithe of all.

  How did he know that the enemies were delivered into Abram’s hands? Abram gives Melchizedek a tithe of all, and Melchizedek was coming in the position of priest.

  Today people want to kill the tithe. There have been studies that show that many people only give 1-2% to the church, some give 3-4% to missions. There is an assumption that giving to the church makes pastors rich, but that is not true. We are giving the tithe to the Lord. Abram gave a tithe OF ALL.

  Genesis 14:21-24 Now the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons, and take the goods for yourself.”  But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand to the LORD, God Most High, the Possessor of heaven and earth,  that I will take nothing, from a thread to a sandal strap, and that I will not take anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich’— except only what the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men who went with me: Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.”

  The King of Sodom wanted souls, and was willing to give goods to Abram.  But, because Abram had met Melchizedek first, he was able to not be pulled into this plan of the king of Sodom.  He promised the King of Salem, Melchizedek, not to take even a sandal strap. He did not want the king of Sodom to claim any part of Abram’s riches as coming from the king of Sodom.

  After Abraham entered into covenant with Melchizedek, then God was able to release the covenant to Abram as detailed in Genesis Chapter 15.

  I will continue this tomorrow, with Genesis Chapter 15.

  I pray you stay cool.

  Heather

  • 8:28 pm
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