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1 Peter 2:
9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation,
His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you
out of darkness into His marvelous light;
10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not
obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
Christian ministry is founded upon the order of Melchizedek.
Much has been said about lineage and succession, as well as covenants associated with the priesthood of Aaron.
Not much has been said about "the order of", which pertains to how the priesthood functioned day to day,
which was established not only in the Law, but also by David at the time he received the vision for the Temple.
This system was still in place at the time of John's birth.
Luke 1:8 So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division.
This continuity was maintained by Ezra/Nehemiah.
Ezra 3:10 When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, the priests stood in their apparel with trumpets,
and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the Lord, according to the ordinance of David king of Israel.
Ezra 6:18 They assigned the priests to their divisions and the Levites to their divisions, over the service of God in Jerusalem,
as it is written in the Book of Moses.
Nehemiah 12:
45 Both the singers and the gatekeepers kept the charge of their God and the charge of the purification,
according to the command of David and Solomon his son. 46 For in the days of David and Asaph of old there were chiefs of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving to God.
The ordinances of David facilitated the transition to the Temple centered worship, along with the foreshadowing
of the church's role of offering "the sacrifice of praise". The order of the priesthood was established by divisions,
or courses, 24 in all. This ordering was centered on Temple worship, where the people were required to make
pilgrimage to where the Lord "placed His Name".
So what do we find in regards to the "order of Melchizedek".
Hebrews 7:1 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.
Melchizedek went out to meet Abram! Until the Lord fulfilled His promises to A, I, and J by taking Israel out of Egypt
and established His covenant with them, there was to our knowledge limited contact between the Lord, and a chosen few.
How do we see this order of Melchizedek, of a priesthood that goes out to meet the people, being played out on earth in Christ?
Matthew 28:
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.
And yet, in the Millennial kingdom, the people of all the nations that remain are required to make a pilgrimage
to Jerusalem annually for the Great feast! Why?
Because when He sent his messengers to them, they did not answer.
What is being overlooked is; why God would send His priest to Abram at this particular time?
Hebrews 7:1 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.
Consider what this blessing would mean for a man who was committed to walking in righteousness before God.
He felt that his hand had been forced by the abduction of Lot, but his heart would surely have been heavy after
having participated in a slaughter. The joy of victory would have been tempered by the burden of shedding blood.
For the priest of the Most High to come to him and bless him, would have given him the peace of mind he needed,
to know that he remained in God's favor.
"the order of" in the Hebrew dibra is also translated estate and cause.
Job 5:8 But as for me, I would seek God,
And to God I would commit my cause—
Ecclesiastes 3:18 I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men,
that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they are beasts.
A man without the spirit of God is merely a beast. Worse, if he receives power from the darkness, he is Satan's beast!
Hebrews 7 informs us that the cause and estate of Melchizedek is expressed through his name.
2 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,
Abram's actions were justified by the blessing of righteousness and peace.
The kingdom of heaven under the New Covenant is righteousness and peace,
along with joy of the Holy Spirit. Romans 14:17
9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation,
His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you
out of darkness into His marvelous light;
10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not
obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
Christian ministry is founded upon the order of Melchizedek.
Much has been said about lineage and succession, as well as covenants associated with the priesthood of Aaron.
Not much has been said about "the order of", which pertains to how the priesthood functioned day to day,
which was established not only in the Law, but also by David at the time he received the vision for the Temple.
This system was still in place at the time of John's birth.
Luke 1:8 So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division.
This continuity was maintained by Ezra/Nehemiah.
Ezra 3:10 When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, the priests stood in their apparel with trumpets,
and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the Lord, according to the ordinance of David king of Israel.
Ezra 6:18 They assigned the priests to their divisions and the Levites to their divisions, over the service of God in Jerusalem,
as it is written in the Book of Moses.
Nehemiah 12:
45 Both the singers and the gatekeepers kept the charge of their God and the charge of the purification,
according to the command of David and Solomon his son. 46 For in the days of David and Asaph of old there were chiefs of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving to God.
The ordinances of David facilitated the transition to the Temple centered worship, along with the foreshadowing
of the church's role of offering "the sacrifice of praise". The order of the priesthood was established by divisions,
or courses, 24 in all. This ordering was centered on Temple worship, where the people were required to make
pilgrimage to where the Lord "placed His Name".
So what do we find in regards to the "order of Melchizedek".
Hebrews 7:1 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.
Melchizedek went out to meet Abram! Until the Lord fulfilled His promises to A, I, and J by taking Israel out of Egypt
and established His covenant with them, there was to our knowledge limited contact between the Lord, and a chosen few.
How do we see this order of Melchizedek, of a priesthood that goes out to meet the people, being played out on earth in Christ?
Matthew 28:
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.
And yet, in the Millennial kingdom, the people of all the nations that remain are required to make a pilgrimage
to Jerusalem annually for the Great feast! Why?
Because when He sent his messengers to them, they did not answer.
What is being overlooked is; why God would send His priest to Abram at this particular time?
Hebrews 7:1 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.
Consider what this blessing would mean for a man who was committed to walking in righteousness before God.
He felt that his hand had been forced by the abduction of Lot, but his heart would surely have been heavy after
having participated in a slaughter. The joy of victory would have been tempered by the burden of shedding blood.
For the priest of the Most High to come to him and bless him, would have given him the peace of mind he needed,
to know that he remained in God's favor.
"the order of" in the Hebrew dibra is also translated estate and cause.
Job 5:8 But as for me, I would seek God,
And to God I would commit my cause—
Ecclesiastes 3:18 I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men,
that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they are beasts.
A man without the spirit of God is merely a beast. Worse, if he receives power from the darkness, he is Satan's beast!
Hebrews 7 informs us that the cause and estate of Melchizedek is expressed through his name.
2 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,
Abram's actions were justified by the blessing of righteousness and peace.
The kingdom of heaven under the New Covenant is righteousness and peace,
along with joy of the Holy Spirit. Romans 14:17