The Mysterious Melchizedek

The Mysterious Melchizedek

Let’s open our bibles to the book of Genesis 14.  We find ourselves in the midst of war.  In short, there were 4 kingdoms allied together who were ruling over other nations for 12 years.  In the 13^th year, the other nations (5 of them) got fed up, allied together and rebelled.  That’s where we pick up in 

Gen 14:8-13 Then the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) marched out and drew up their battle lines in the Valley of Siddim  9 against Kedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar and Arioch king of Ellasar—four kings against five.  10 Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits, and when the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some of the men fell into them and the rest fled to the hills.  11 The four kings seized all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food; then they went away.  12 They also carried off Abram’s nephew Lot and his possessions, since he was living in Sodom.  13 One who had escaped came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew. Now Abram was living near the great trees of Mamre the Amorite, a brother of Eshcol and Aner, all of whom were allied with Abram.

So, 4 nations, lead by Kedorlaomer (who seems to be the head honcho) had been oppressing 5 nations.  The 5 nations grew tired and rebelled.  They couldn’t hang; they got beat.  Now, 2 of the nations that were a part of the 5 that got beat you will probably recognize: Sodom and Gomorrah.  The reason this story is even significant enough to be recorded in scripture is the fact that a guy named Lot was living in Sodom at the time and he got caught up in the mix.  The reason Lot is important is that he is the nephew of Abram (later known as Abraham).  And trust me, Abraham is important.  The NT mentions Abraham 78 times.  As important as Abraham is, he is not our focus today.  Let’s keep reading.  

Gen 14:14-20  14When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained men born in his household and went in pursuit as far as Dan.  15 During the night Abram divided his men to attack them and he routed them, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus.  16 He recovered all the goods and brought back his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other people.  17 After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley).  

18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, 19 and he blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth.  20 And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

Our focus today is this mysterious Melchizidek.  

Who is this guy and where did he come from?  He comes on the scene, seemingly out of nowhere.  Gen 14:18 is the first mention of this man in Scripture.  Then after v20, he disappears and we don’t hear about him again.  That’s it.

We know that he is:

• The king of Salem
• he met with Abram
• brought out bread and wine
• he was priest of God Most High
• he blessed Abram
• Abram gave him a tenth of his plunder from the war.  

That’s what we know about Melchizedek according to the account in Genesis.  That’s all we know.

Well, based on where we’ve been, you probably know where this is going.  The things recorded in the Bible are not arbitrary, or insignificant; they are not fairy tales or myths.  More specifically, Melchizedek is not arbitrary or insignificant; he is not a fairy tale or a myth.  

The things recorded in the Scriptures carry value and significance and they work together to paint a picture of one grand and glorious central theme: Jesus.  Like the ladder to Heaven in Jacob’s dream, like Jonah in the belly of the great fish, and like Adam, Melchizedek is a type of Christ.  He foreshadows Jesus.  He is symbolic and representative of Jesus in several ways:

• His name is significant
• His genealogy is significant
• His usage of bread & wine is significant
• His office is significant

FIRST OF ALL, HIS NAME IS SIGNIFICANT.  Melchizedek.  Remember, names are significant.  As I’ve told you, names have meaning.  People were named in Scripture very strategically and with purpose.  

• David means beloved
• Adam means man
• Melissa means honey-bee
• Joshua means Jehovah saves

The name Melchizedek means “king of righteousness.”  

The account in Genesis also tells us that he was the king of Salem.  Salem was later known as Jeru-Salem (Jerusalem).  Salem (or shalom) in the Hebrew means peace.  So that could be rendered as “king of peace.”  King of Salem = King of Peace.  

So this Melchizedek character is both the king of righteousness and the king of peace.  

This foreshadows or typifies Christ as the TRUE king of righteousness, the true king of peace.  

Isaiah 9:6-7  For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.  The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

Isaiah was written in the 8^th century BC.  This portion is a prophecy about the coming Christ.  Jesus is said to reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom.  Thus, He is a king.  He and John the Baptist both came on the scene preaching that the kingdom of Heaven is near.  Jesus is the king of that kingdom.  Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end.  So in essence, we could say that Jesus is the king of peace.  He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.  So in essence, we could say that Jesus is the king of righteousness.

Melchizedek is a type of Christ (in that his name is significant).  Christ is the antitype, the fulfillment, the reality, the substance.

Melchizedek means “king of righteousness;” he was the king of Salem or the “king of peace.”  This foreshadowed Jesus, who was the true King of Righteousness, the true King of Peace.

IN ADDITION TO HIS NAME BEING SIGNIFICANT, CONSIDER HIS GENEALOGY.  Genealogies are the really long lists of who was the father of who was the father of who - so and so begat so and so who begat so and so - the family trees.  Those are boring to read.  But they are in there for a reason.  All Scripture is God-inspired and profitable…even the genealogies.  Obviously, Scripture doesn’t record every person who ever lived.  That would be ridiculous.  We would run out of space quick.  Have you ever wondered why the Holy Spirit takes the time and space to record certain genealogies?  Because they are those of important people.  Abram is important.  You can trace Abram’s ancestry through his genealogy in Gen 11.  Jesus is important.  You can trace Jesus’ ancestry through His genealogy in both Matt 1 and Luke 3.  

Important people in Scripture are usually included in a genealogy.

Well, if this Melchizedek character was so important, where is his genealogy?  It’s not there.  He shows up on the scene breaks out the bread and the wine, blesses Abram, Abram tithes to him and he’s gone.  We don’t know where he came from, who his daddy was, who his mother was or if he had any kids.  We don’t know when he was born or when he died.  He has no genealogy.  So as far as the written record is concerned, he is without beginning of days or end of life.

Melchizedek is a type of Christ (as regards his genealogy or lack-thereof).  Christ is the antitype, the fulfillment, the reality, the substance.

Melchizedek really was born.  He really did die.  He really did have a beginning of days and an end of life, but as far as the written record is concerned he had none.  His lack of genealogy foreshadowed Jesus, who really was without beginning of days or end of life.  Though Jesus was born as a human in a manger, he existed before time with the Father.  John 17:5 Though Jesus died on the cross death has no mastery over Him as he was resurrected from the dead and lives eternally.  Rev 1:18 I (Jesus) am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever!  

So Melchizedek was a type of Christ, who truly is without beginning of days or end of life, eternally speaking.

BREAD AND WINE.  Another thing that I see in the text that sort of jumps out at me is the mention of the bread and the wine.  I find it interesting that in the short snippet that we see of the life of Melchizedek, he, like Christ, breaks out the bread and the wine.  I believe that as a type of Christ, Melchizedek brings out the bread and the wine in the presence of Abraham as a foreshadowing of Christ, who did the same at the Passover with what is now referred to as the Lord’s Supper.

When Jesus ate the Passover meal with His disciples he broke bread and said, “this is my body, broken for you.”  He also took the cup of wine and said, “this is my blood poured out for you.”  He said, “Do this in remembrance of me.”  As we consume bread and wine, we are to do that in remembrance of Jesus as the bread and wine are symbolic of Him and the New Covenant in Him.  

Melchizedek is a type of Christ.  Christ is the antitype, the fulfillment, the reality, the substance.

FINALLY, HIS OFFICE IS SIGNIFICANT.  In Genesis, we find that Melchizedek is both king of Salem and priest of God Most High.  He holds the office of both king and priest.  That is not normal.  Typically, kings aren’t priests and priests aren’t kings.  

SCRIPTURE IS VERY SPECIFIC ABOUT THE PRIESTHOOD.  In fact, God ordains a certain family as priests.  He ordains Aaron and his descendants as priests and gave them the priesthood and charge over the altar and the sanctuary.  

Who is Aaron and where did he come from?  We already met Abram earlier.  Abram is also known as Abraham and he had two sons, Ishmael and Isaac.  Isaac had two sons, Jacob and Esau.  Jacob struggled with God, so his name got changed to Israel, which means “he struggles with God.”  With me?  Israel is the grandson of Abraham.  Israel had twelve sons: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, Benjamin, Dan, Naphtali, Gad and Asher.  These twelve sons of Israel are the fathers of the twelve tribes of Israel.  All who trace their ancestry back to Levi belong to the house of Levi or the tribe of Levi.  They are known as Levites.  According to Ex 6, Levi had a son named Kohath.  Kohath had a son named Amram.  Amram married his father’s sister, Jochebed, who bore him Aaron and Moses.  Aaron is the brother of Moses and a descendant of Levi.

It is to this Aaron and his descendents that God gives the priesthood.

God says in Ex 30:30 “Anoint Aaron and his sons and consecrate them so they may serve me as priests.”

God is very specific about the priesthood.  The priesthood belongs to the descendents of Aaron.  

Then in Numbers 3: 1 This is the account of the family of Aaron and Moses at the time the LORD talked with Moses on Mount Sinai. 

 2 The names of the sons of Aaron were Nadab the firstborn and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. 3 Those were the names of Aaron's sons, the anointed priests, who were ordained to serve as priests. 4 Nadab and Abihu, however, fell dead before the LORD when they made an offering with unauthorized fire before him in the Desert of Sinai. They had no sons; so only Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests during the lifetime of their father Aaron. 

 5 The LORD said to Moses, 6 "Bring the tribe of Levi and present them to Aaron the priest to assist him. 7 They are to perform duties for him and for the whole community at the Tent of Meeting by doing the work of the tabernacle. 8 They are to take care of all the furnishings of the Tent of Meeting, fulfilling the obligations of the Israelites by doing the work of the tabernacle. 9 Give the Levites to Aaron and his sons; they are the Israelites who are to be given wholly to him. 10 Appoint Aaron and his sons to serve as priests; anyone else who approaches the sanctuary must be put to death." 

God is serious about those who serve as priests.  He ordained Aaron and his descendants as priests.  Some who made improper offerings fell dead before Him.  Only those who descend from Aaron can serve as priests and anyone else who tries to do so will be put to death.  

That office isn’t just open for anyone.  Again, those who serve as kings are kings; those who serve as priests are priests.  Kings aren’t priests and priests aren’t kings.  But this mysterious Melchizedek, who shows up on the scene to hang out with Abraham, long before the existence of Israel and waaaaaay before he had his great, great, great, great grandson Aaron, who was the beginning of the Levitical priesthood ordained by God - this Melchizedek is BOTH king and priest.  That’s unique.  

IT FORESHADOWS JESUS CHRIST, WHO ALSO UNIQUELY HOLDS BOTH THE OFFICE OF KING AND PRIEST.  I don’t think it’s necessary to go to great lengths to show that Christ holds the office of King.  He is the king of kings.  He is the fulfillment of the Davidic Covenant, where God promised that David’s offspring will succeed him on his throne and that God will establish his throne and his kingdom forever.  Jesus is the king on the throne established forever.  Jesus is king forever.

Psalm 132:11  The LORD swore an oath to David, a sure oath he will not revoke: “One of your own descendants I will place on your throne.

We read earlier from Isaiah 9:7  Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

Finally, Luke 1:30-33 30But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid Mary, you have found favor with God.  31You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.  32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.  The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David 33and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.

Christ is the king on the throne of David ruling and reigning over the kingdom that will never end.  Clearly, Christ is king.  

We said that he uniquely holds the office of BOTH king AND PRIEST.  Sitting on the throne of David makes sense as he is a descendent of David of the tribe of Judah…but what about being a priest?  He didn’t descend from Levi, much less Aaron.  He descended from Judah.  We never saw Jesus act as priest in the gospel.  How can we say that Jesus holds the office of priest?  Look with me at 

Psalm 110:1-4 

1The LORD says to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet." 

2The LORD will extend your mighty scepter from Zion; you will rule in the midst of your enemies. 

3Your troops will be willing on your day of battle. Arrayed in holy majesty, from the womb of the dawn you will receive the dew of your youth.

4The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind: "You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek."

Now, I have reason to believe that this Psalm was written about Jesus Christ.  The first words are “The LORD says to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet."

David writing by the Holy Spirit says, “Jehovah says to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand…’”  Who is it that sits at the right hand of God, if not Jesus Christ?  Paul says in Ephesians 1:15 “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints and His incomparably great power for us who believe.  That power is like the working of His mighty strength, which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms…”

It is Christ who is seated at the right hand of God.  Further, per  1 Cor 15:25 It is Christ who is reigning and having his enemies put under his feet.

Another reason I believe this is a Messianic Psalm, or a Psalm about the Messiah is because of what Jesus, himself says.

Matthew 22:41-46  41While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42"What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?"
      "The son of David," they replied. 

43He said to them, "How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him 'Lord'? For he says,
 44" 'The Lord said to my Lord:
      "Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies
      under your feet." ' 45If then David calls him 'Lord,' how can he be his son?" 46No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions.

Jesus very clearly indicates that this psalm is about the Christ.  Jesus is the Christ.  So this Psalm is talking about Jesus Christ.  Jehovah says to Jesus, 

“you, Jesus, sit at My right hand, I will put Your enemies under your feet; You, Jesus, will rule with a mighty scepter; You, Jesus will be arrayed in holy majesty; 

Then in verse 4, You, Jesus, are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.

Jesus, you’re a King forever; Jesus, you are a Priest forever.

Melchizedek is a type of Christ.  Christ is the antitype, the fulfillment, the reality, the substance.

Melchizedek held the office of priest AND the office of king, which is rare, as the altar and the throne were separate.  Melchizedek holding the office of both king and priest foreshadowed Christ, who is also both Priest and King Eternal.

Christ can be priest because he is not of the priesthood of Aaron, but of a completely different priesthood – the priesthood of Melchizedek. 

Turn with me to  Hebrews 5.  

As you do, I want to remind you that the Old contains the New and the New explains the Old.  The things of the New Covenant are contained in the Old Testament as types, shadows, figures and symbols.  Those things in the Old Testament are explained in the New Testament.  Melchizedek pops on the scene in Gen 14:18 and vanishes.  We hear no more of him until about 1000 years or so later when David says of Jesus in Psalm 110:4 Jehovah has sworn and will not change His mind: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”  That’s mysterious stuff, especially if that’s all you have to go off of.  Melchizedek is only mentioned by name in 2 verses in the entire OT.  

However, we have the NT, where Melchizedek is mentioned by name 8 times.  We have the NT, which explains his significance as a type of Christ.  We have the NT as a lens, through which we can read the OT in order to better understand.

The New is concealed in the Old.  The Old is revealed in the New.  The NT is our special lens through which we reveal that which was formerly concealed.

In Hebrews we will see a few things:

• A reiteration of the things we have already been discussing
• Things revealed by the New that were concealed in the Old
• A case by the author that Melchizedek is greater than Abraham

Heb 5:1-10  1Every high priest is selected from among men and is appointed to represent them in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness. 3This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people. 

 4No one takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was. 5So Christ also did not take upon himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him,
   "You are my Son; today I have become your Father." 6And he says in another place, (now he quotes Psalm 110)
   "You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek."

Again, more confirmation by the authority of the NT, that Psalm 110 is speaking of Jesus (as if His own words were not enough).  This verse EXPLICITLY declares that it is Christ who is the subject of Psalm 110.

 7During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him 10and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.

So again, we have Melchizedek, who was king of Salem and priest of God Most High.  He held the office of king and priest.  That is unique.  But it foreshadowed Christ, who also uniquely holds the office of BOTH king AND priest.

Now, flip over to Hebrews 7:1-3  1This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, 2and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, his name means "king of righteousness"; then also, "king of Salem" means "king of peace." 3Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God he remains a priest forever.

We have already discussed this in detail, but it’s good that you see it in Scripture so that you know I’m not making stuff up.  

Furthermore, you can see how the new was concealed in the Old and the Old is revealed in the new.  The author of Hebrews reveals the things concealed in Gen.  Would you have read through Gen 14 and said oh yeah, the name Melchizedek means king of righteousness?

Now, pay close and careful attention as we bring this to a close.  I want you to see the progression.  The author begins to build a case.  The case goes something like this:

• Everybody knows how great Abraham is; that is a given.  
• Melchizedek is greater than Abraham.
• Melchizedek is a type of Christ
• Christ is the antitype; as the antitype Christ is greater.
• As with all types, the antitype is far greater, vastly superior and more glorious.

Let’s continue in the text…

Heb 7:4-10  4Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham (who they considered great) gave him a tenth of the plunder! 5Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people—that is, their brothers—even though their brothers are descended from Abraham. 6This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7And without doubt the lesser person is blessed by the greater. 8In the one case, the tenth is collected by men who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living. 9One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, 10because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor. 

It is a known that Abram was great.  Our author is proving the point that Melchizedek is greater than Abram and the implication is then the greatness of Christ!  He makes 2 points to support this:

• Abraham tithed to him
• He blessed Abram

God ordained Aaron (a Levite) as priest and gave him the rest of the Levites to serve with him in the tabernacle.  These Levites, who served at the tabernacle did so continually and that is how they earned their living.

Numbers 18:21-24 ²¹"I give to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as their inheritance in return for the work they do while serving at the Tent of Meeting. ²² From now on the Israelites must not go near the Tent of Meeting, or they will bear the consequences of their sin and will die. ²³ It is the Levites who are to do the work at the Tent of Meeting and bear the responsibility for offenses against it. This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. They will receive no inheritance among the Israelites. ²⁴ Instead, I give to the Levites as their inheritance the tithes that the Israelites present as an offering to the LORD. That is why I said concerning them: 'They will have no inheritance among the Israelites.' "

The other Israelites paid tithes to the Levites.  The Levites were the ones who received tithes.  However, when Melchizedek showed up in Gen 14, he received a tithe (tenth) from Abraham, the great grandfather of Levi.  So it could be said that Levi, who would normally receive the tithe, paid the tithe to Melchizedek through his great grandfather, Abraham.  So we see that though Abraham was great, Melchizedek was greater as Abraham paid a tenth to him.  

Furthermore, the greater person blesses the lesser, so we see that since Melchizedek blesses Abraham, Melchizedek is greater.  The writer of Hebrews is building a case.  Writing to people who know how great Abraham is, he builds a case that Melchizedek is greater and then proceeds to show how Melchizedek in his greatness is a type of Christ, who is a high priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.  He continues.

Heb 7:11-28  11If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the law was given to the people), why was there still need for another priest to come—one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? 12For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be a change of the law. 13He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. 14For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. 15And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, 16one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. 17For it is declared:
   "You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek."

 18The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless 19(for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God. 

 20And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, 21but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him:
   "The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind:
   'You are a priest forever.' " 22Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.  (Jesus, what a marvelous high priest of a marvelous covenant by which we draw near to God!)

 23Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; 24but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. 25Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. 

 26Such a high priest meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. 27Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. 28For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, (in Psalm 110) appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.

Melchizedek is a type of Christ.  Christ is the antitype, the fulfillment, the reality, the substance.

As Melchizedek typifies, Christ is 

• the TRUE King of Peace and the true King of Righteousness
• Jesus is TRULY without beginning of days or end of life
• Jesus presents bread and wine as representative of His body broken for us and His blood shed for us
• Christ is appointed both King eternal and High Priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.

As with all types, the antitype is far greater, vastly superior and more glorious.  Melchizedek was great.  Christ is greater.

So why discuss Melchizedek?  How does this affect our life today?

• Increases my 
• faith in and my 
• view of the 
• Word of God and the God of the Word.
• Magnifies my view of the Scriptures; even by what is excluded we see God is intentional.
• Magnifies my view of God
• The Father for orchestrating the lives of men in such a way that they would point to Jesus
• The name of peace and righteousness
• Without genealogy
• Bread & wine
• Both priest and king
• The HS for his inspiration of the Scriptures from the things that he includes in the Scriptures to the things he leaves out like the genealogy of Melchizedek.  
• The Son for his 
• superior priesthood.  I have a great high priest who lives forever to intercede on my behalf – not some weak man.  I have Jesus.  Not only is he my high priest who made atonement for my sins before God, but
• he is also my king.  He is my king of peace; he is my king of righteousness.  No matter who the president is, there will always be reasons to be displeased with him.  People hated Bush for various reasons; People hate Obama for various reasons.  While I reside in the US and submit to our leadership in an earthly sense, I am a citizen of the kingdom of heaven and my king is Jesus.  Unlike earthly rulers there is no reason to be displeased with my king of righteousness and my king of peace.  

I rest easy knowing that my great high priest has made atonement for my sins.  

I rest easy knowing that serve an awesome king: a king of righteousness, a king of peace.  

That is what I hope our time in the Scriptures has done for you as well: increase your faith in God and increase your view of God.