ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

Tu’apulelulu Fepueli 2, 2023

The Priest-King of Salem מלכי צדק

KO E TAULA’EIKI-TU‘I ‘O SALEMA

GENESIS 14:18-20

AND MELCHIZEDEK KING OF SALEM BROUGHT OUT BREAD AND WINE. (HE WAS PRIEST OF GOD MOST HIGH.) AND HE BLESSED HIM AND SAID, "BLESSED BE ABRAM BY GOD MOST HIGH, POSSESSOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH; AND BLESSED BE GOD MOST HIGH, WHO HAS DELIVERED YOUR ENEMIES INTO YOUR HAND!" AND ABRAM GAVE HIM A TENTH OF EVERYTHING.

SENESI 14:18-20

18 Pea ko Melekiseteki ko e Tu‘i Salema, na‘a ne ‘alu atu mo ia ‘a e mā mo e uaine, pea ko e taula‘eiki ia ‘o e ‘Otua Taupotu. 19 Pea ne tāpuaki‘i ia, ‘o ne pehē, Ke fakamonū‘ia ‘a ‘Epalame ‘e he ‘Otua Taupotu, ko ‘ene me‘a ‘a Langi mo Māmani. 20 Pea mālō mu‘a mo e ‘Otua Taupotu kuo ne tuku ho ngaahi fili ke ke fa‘iteliha ai. Pea ne ‘atu hono ‘inasi ko e vahe hongofulu ‘o e me‘a kotoa pē.

The book of Hebrews unpacks Melchizedek's name into two words: malki ("king of") and tzedeq ("righteousness"). His city's name, Salem (a shortened form of "Jerusalem"), is related to the word shalom ("peace"). Thus Hebrews says, "[Melchizedek] is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace" (7:2). He's also the first priest mentioned in the Bible, long before Aaron and his sons. It's no wonder that David, speaking of the Messiah, sings that "the LORD has sworn and will not change his mind, 'You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek"" (Ps. 110:4).

This ancient priest-king resembles the Son of God (Heb. 7:3), who is our peace, our righteousness, our king, and our priest. He doesn't get his office by descent from Aaron, but "by the power of an indestructible life" (7:16). As Melchizedek once blessed Abram, so Christ blesses us, Abraham's sons and daughters, and bids us feast on bread and wine from his altar of life.

Jesus, our Priest and King, rule over us by mercy and intercede for us in love.