Day 328: The perfect priest - Psalm 110 vs 4

The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: ‘You are a priest for ever, in the order of Melchizedek.’ Psalm 100:4 New International Version

Only one verse today - but what an important one! Verses 1-3 told how the Messiah would be a ruler at God's right hand and how His followers would serve Him willingly, not because they had to. Verse 4 now tells us He would also be a priest. The writer of the New Testament book of Hebrews saw how this verse applied to Jesus Christ. He first tells us what the role of a Priest is and says: “Every high priest is a man chosen to represent other people in their dealings with God. He presents their gifts to God, and offers sacrifices for their sins. He is able to deal gently with ignorant and wayward people because he himself is subject to the same weaknesses. That's why he must offer sacrifices for his own sins as well as theirs.” (Hebrews 5:1-3) So a Priest is a mediator – what we would call a 'go between'. He goes on to say: “No one can become a high priest simply because he wants such an honour - he must be called by God for this work, just as Aaron was.” (Hebrews 5:4) In the Old Testament God appointed who the Priest would be that would serve Him.

So Hebrews continues: “That is why Christ did not honour Himself by assuming He could become High Priest. No, He was chosen by God, who said to Him, 'You are my Son - today I have become your Father.' And, in another place, God said to Him, ‘You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.'” (Hebrews 5:5-6) The writer was quoting Psalm 110 vs 4.

The background is that Abraham's nephew Lot had been taken captive with many people of Sodom (where he lived) by a group of marauding Kings. Abram (as he was then called) organized a rescue party and we read “Abram recovered all the goods that had been taken and brought back his nephew Lot with his possessions and all the women and other captives.” (Genesis 14:16) When Abram returned from this victory we are told that: “Melchizedek, the king of Salem and a priest of God Most High,  brought Abram some bread and wine and blessed Abram with this blessing: 'Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And blessed be God Most High, who has defeated your enemies for you.' Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of all the goods he had recovered.” (Genesis 14:17-20)

That was an event in history, but look how the writer of Hebrews explains it. “This Melchizedek was king of the city of Salem - and a priest of God Most High. The name Melchizedek means 'king of righteousness,' and king of Salem means 'king of peace.' There is no record of his father or mother or any of his ancestors - no beginning or end to his life. He remains a priest forever, resembling the Son of God. Consider how great this Melchizedek was. Even Abraham, the great patriarch of Israel, recognized this by giving him a tenth of what he had taken in battle.” (Hebrews 7:1-4) Can you see how all of that wonderfully applies to Jesus Christ. He is the King of righteousness and peace who remains forever.

That is what makes Jesus the Messiah so different from all the other priests who had served God under the old covenant. Hebrews puts it this way: “Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins. But our High Priest offered Himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then He sat down in the place of honour at God’s right hand. There He waits until his enemies are humbled and made a footstool under His feet. For by that one offering He forever made perfect those who are being made holy.” (Hebrews 10:11-14)

Dear friends – we do not need any priests now on earth! Jesus is our High Priest who offered the perfect sacrifice when He went to Calvary. He has gone into the presence of His Father and, as mediator, has caused us to be reconciled to, and at peace with, Almighty God. Our Psalm said He is a Priest forever! He always lives as our go-between, and He will bring us to the eternal glory God has promised. How wonderful it is for anyone who has believed on Him for forgiveness of all their sins. And God will never ‘change His mind’ about that forgiveness either.