“Political freedom cannot exist in any land where religion controls the state, and religious freedom cannot exist in any land where the state controls religion.”

– Sam J. Ervin Jr.

“Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

– John Adams

The fight for political freedom and religious freedom has been at the center of world history. Among all the political experiments, none have stood the test of time without collapse. Our democratic republic in America would seem to be the best system the world has seen. However, our republic is showing serious disunity and confusion about what the Founders intended by the Constitution. John Adams statement is true, but how do you maintain a moral and religious people against the current secular onslaught without religion controlling the state? The current regime of Iran under the oppressive Ayatollahs is what you get when religion controls the state. But if the state controls religion you get a whole slew of tyrannical dictatorships, communism and socialism, etc. So, what is the hope for the future? Man has not been able to figure this out, nor will they ever be able to bring peace to religion and politics on their own. This fact of history alone should stir people to search for an answer beyond their politics and deep within their faith for an answer.

Yes, there is a clear and glorious hope and answer to this age old mystery and problem. There is only One who can answer and will bring peace to religion and politics as Jesus unites the offices of Priest and King on His return to earth to reign in righteousness. This is at the center of the Gospel of the Kingdom that Jesus preached. Sadly, this awesome part of the Gospel is often missing from the Church’s message and christian discipleship. In the midst of Israel’s exile to Babylon for their unfaithfulness to God’s covenant, God promises through the prophet Zechariah that when the Messiah comes that peace will come in the uniting of the throne and the priest. (Zechariah 6:12-13)

But how can someone be both King and Priest? According to the Torah, only men from the tribe of Levi and house of Aaron could serve as priests. And only those coming from the tribe of Judah could rule from David’s throne. So, how was this mystery going to be worked out in God’s economy of salvation history?

Enter Melchizedek, the mysterious figure first introduced in Genesis 14. Someone has said in reference to bible study, “If it is weird, it is important.” The scriptures are full of mystery and God has communicated that way, not to keep things from us, but for us to learn to seek Him in His Word.

Melchizedek first shows up in Genesis chapter 14. Melchizedek, is not a personal name, but a formal title meaning, “King of Righteousness.” We again hear about him in Psalm 110 where David prophecies about the coming Messiah as the ultimate King and a “priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.” Our next and final biblical encounter is in the book of Hebrews where he is at the center of the writer’s message that is for those who have moved past “the elementary doctrine of Christ” to spiritual maturity. I have talked with so many people who have grown up in church and have never heard of Melchizedek or studied him because they thought it was not important to their christian walk. When in fact, it is clear from the message of Hebrews that it is critical to our walk with God and our future outlook and hope.

In Genesis 14:17-24, we see Abraham after his defeat of the kings who took his kinsman Lot captive, entertained by two kings. The first before him is the King of Sodom and then Melchizedek, the king of Salem. The king of Sodom, offers to Abraham all the goods that he recovered from his defeat of the kings. But Abraham refuses, and states that he has made an oath to God, to trust Him and have faith in Him and in God’s promise to him found in Genesis 12:2-3. But Melchizedek comes before Abraham as both king of Salem and priest of God most high. This is the first time we encounter in scripture someone who operates in both of these offices. He brings bread and wine before Abraham. Abraham was a great man, maybe the greatest at this point in history, but he recognized something radically different and superior about Melchizedek. So much so, that he gave to Melchizedek a tenth of everything. And with the communion of the bread and wine, Melchizedek brought a blessing from God most high for Abraham. It was a holy moment, where Abraham’s faith was greatly tested.  Would he trust his own victories and the blessing of the world, or would he trust the Lord? We can see here a preview of Jesus’ temptation by Satan in Matthew 4:9-10, where Satan offered all the kingdoms of the world to Jesus if only He would bow down. In the next chapter of Genesis, right after Abraham’s encounter with the King of Sodom and Melchizedek, God comes to him and rewards him and confirms His covenant with him and the promise of a child. It is through this covenant and child that the Messiah would come and the blessing of salvation to the world. And it is this child who will be both priest and king so as to unite all things in heaven and earth together.

So, who is this mystery person or angel or heavenly being with the title, “King of Righteousness” and “Priest of God Most High”? The writer of Hebrews goes into great detail about Melchizedek, but in some ways makes him even more mysterious when he states in Hebrews 7:3, “He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.” This definition eliminates the option that Melchizedek was a normal human being and it eliminates the idea that he was some kind of pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus. His title of priest of God Most High in Genesis 14 is the first time that term (El Elyon) is used. It means he serves as priest to the God above all gods and beings in the heavenly realm. He serves as priest to God in the heavenly temple among all the other angelic and supernatural beings found in heaven who serve God the Most High. He was king of Salem also, meaning king of peace but specifically Jerusalem. So, we can get a little insight into God’s choosing a holy place on earth to build a temple that would mirror the temple in heaven. And this priest king was possibly watching over Jerusalem or involved in supernaturally connecting it with the heavenly Jerusalem. When God gave Moses instructions to build the tabernacle they were to be a shadow of the temple God had created in heaven. (Hebrews 9)

With Melchizedek we can see a priesthood that predates the earthly priesthood and was a superior priesthood since Abraham was blessed by him and gave a tenth portion of goods to him. Melchizedek doesn’t show up again until Psalm 110. It is in this Psalm that David prophesied about the coming Messiah reigning on his throne and who will also be “a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.” Then finally the writer of Hebrews makes the connection that Jesus now sits at God’s right hand and who is our Great High Priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. Part of the intrigue of Melchizedek is that it reveals that he was operating as a priest before God’s throne in heaven and also was doing some priestly work of connecting heaven’s throne to Jerusalem where the earthly throne was to be built. He still is operating in this priestly service, but now there is a Great High Priest over the heavenly priesthood who is Lord and Savior of the world.

So why is this important to understand? Here are just a few things to think about.

1. Encouragement in prayer as we realize that Jesus is now along with the Holy Spirit interceding for us. This should be part of our devotion and desperation and dependence upon Him looking past the cross and resurrection to His current position on His throne in heaven and serving as our priest. Do we realize that we need His ongoing intercession for us along with His death and resurrection?
2. Peace in the midst of religious and political turmoil. Do we have the hope and daily confidence that we are “receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken?” Are we resting in the midst of religious and spiritual struggles that we have a Great High Priest who is returning and will heal all? Are we letting the scriptures and the hope of this kingdom guide all of our political perspectives? Can we rest in the midst of world turmoil and realize only Jesus will bring peace to Religion and Politics when He returns?
3. Encouragement to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. This truth should help tie together the important thread of God working throughout history to unite all things in heaven and earth together in Jesus with Jerusalem at the center. This should deepen our understanding of the important distinction between Jews and Gentiles and how God in bringing salvation to them as one family maintaining their unique distinction in that unity. Do we have a growing biblical understanding of Israel, Jerusalem and God’s future plans for them?
4. This truth should open our hearts to wonder and awe in the vast spiritual realm that is still mainly concealed from us. Is the reality of the Spirit in our lives creating a greater view of the integration of heaven and earth? Are we as the Church living as Spirit filled people? This is becoming more and more critical today as culture is not only post-christian but it is moving toward being post-secular also. Which means that young people are more and more desiring spiritual enlightenment. Experiment with the occult is soaring. A church and people who are living as Spirit led and empowered is just what this emerging culture needs! And it is what the Church was and should always be.