Melchizedek Collected Tithes from Abraham (Heb. 7:5-6)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 03/15/2003

 

My Worship Time                  Focus:  Melchizedek Collected Tithes from Abraham

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                         Reference:  Hebrews 7:5-6

 

              Message of the verse:  “5 And those indeed of the sons of Levi who receive the priest's office have commandment in the Law to collect a tenth from the people, that is, from their brethren, although these are descended from Abraham.  6 But the one whose genealogy is not traced from them collected a tenth from Abraham, and blessed the one who had the promises.”  (NASB)  “5. Now the priests, who are descendants of Levi, are commanded in the law of Moses to collect a tithe from all the people, even though they are their own relatives.    (Greek their brothers, who are descendants of Abraham.)  6.  But Melchizedek, who was not even related to Levi, collected a tenth from Abraham.   And Melchizedek placed a blessing upon Abraham, the one who had already received the promises of God.”  (NLT)

            In verse five the writer is speaking about the OT priesthood that God gave to Moses while in the wilderness.  The part of the Law that speaks of the tithe is found in a number of books from the OT including Lev., Numbers, 2Chronicles, and others.  I believe that one of the points that the writer is making here is that the priests were to collect a tithe from their brethren who were all descendents of Abraham.  Melchizedek who was not related to Levi collected tithes from Abraham.  Levi was Abraham’s great-grandson.  I think the writer is saying that these are two different priesthoods as seen in these two verses.

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I believe that this verse teaches me that 1, God is in control and His plans will be fulfilled, 2, things do not always seem to be as they really are, and 3, I should not be so sure about things that I could be wrong about as I am sure many Jewish people were about the Priesthood of Jesus Christ.

 

The Word of God was challenging to me this morning.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  It seems to me that the IBD I have is giving me some problems this morning and I want to trust the Lord to work this whole thing out to His glory and my good, even though at times that seems to be hard for me to believe. 

 

Memory verses for the week:  Psalms 40:1-4

 

1.      I waited patiently for the LORD; And He inclined to me and heard my cry.

2.      He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay; And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm.

3.      And He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; Many will see and fear, and will trust in the LORD.

4.      How blessed is the man who has made the LORD his trust, And has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood.