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BACKGROUND
DEFINITION OF TERMS
MELCHIZEDEK
MELCHIZEDEK
PRIEST
PRIESTS AND LEVITES
I. The biblical data
II. Wellhausen’s reconstruction
III. Some reactions to Wellhausen’s reconstruction
IV. Priesthood in the New Testament
The
full background to this teaching is available online at this link
DEFINITIONS - For serious students
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Online links to scriptures (New International Version [NIV] unless otherwise stated) are shown in blue
| ANOTHER GAP OF 400 YEARS |
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 Most of us know of the approximate 400-year gap between the Old and the New Testaments between c.432-5 BC.
Prior to the 'gap' the Babylonians had destroyed Israel as a nation. From then on, Israel was a minor territory in a succession of empires. The Persians followed the Babylonians. But the most significant influence was the expansion of the Greek Empire under Alexander the Great, who annexed Palestine in 332 BC. Greek influence remained, in various forms, until General Pompey subdued the East for Rome, taking Jerusalem in 63 BC after a 3-month siege of the Temple area. His army killed priests as they were performing their duties, and entered the Holy of Holies, an act the Jews could neither forgive nor forget.
This Greek and then Roman influence set the scene, preparing the way for the ministry of Jesus. The Greeks developed science to a more sophisticated level and with it, the powerful force of humanism we see so much in evidence today. The Romans built the world's first extensive communications network through a magnificent roading system that enabled the message of Jesus to be taken to the known world of the time.
So this 'gap' of 400 years played a vital role in preparing the way for, and identifying the change between, the second and third 'priesthoods'.
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| INTRODUCTION |
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 From before His conception, it was apparent that Jesus was no ‘normal man’.
The angel told Mary:
Luke 1:31-3
Mary glorified God but she must have had a difficult time explaining things to Joseph, their families, and the community in general! For pregnancy outside of marriage was unacceptable in the society of the time.
The angel foretold His kingly nature, but it took a little more time for His priesthood to be foretold.
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| JOHN THE BAPTIST |
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 This happened after the birth of Jesus’ cousin, John the Baptist, through the prophetic song of John’s father, Zechariah. Zechariah, in a manner reminiscent of Abraham long ago, failed to believe that God could make a lady beyond menopause, pregnant. We would likely have similar skepticism!
Luke 1:18-20
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So he was struck dumb until the time for circumcision of his son John, arrived. However he was still blessed with this amazing prophecy;
Luke 1:68-75
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 Only a priest could offer salvation to the people, for the priest’s role is to act as an intermediary between man and God.
He was also prophesied to be king ie. Lord (means ruler) by the angel speaking to the shepherds, after His birth.
Luke 2:11
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 His priesthood was confirmed by John at the time of His baptism.
John 1:29-34
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 Jesus was the ‘sacrificial lamb’ of God, who as under the Aaronic Priesthood, would be sacrificed for your sins and mine. Thank you Lord.
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 This contrasts with His other role, as king of kings, represented in the animal world by the lion.
Revelation 5:5
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 His glorious priesthood role is again confirmed in the very next verse.
Revelation 5:6-9
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| <i>NEXT WEEK:</i> A REVELATON OF....... THE 3 PRIESTHOODS continues |
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 ....as we see the Book of Hebrews reveals about the priesthood of Jesus.
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| A NOTE FROM DAVID |
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 The priesthood of Jesus, in like manner of those that preceded it, involved both blessing - of us - and sacrifice - His.
In the natural, we see the picture of a slain lamb to be one of sadness and failure, yet the death of Jesus on the cross, as the slain Lamb of God, was rather, one of victory. Thank you Jesus, for dying that I might live!
BIBLE ARCHAEOLOGY
Stela of Baal
Could this stone monument of Baal have been the same image that many Israelites worshipped?
Baal, the storm god, is seen on this Stele unleashing a storm. He is holding a club in his right hand and a spear in his left like a lightning bolt, which extends upward in the form of a tree. It was found in 1932 at the site of ancient Ugarit, known today as Ras Shamra. Baal the was supreme male deity that was worshipped by the ancient Canaanites and Phoenicians, just as Ashtoreth was their supreme female deity. In many cases Baal was identified with the sun and Ashtoreth with the moon. Baal worship was prevalent during the time of Moses, especially among the Moabites, the Midianites, and eventually spread to the Israelites. During the time of the Kings, the northern Kingdom of Israel were Baal worshippers as were many of the kings of Judah. Many Temples were erected to Baal and have been discovered by archaeologists. Places for worship of Baal were often high places in the hills consisting of an altar and a sacred tree, stone, or pillar.
1 Kings 16:30-33 "And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD above all that were before him. And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him. And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria. And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him."
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So until next week.......
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD!
His servant and yours
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A DAVID'S DOODLING
734. Man's blood spilled, is to be feared. Jesus' blood spilled, to be revered.
David Tait
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