Better Is One Day….

Do you remember your senior year Homecoming? My own experience always causes Mia and I to laugh. It involves a missing Anne Klein shoe and let’s just leave the story at that.

Like thousands of schools across the country, ours celebrated the tradition of Homecoming this weekend. Mums and ribbons, painted faces, banners, noise makers, all painted a festive backdrop for the annual football event. Our elementary-age Littles especially enjoyed the school-wide family picnic and were quickly swept up in the pageantry of the game, the presentation of the Court, and crowning of the Homecoming Queen and King.

While my physical attention was directed at the Homecoming celebration last week, my spiritual focus was fixed in a much different kind of court. Knee-deep in the book of Hebrews actually. Our Bible Study is chewing on Hebrews chapter 7 this week which is full of Old Testament theology surrounding the Levitical priesthood and the absence of genealogy of a priest named Melchizedek. If your eyes didn’t just gloss over at that statement, then please help me learn more about this mysterious king of Salem and high priest. We know little from scripture about Melchizedek, yet the author of the book of Hebrews clearly reminds his audience of the priest’s greatness. The Jewish Christians to whom the the book of Hebrews is addressed would have been familiar with the author’s references to ancestry, priesthood, and our mystery man Mel.

Hebrews Chapter 7 opens:

This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High.

Scripture continues, teaching us that Melchizedek’s name means “king of righteousness” and “king of peace”. The author implores his audience, and us, “Just think how great he was.” I have to admit, my knowledge and understanding of the book of Hebrews is thin. But this I grasp:

Better than Abraham

Better than Moses

Better than all the Old Testament Hall of Fame saints

Better than the King of Salem and priest of God Most High

Better than…

Is Jesus Christ our Lord, our King, our Savior!

Melchizedek is an Old Covenant priest paving the way for the New Covenant King. Friends can you imagine being in the court of our High Priest Jesus Christ? Squeeze your eyes tight and imagine with all your might what the glory of the Lord Most High must look like as He reigns in the heavenly courts. Try to imagine a place where the biblical Hall of Famers dwell – Abraham, Malachi, Aaron, Moses, Melchizedek. As great as each of these saints were, there is ONE who is and remains even greater. A King whose courts I want to serve and dwell in forever and ever.

Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere

Psalm 84:10

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kX8xlW04jQ