Letter # 87: "Melchizedek"

Every now and then rises a super-sage, a “wizard-like figure”, that towers high, inspires us, and leaves us gasping in awe. Such was Melchizedek.
He was the “most tantalazing man in the Bible”, according to Frank S. Mead, author of “Who’s Who In The Bible” [p20].
Fleeting references in the Tanakh, and the Old and New Testaments, mention Melchizedek. He was “without father, without mother, without descent, neither having beginning of days nor end of life but made like unto the Son of God.”
Called King of Salem, (Salem was possibly ancient Jeruselem), he’s also known as the King of Righteusness; a magnificent priest, firm in his faith despite fierce oppostion.
Genesis 14:18 affirms that “… Melchizedek king of Salem … was priest of God the Most High.” Psalm 110:4 points to Melchizedek as a role-model for priests: “The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent: 'Thou art a priest for ever after the manner of Melchizedek.'”
In the New testament, Hebrews 6:20 refers to the relationship between Melchizedek and Jesus: “where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”
Melchizedek lived in Abraham’s times. On his return home from the battle of Chedorlaomer, Abraham met Melchizedek and received the latter’s blessings. Mead writes, “Like ships that pass in the night: the father of Israel’s [and Ishmael's] faith and the greatest preacher of it.” “We know just enough about him to want to know more, and more we shall never know.”

God Bless; Allah Hu Akbar; May The Forces Of The Universe Bring You Harmony; Hare Krishna; Radha-Swami; and Nanak Naam Chardi Kala Tere Bhane Sarbat Dha Bhalla.

I wish to express my gratitude for your comments, which inspire me to carry on writing. Please forgive my fallibilities in presenting this material. Also, feel free to send this message on to someone that you might think would like to receive it. If you do send it on, my only request of you is that you send it as it is, in its entirety, and to not alter or modify any of the text, references or authorship information. Thus you will help to give credit or liability to where they are properly due.
Jas Bhopal
Copyright© 2008
References: "The Holy Bible" Online version; "The Koran" as translated by SV Mir Ahmed Ali 2005 ISBN 0-9761870-0-0); "The Bhagavad Gita As it Is" as translated by Srila Prabhupada ISBN 0-89213-268-X; The Srimad Bhagavatum as translated by Srila Prabhupada ISBN0-89213-259-0; "I Am That. Talks With Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj” ISBN 0-89386-022-0; The Dhammapada ISBN-10:1-84483-344-5; The Sacred Sukhmani ISBN 81-7205-098-4; Wikipedia.