Hebrews 7:1-3. Another continuation of a reading I've had before - this time my reading follows directly on the one that I did in "An Anchor for Our Souls." Paul here discusses Melchizedek, the king of Salem who met Abraham after the slaughter of kings and blessed him. Abraham apportioned a tenth of everything to Melchizedek. Paul points out that Melchizedek, is the first priest and, by translation of his name, king of righteousness and, as the king of Salem, literally the king of peace. Melchizedek, Paul says, was without mother, father, or genealogy. We know not of his birth nor his death, but "resembling the Son of God he continues forever."

Paul is pointing out how everything in the Old Testament points to Jesus. The first priest we meet, ever in history, is Melchizedek, who blesses the first father of our faith, Abraham. We know nothing of Melchizedek other than what is told us in Genesis - we do not know his genealogy, his parents, of his birth or of his death. Paul says that this is purposeful, so that we will see the resemblance to our Savior. Melchizedek is a placeholder for Christ - who himself has existed for all of time. Just as Melchizedek came to Abraham, Christ came to us to bless us and be our priest, our king of righteousness, our king of peace.

Everything said and not said in the Bible is important. Pondering on its words can fill a lifetime - and we still would not understand it all. Paul helps us out here by, in only two lines, showing how a character from the Old Testament who popped into the story of Abraham and then out again, is vitally important, and plays a pivotal role in our understanding of the Savior.