The Holiest of All By Andrew Murray

228 Gbe Dollest of 2111
and the secret of the Christian life in its power and perfection.
The secret may be expressed in one word PRIEST FOR EVER.
The whole place Melchizedek occupies in sacred history
is one
of the most remarkable proofs of the inspiration and the unity
of Scripture, as written under the direct supernatural guidance
of the Holy Spirit. In the Book of Genesis all we know of him is
told in three short, very simple verses. A thousand years later we
find a Psalm with just one single verse, in which God Himself is
introduced, swearing
to His Son that He is to
be a High Priest
after the order of Melchizedek. Another thousand years pass,
and that single verse becomes the seed of the wondrous exposition,
in this Epistle, of the whole work of redemption as revealed in
Christ Jesus. All its most remarkable characteristics are found
enveloped in the wondrous type. The more we study
it the
more we exclaim : This is the Lord s doing ; it is marvellous in
our eyes.
We see in it
nothing less than a miracle of divine
wisdom, guiding Melchizedek and Abraham with a view to what
was to take place with the Son of God two thousand years
later ; revealing to the Psalmist the secret purpose of the divine
mind in the promise made to the Son in heaven ;
and then, by
the same Holy Spirit, guiding the writer of our Epistle to his
divinely-inspired exposition. To the believing mind no stronger
proof of inspiration could possibly be given. It is indeed the
Eternal Spirit, the Spirit of Christ Himself, through whom all
was wrought and in due time recorded.
In the first three verses of our chapter we are reminded of
the story of Melchizedek, and the exposition
is
given
of his
name and history. His name signifies King of righteous
ness. He is also called, from the city where he reigned, Salem,
meaning Peace the King of peace. The two titles thus com
bined proved how he was destined of God to be the figure of