For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham . . . and blessed him; . . . first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace. Heb. 7:1, 2.

The Bible has very little to say about Melchisedec. He is an exalted earthly king and priest of the Most High God. His role is one of great dignity. He appears briefly in Abraham's life. The Spirit of God uses him as a type of Christ as king and priest. Christ is king and priest in the realm of righteousness and peace, designed to bring both to men.

The significance is in the order: first, King of Righteousness, and afterwards King of Peace. No peace with God is possible except on the basis of righteousness. God has no pleasure in iniquity. There is no peace for the wicked. The first thing Christ does when He comes into the heart is to create in us the realization of our great need for righteousness in order to find peace with God.

Christ bestows His own righteousness upon us. He acquits the guilty. He forgives and cleanses us. Our only way to peace is union with the King of Righteousness. We cannot be considered righteous unless we have Christ's righteousness. God must deal with the sin problem in our lives before He can manifest Himself as King of Peace. We do not need anything more but Jesus Christ. There can be no deeper desire than that the King of Righteousness should be king in our hearts. Christ cannot be satisfied with less. His nature cannot rest until we have committed ourselves to Him for righteousness. He calls us to accept His righteousness and in so doing He calls us to peace. We cannot merely will to be righteous. We can turn ourselves and our will over to Him, and make Him our King. Christ is not just any king. He is King of Righteousness and Peace.

God had in mind for Israel only one King, the Messiah to come. They were to prepare the world for the coming of the King of kings. Centuries of departure from God prepared the way for the final rejection of King Jesus when He came. The choice is no different today. The King of Righteousness and Peace is on His way back to earth.