20150205 Thursday, February 5 2015
Psalm 076: Salem In History And Prophecy

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"In Salem also is His Tabernacle, and His Dwelling Place in Zion"

The English-language rendering of "Salem" is based upon the Hebrew word, pronounced shaw-lame, which meant peaceful. It was the name given to the place upon which a city was later built - that included "Salem" in its name. Jerusalem (in Hebrew pronounced yair-oo-shaw-lay-im), means established in peace, or a foundation of peace.

Many have rightfully wondered how Jerusalem could merely mean the commonly-believed "city of peace" when its history has been filled with war and bloodshed from all of the conflicts that humans caused in and for it in the name of their man-made religions (see A Biography Of Abraham: Abrahamic Religions and the Fact Finder question below), but, as we will read, the name was about the prophetic purpose for which it was founded - that will be fulfilled in due time.

The first Biblical mention of Salem is recorded in the Book of Genesis, in the time of Abraham (see the complete study series for Abraham, beginning with A Biography Of Abraham: The Genealogy Of Abram). Note carefully that "the priest of the most high God" met Abraham with "bread and wine" near the place where Abraham was later commanded to sacrifice his son - and where God did sacrifice His Son at Passover after it formally came into existence (see Isaac's Burnt Offering).

"14:18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.

14:19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: 14:20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all." (Genesis 14:18-20 KJV)

Who was Melchizedek? He was no mere human because he was "without [human] father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually." Only the LORD God, Who was born as the man Jesus of Nazareth (see By Him Were All Things Created), qualifies for that description. No other human ever did, or ever will.

"7:1 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; 7:2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; 7:3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.

7:4 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. 7:5 And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham: 7:6 But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises. 7:7 And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better. 7:8 And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth. 7:9 And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham. 7:10 For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him." (Hebrews 7:1-10 KJV)

The Scriptures then identify the connection between "Melchisedec, king of Salem" and the Messiah. It also explains why the Messiah was not born of the tribe of Levi (see also The Blood Of Bulls And Goats), but of the royal line of Judah (see The Prophecy Of King David's Messianic Throne) - both of whom didn't even exist yet. There were no Israelites in the time of Abraham - they began with one line of Abraham's great-grandchildren (see The Origin Of Israelites And Jews).

"7:11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? 7:12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. 7:13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. 7:14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood. 7:15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, 7:16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. 7:17 For he testifieth,

Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. 7:18 For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. 7:19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God. 7:20 And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest: 7:21 (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)

7:22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. 7:23 And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: 7:24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

7:26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; 7:27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. 7:28 For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore." (Hebrews 7:11-28 KJV)

The return of Jesus Christ to the place that He prophetically established as "Salem" will then see its fulfillment - whereby all of the world will then be "founded on peace," from the place that was made to make it happen. The time of man's self-serving toy kingdoms and self-worshipping toy religions will then be gone forever.

"4:1 But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it.

4:2 And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

4:3 And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." (Micah 4:1-4 KJV)

While the famous "swords into plowshares" of Micah 4:1-4 and Isaiah 2:1-4 (both prophets independently stated it) is the most familiar to most people, it's also declared by others throughout the Holy Scriptures, including here by Asaph in the Psalms (see The Songs Of Asaph) i.e. "In Salem also is his tabernacle, and his dwelling place in Zion. There brake he the arrows of the bow, the shield, and the sword, and the battle."

"76:1 To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm or Song of Asaph.

In Judah is God known: his name is great in Israel. 76:2 In Salem also is his tabernacle, and his dwelling place in Zion. 76:3 There brake he the arrows of the bow, the shield, and the sword, and the battle. Selah.

76:4 Thou art more glorious and excellent than the mountains of prey. 76:5 The stouthearted are spoiled, they have slept their sleep: and none of the men of might have found their hands. 76:6 At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, both the chariot and horse are cast into a dead sleep. 76:7 Thou, even thou, art to be feared: and who may stand in thy sight when once thou art angry? 76:8 Thou didst cause judgment to be heard from heaven; the earth feared, and was still, 76:9 When God arose to judgment, to save all the meek of the earth. Selah.

76:10 Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.

76:11 Vow, and pay unto the LORD your God: let all that be round about him bring presents unto him that ought to be feared. 76:12 He shall cut off the spirit of princes: he is terrible to the kings of the earth." (Psalm 76:1-12 KJV)

Fact Finder: For a detailed Biblical history of Jerusalem, see the 20-study series (the links to all of the studies in the series are listed in each study) beginning with the first study in the series below.
See A History Of Jerusalem: In The Beginning