And Melchizedek, the king of Salem and a priest of [El Elyon], brought Abram some bread and wine. Melchizedek blessed Abram with this blessing: “Blessed be Abram by [El Elyon], Creator of heaven and earth. And blessed be [El Elyon], who has defeated your enemies for you.”
And Abram replied to the king of Sodom, “I solemnly swear to the LORD, [El Elyon], Creator of heaven and earth, …”
Genesis 14:18-20, 22
El Elyon: The Most High God
Melchizedek is one of the more nebulous and fascinating characters in the Bible. He is mentioned so briefly as “the king of Salem,” and we know Salem means peace. He is “a priest of God Most High,” El Elyon. If he uses a different name for God, then how do we know his God was the same as ours? But Abram knew. El Elyon – Abram uses it too, beside God’s other name – The Name. Who is this man, and where did he come from? How did he know God? What was his relationship with the Lord like? And how did this man, mentioned so briefly in Genesis, become a whole order of priests-by-faith ordained by God rather than man or heredity?
I gave up my need to have all the answers a long time ago, so I won’t endeavor to answer what I do not know.
But this truth is here, plain-faced in Scripture: Melchizedek, whoever he was, wherever he came from, whatever he did next, loved the same God Abraham did, the same God who sent Jesus, Messiah, the same God we love today. He called Him El Elyon, the Most High God. The Best God, maybe. The Most Important God. The Ultimate God. The true God.
The God of all who seek Him.
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