“The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.’” -Psalm 110:4

You might not have ever thought about it before, but we rely on shadows across many different areas of life. Scientifically, shadows were important in history because they provided early evidence that light traveled in straight lines. Compositionally, shadows add depth and meaning to an image; they create a mood. Artistically, actors use shadow puppets to tell a story. Meteorgically, Punxsutawney Phil uses shadows to determine if there will be more winter or not (OK, so that last one is a stretch...).

The thing about shadows is that they are a representation or a likeness of the real thing, but they are not the real thing. They may tell you what the real thing is like, or they may give you a general outline; but you would never settle for a shadow over the actual thing. I can’t hug or kiss a shadow, but I can with my wife and children.

So it is with our passage in Hebrews 7:1-10. Throughout Hebrews, we get these shadows - angels, human beings, Moses, Abraham, high priests, and Melchizedek. All of them are wonderful pictures and representations - shadows - of something better that was to come. Why would anyone settle for the old covenants and sacrificial systems when God replaced it with something far better?

The author of Hebrews now arrives at the central theme of his sermon, and Hebrews 7 begins the longest single expository section based on Genesis 14:17-20 and Psalm 110:4. What is the point? To drive home the fact that Melchizedek's priesthood was superior to the Levitical priesthood of Aaron...And that Jesus was superior to Melchizedek. In other words, Jesus over everything!

I pray that that knowledge continues to be an anchor for your souls. Because Jesus is our righteousness and peace, we have access to God. Because Jesus is greater, we never have to settle for a shadow!