Melchizedek

Genesis 14:18-20

A lot has been made of these few verses.

Who is Melchizedek really?

Why is he so important in later scriptures?

Why would Abraham give him a tenth?

And how did he come to worship the One True God?

For our purpose, we want to pay attention to what Melchizedek had to do with Abraham’s story. Which in reality, wasn’t much.

It’s likely he approached Abraham alongside the king of Sodom, who you looked at last week.

Both had a very different response to Abraham, and consequently, God had a very different response to them.

No one can say for sure who Melchizedek was exactly, or how he came to serve the same God as Abraham.

What is clear is that when Melchizedek declared a blessing over Abraham and served him a royal dinner (bread and wine), he invoked the blessing of God upon himself.

Verse 18-Bread and Wine-not for sacrifice to God; for then he had brought forth beasts to be slain, which were the usual and best sacrifices: but partly to show the respect which he bore to Abram, and principally to refresh his weary and hungry army, according to the manner of those times.

Verse 19- And, or therefore, (as the particle is oft taken, i.e. because he was a priest of God,) he (i.e. Melchizedek) blessed him, (Abram,) which was one act of the priestly office. See on Heb. 7:6, 7. So it is a prayer for him, that God would confirm and increase the blessing which he had given him. Or, blessed is; so it is an acknowledgment of God’s blessing conferred upon Abram both formerly, and in this late and great victory. Or, blessed shall be; so it is a prediction concerning his future and further blessedness, whereof this was only an earnest.

Verse 20- “He gave him tithes”- we need to be sure that we understand that this means that Abraham gave the tithes not the other way around.

-Abraham vowed not to take anything from them

Here we see one of the promises made to Abraham come true: “I will bless those who bless you.”

Melchizedek went on to become a very important symbol for Christ in the Old Testament.

I can’t help but believe that was a result of his treatment of Abraham.

Because he took a risk in front of his fellow kings and blessed this foreigner, God rewarded him.

First, through a tenth of Abraham’s spoils.

Second, through a legacy of being remembered as a great servant of God.

Who has God called you to bless, to stand up for, to defend, to clothe, to encourage?

I believe deeply that God is most satisfied when He sees His children helping one another.

And when God is satisfied, He cannot help but bless.

Takeaway: God blesses us when we help fellow believers.

Prayer: I know You look out for Your children, and sometimes You do that through ordinary people like me. Please give me eyes to see opportunities to help others and the courage to follow through.