14/11/2016
Scripture reading Genesis 14:17-24
17 After his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of S***m went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley). 18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) 19 And he blessed him and said,“Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor[b] of heaven and earth; 20 and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!” And Abram gave him a tenth of everything. 21 And the king of S***m said to Abram, “Give me the persons, but take the goods for yourself.” 22 But Abram said to the king of S***m, “I have lifted my hand[c] to the Lord, God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth, 23 that I would not take a thread or a sandal strap or anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’ 24 I will take nothing but what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me. Let Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre take their share.”
Background: There is a king called Chedorlaomer who made many nations serve him. S***m and Gomorrah were among the nations that served him. When these nations rebelled, Chedorlaomer went against these nations and took them captive. Lot and his family were taken as prisoners and all his possessions were taken away by this king. Abram (note he is not Abraham yet) with his 300+ trained men go against Chedorlaomer defeat him.
Observation: We see three kings in the above scripture.
One is Chedorlaomer who is pretty much a super king because he could war against many nations and take their kings and citizens captive. But he could not stand against Abram and his 300 trained men.
Second king is Melchizedek. The sudden introduction of this king reveals a couple of attributes. King of Salem. Priest of Most High God. His actions, (1) Brought bread and wine (2) Blessed Abram (3) Acknowledge God as God Most High (El Elyon). Abram’s response was spontaneous. He gave a tenth of everything he had.
The third king is the king of S***m. This guy who was rescued by Abram showed no signs of gratitude. He still decides to make deals with Abram by telling you give me the people and you take the material. Abrams response was that he would not take a single strand of his property. Why? Abram didn’t want this pagan king to claim that he made Abram rich. Abram wanted God and only God to be glorified.
Application: In the spiritual realm, there are authorities and principalities that we constantly war against. We see war as a hostile/aggressive transaction. Sometimes it has traps that entice us.
King Chedorlaomer was aggressive. He attacked. His agenda was to steal kill and destroy.
On the other hand the king of S***m enticed Abram with material. Under his rule, there was promiscuity and sin. There was prosperity too. But that did not last long.
There is another king Melchizedek. He is a King and a Priest. The entry and exit in Genesis is so abrupt but King David after many centuries mentioned him in his Psalms. The author of Hebrews also documents that God declared that Jesus is the Priest in the order of Melchizedek.
Today we have (types of ) these kings in our lives. God has given us the free will, the power and wisdom to choose. Who is our king? I would love to be victorious like Abram. Be blessed like Abram. So blessed, that I can turn down the material possessions offered by an earthly king. I feel privileged that the King and Priest in the order of Melchizedek knows my name. He loves me to the point of death on the cross.
Stay blessed.
Sunil Pattem
