The Passage
Genesis 14:17-24
17 After his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom 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 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 Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons, but take the goods for yourself.” 22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have lifted my hand 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.”
Word Work
Personalize the meaning. Respond as God speaks to you through the Scriptures. Ask: How could my life be different today as I respond to what I’m reading?
Word Thoughts:
After every test, Abram receives assurances of God’s presence with him: (1) Pharaoh sent him from Egypt with great possessions (ch. 12); (2) the Lord confirmed the promise of the seed and land (ch. 13); and now (3) Melchizedek will bless Abram (ch. 14).
The mysterious character Melchizedek is mentioned several times in Scripture (Ps. 110:4; Heb. 5:6, 10; 7:1, 11, 17). We do not know his earthly lineage, origin, or end (Heb. 7:3). What we do know is that he was the priest-king of Jerusalem, a worshiper of God Most High (El Elyon), was hospitable to Abram, and pronounced a blessing over him. In turn Abram gave him a tenth of his battle spoils. After the institution of the Aaronic priesthood and its corruption, a hope arose for a priestly king according to the order of Melchizedek. The significance of the names Salem (“peace”) and Melchizedek (“king of righteousness”) with the absence of earthly origins subtly anticipates the final bringer of peace and king of righteousness (cf. Heb. 7:2). Psalm 110 confers this privilege on a Davidic king who is seated at God’s right hand and would rule “forever” over the nations “in holy garments” (Ps. 110:1–4). Hebrews confirms that Jesus is this unique kind of royal priest (Heb. 6:20) and adds that Jesus was made perfect through suffering (Heb. 5:7–9), unlike the Aaronic priests. His ministry is far superior to the Old Testament priesthood. He lives forever (Heb. 7:16). Moreover, his ministry was grounded on God’s promise, and it inaugurated the new covenant (Heb. 7:20–22).
The refusal of Melchizedek’s offer of gifts (Gen. 14:21–24) confirms powerfully that Abram is trusting in God’s provision above all. Similarly we too today are free to resist all that the world tantalizingly holds before us and instead receive the offer of “another priest [who arose] after the order of Melchizedek” (Heb. 7:11). This priest-king, Jesus Christ, offers us no material guarantee but the promise of eternal life itself, restoration to God—he offers us the only thing that truly satisfies.
Word Reflection:
- What stood out?
- Why did Melchizedek bless Abram?
- How was this another affirmation of God’s blessing to Abram from Genesis 12:1-3?
19 And he blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; 20 and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!”
End in Prayer
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