When Abram returned from defeating king Chedorlaomer,
he was met by two kings at the Valley of Shaveh or the King’s valley. They were
the king of Sodom and the king of Salem, or ancient Jerusalem. These were Canaanite
kings. Each of them approached Abram differently. Viewing Abram’s victory from
human perspective, the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give the people to me
and take the goods for yourself.” To him it was a business transaction. He
was saying to Abram, “You can have all the goods but return the people to me.” That was quickly met by Abram’s crude response
given as an oath to God. Notice, He added the word LORD to the declaration Melchizedek
had made. He made it known that personally, he would not take a thing that
belonged to Sodom or the wicked city. He would not be associated with that
wicked city. What he had taken were what his men had eaten for sustenance in
the battle and what was due to his men. As for himself he would have nothing of
Sodom, less his God-given blessings be seen as ill-gotten.
Melchizedek, on the other hand was different. He
viewed Abram’s victory from divine standpoint. He brought bread and wine and a
blessing for Abram. He recognized the hand of God on Abram. He knew Abram’s victory
was God given. From his blessing upon Abram, we surmise that like Abram he knew
God. However, he would also soon know from Abram’s dealing with the king of
Sodom that this God is none other than Yahweh, the LORD, the Covenant making
and keeping God. Though Melchizedek was a Canaanite king, he was a unique
figure. By being king of Salem he was symbolically the king of peace, for Salem
means peace. And his name Melchizedek means righteousness, so he was also king
of righteousness. And this king of peace and righteousness came with a blessing
for Abram. On the part of Abram, he recognized Melchizedek’s blessing as spoken
by God and he knew that, like him, this Melchizedek was a man of faith. So he honoured
him by giving him a tithe, a tenth of everything. In this act, Abram validated Melchizedek’s
role as priest of God.
Melchizedek and Abram’s declaration concerning God
was a declaration of dependence on God. They both saw everything as belonging
to God. What’s significance in Abram’s declaration was that this God, the
possessor of heaven and earth, was his covenant making and keeping God. He
added the word LORD to Melchizedek’s declaration. Abram knew that he would not have
anything that did not come from God. We also need to see our God from Abram’s
lens. All that we have, and potentially can have, come from God. Whatever we
offer to Him comes from Him in the first place. If we know this, giving to God no
longer becomes a difficulty but a delight. Let’s offer all that we are and all
that we have to God. Let us give our life in sweet abandon and total surrender
to Him. He deserves it!
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