THE BLESSING OF MELCHIZEDEK

Passage: Genesis 14:17-24

Key verse: 19,20

NIV

17 After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer(A) and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom(B) came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley).(C)

18 Then Melchizedek(D) king of Salem(E) brought out bread(F) and wine.(G) He was priest of God Most High,(H) 19 and he blessed Abram,(I) saying,

“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,(J)
    Creator of heaven and earth.(K)
20 And praise be to God Most High,(L)
    who delivered your enemies into your hand.”

Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.(M)

21 The king of Sodom(N) said to Abram, “Give me the people and keep the goods(O) for yourself.”

22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom,(P) “With raised hand(Q) I have sworn an oath to the Lord, God Most High,(R) Creator of heaven and earth,(S) 23 that I will accept nothing belonging to you,(T) not even a thread or the strap of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, ‘I made Abram rich.’ 24 I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share that belongs to the men who went with me—to Aner, Eshkol and Mamre.(U) Let them have their share.”

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Abram Blessed by Melchizedek

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 (A)King's Valley). 18 And (B)Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was (C)priest of (D)God Most High.) 19 And he blessed him and said,

(E)“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
    (F)Possessor[a] of heaven and earth;
20 and blessed be God Most High,
    who has delivered your enemies into your hand!”

And Abram gave him (G)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, (H)“I have lifted my hand[b] to the Lord, God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth, 23 that (I)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 (J)Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre take their share.”

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Footnotes
  1. Genesis 14:19 Or Creator; also verse 22
  2. Genesis 14:22 Or I have taken a solemn oath
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. Melchizedek (18-2

)

Abram returned triumphantly with much booty and great fame. He might have said, 'God is keeping his promise to give me the land and make my name great,' and claimed the power and wealth which his victory put within his reach. He might have abandoned his spiritual calling. He needed a shepherd. So God sent Melchizedek, priest of God Most High (See Heb 7:1,2). He ate a fellowship meal with Abram. Then he blessed Abram in the name of God Most High, Creator (Possessor) of heaven and earth and source of every blessing. He praised God Most High for giving Abram the victory. Abram raised his hand and took an oath of fealty to God Most High (22), and then he gave Melchizedek a tithe of everything, a symbol of commitment to God his Sovereign King.

2. Bera king of Sodom (17, 21-24)

The king of Sodom came with a tempting offer that would make Abram rich and powerful. But Abram did not want the wealth of Sodom. He wanted God's blessing only.

Prayer: Lord, help me to live as your servant and be content with your blessing.

One Word: Blessed be God Most High