Genesis 14:17-24
Melchizedek Blesses Abram
17 After Abram returned from his victory over Kedorlaomer and all his allies, the king of Sodom went out to meet him in the valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley).
18 And Melchizedek, the king of Salem and a priest of God Most High,[d] brought Abram some bread and wine.19 Melchizedek blessed Abram with this blessing:
“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
Creator of heaven and earth.
20 And blessed be God Most High,
who has defeated your enemies for you.”
Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of all the goods he had recovered.
21 The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give back my people who were captured. But you may keep for yourself all the goods you have recovered.”
22 Abram replied to the king of Sodom, “I solemnly swear to the Lord, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth,23 that I will not take so much as a single thread or sandal thong from what belongs to you. Otherwise you might say, ‘I am the one who made Abram rich.’ 24 I will accept only what my young warriors have already eaten, and I request that you give a fair share of the goods to my allies—Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre.”
We arrive today at one of the most intriguing characters in the Old Testament. Who was Melchizedek? The truth is that there is not a lot know about him. He was a mysterious priest king and when Abram meets him, he decides to give him 10 percent of his earnings.Why? Again, we are not sure what prompted this. This is the first tithe in the bible and will become the pattern for giving throughout the Old Testament and into the Early Church. However, the gift meant that the King blessed him. For him, the blessing of God was more valuable than anything else.
Fast forward to the book of Hebrews and we find Melchizedek mentioned again:
We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20 where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.
Hebrews 6:19-20
Here, he is described as an eternal high priest and is used as a picture to help us understand Jesus. We have hope that is unshakeable because we are tied to Jesus and Jesus is not just a king but a priest-king. He rules over us but he also intercedes to God for us. He holds the political and spiritual authority over our lives and we give him the first of our lives.
