SUBJ: The
mysterious Melchizedek as a type of Christ in defining His offices as
King and Priest as entirely different from that of Aaron and the Mosaic
system. Another Old Testament look at the Gospel.
AIM: That we
might see the Gospel foreshadowed and declared throughout the Word of
God and be profited with a deeper understanding and ability to worship
our worthy Lord.
INTR: Even
such ancient history as this displays the depravity of men and
civilizations in their desire for domination over each other and it
seems that nothing has changed. 1. This desire for superiority as it
is manifested here is the expression of man’s rebellion against the
sovereignty of God and His exclusive right to rule and to be worshiped.
2. We are reminded of the words from the Judges – no king in Israel and
every man did that which was right in his own eyes. 3. There are
multiple lessons to be learned from this passage with none being greater
than the declaration of reign of the “Most High God” and a foreshadowing
of the blessed we know in Christ Jesus our Lord.
THESIS: We are given to understand
here that the direst circumstance taken over by the Lord will end in
such a way as to honor Him, exalt Christ and serve the needs of the
faithful.
I. The Kings (vv. 1-12) 1. The four kings were
apparently of Canaanitic origin and may have manifested the result of
the curse pronounced on the grandson of Noah. 2. The four had
subjected the weaker kingdoms of several others to their own gain: 1)
The need of the depraved to dominate in the absence of any sense of God
and 2) The profit that is to be gained overrules any sense of concern
for others. 3. The place of rebellion was among the kings that were
in the general area of Sodom and were all suffering the same domination
until they rebelled. 1) In the fourteenth year from their domination
they rebelled and provoked the four kings to reassert their dominance.
2) They took goods, food, and captives. Among these was Lot and his
family.
II. The Deliverance (vv. 13-16) 1. The provisions of
the Lord for His people accomplish multiple things 1) It was not mere
providence that one escaped to bring the message to Abram 2) Abram’s
devotion to his nephew, here referred to as his brother is confirmed.
3) A confederation had been formed with Abram among the people (v. 13)
2. But it was Abram’s trained company of men that led the way against a
superior force. (We are reminded of Gideon’s 300.) 3. The chase was
successful, and the conquest was made and the hand of the Lord was in
evidence in it all.
III. Melchizedek (vv. 17-24) 1. The
deliverers were met by an appreciative company which seemed to be led by
the king of Sodom 1) The desire to show appreciation is approached in
the ways of men and the talk is of reward 2) It is to be remembered
that Sodom was an evil place and that was known from the outset (See
Genesis 13:13) 3) What had happened had little if any effect and if
so, it did not last as is witnessed in chapter 18. 4) This even
though they had witnessed the exchange between Abram and Melchizedek.
2. Melchizedek becomes the main figure here and certainly with Abram and
us. 1) He is mentioned but three times in the scriptures: here, in
Psalm 110:4 and in 5, 6, and 7 of Hebrews. And he is declared to be the
“King of Peace.” 2) The mysterious nature of his appearance is such
that men have debated his identity for centuries – some believe him to
be Shem, some see him as Christ in pre-incarnation, others recognize the
divine manner of introducing him so as to make him a type of Christ.
3) No genealogy recorded for him! 4) He had the unusual distinction
of being both a king and a priest – Moses simply declares him to be the
priest of the “Most High God.” 3. He executes his offices in
acknowledging and blessing Abram as being “of the ‘Most High God’.”
1) He sets forth the emblems of communion with the bread and wine 2)
Abram acts in a way of worship and gives to him tithes of all the spoils
– we are reminded of this in the comparison of the priesthoods in
Hebrews 7. 4. The king of Sodom is put in his place very quickly:
1) He offered all the goods to Abram and was content to get his people
back 2) Abraham would have none of it – “lest thou shouldest say…”
3) And took only what the men had eaten.
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